Enhanced Adherence in Patients Using an Automated Home Medication Dispenser
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-2018
Abstract
Background:Many factors contribute to medication nonadherence including psychological and memory disorders, aging, and pill burden. The Automated Home Medication Dispenser (AHMD) is a medication management system intended to help solve unintentional medication nonadherence.
Objective:The purpose of this study was to determine if use of the AHMD improved medication adherence.
Methods:We conducted a 6-month prospective, feasibility study assessing use of the AHMD in 21 patient-caregiver dyads. Patients were referred by their physician because of poor medication adherence and included if they resided in Rochester, NY and on at least two medications in pill form. Pill counts were performed at baseline to assess previous adherence. Prospective medication adherence was assessed using AHMD recorded dosing information. A paired t-test was used to compare previous and prospective adherence.
Results:The mean age of patients was 75.1 years. Fifteen patients (71.4%) and eight caregivers (38.1%) were women; half (47.6%) of caregivers lived with the patient. The most common patient comorbidities were hypertension (76.2%) and memory disorder (61.9%). Mean adherence increased from 49.0% at baseline to 96.8% after 6 months of AHMD use (p < .001).
Conclusion: In a cohort of unintentionally nonadherent patients, use of the AHMD for 6 months significantly improved medication adherence.
DOI
10.1097/JHQ.0000000000000097
Publication Information
Hoffmann, Charles; Schweighardt, Anne; Conn, Kelly; Nelson, Dallas; Barbano, Richard; Marshall, Frederick; and Brown, Jack (2018). "Enhanced Adherence in Patients Using an Automated Home Medication Dispenser." Journal for Healthcare Quality 40.4, 194-200.
Please note that the Publication Information provides general citation information and may not be appropriate for your discipline. To receive help in creating a citation based on your discipline, please visit http://libguides.sjfc.edu/citations.