Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Jul 5, 2023
Date Accepted: Nov 20, 2023
Medication Adherence Mobile Phone App Effects in Medically Underserved Patients with Chronic Illness: A Pilot Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Medication adherence is vital in the treatment of patients with chronic illness who require long-term medication therapies to maintain optimal health. Medication adherence, a complex and widespread problem, has been difficult to solve. Additionally, lower income, medically underserved communities have been found to have higher rates of inadequate adherence to oral medications. Even so, this population has been underrepresented in studies utilizing mobile medication adherence app interventions. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), provide care for medically underserved populations, defined as communities and populations where there is a demonstrable unmet need for health services. These centers have been reporting an increase patients with chronic illness. Including medically underserved individuals in mHealth studies provides opportunities to support this disproportionately affected group, work toward reducing health disparities in access to healthcare, and understand barriers to mHealth uptake.
Objective:
The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the effects and feasibility of a commercially available medication adherence application, Medisafe, in a medically underserved adult population with various chronic illnesses seeking care in an FQHC.
Methods:
Participants in this single-arm pre-post intervention pilot study (N=10) completed a baseline survey, used the app for two weeks and completed an end-of-study survey. The primary outcome measures were medication adherence and medication self-efficacy. Feedback on use of the app was also gathered.
Results:
A statistically significant median increase of 8 points on the Self-efficacy for Adherence to Medications Scale (SEAMS) was observed (p=.03, Cohen’s d=0.69). Though not significant, the Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale (ARMS) demonstrated a median change of 2.5 points in the direction of increased medication adherence (p=.21, Cohen’s d=0.41). Feedback about the app was positive.
Conclusions:
Use of the Medisafe app is a viable option to improve medication self-efficacy and medication adherence in medically underserved patients in an outpatient setting with a variety of chronic illnesses.
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