Desirable Characteristics and Clinical Effectiveness of Mobile Application on Medication Adherence in Patients over 50 years with Metabolic Syndrome
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Abstract
Objective: To study desirable characteristics of mobile application (app) that effectively promote medication adherence (MA) and its clinical effectiveness for metabolic-syndrome patients aged over 50 years old. Method: The study employed mixed methodology consisting of both qualitative research to identify desirable characteristics of app and quantitative experimental study to evaluate clinical effectiveness of app. In-depth interviews were conducted in 2 groups of informants, including 15 pharmacists who had experience in providing medication advice to elderly patients at least 2 years of age and 12 patients aged 50 and over who had metabolic syndrome, required regular medication taking and has a low MA. Quantitative research was conducted in patients older than 50 years with metabolic diseases at a community hospital and having a low MA when measured by the Medication Adherence Scale for Thai (MAST). The study randomly allocated subjects into experimental and control groups of 32 and 35 patients, respectively. The experimental group was equipped with an app to remind drug use. Outcomes collected before and after the study for 2 times within 5 months included blood pressure, plasma glucose, MA measured by pill count and the MAST. Results: The desirable characteristics of the app were clarity of viewing and hearing, function to show details of drug, having a reminding system for medication taking, system for recording and managing drug information. Quantitative research found that the experimental group had lower systolic blood pressure levels compared to the control group (P <0.001). Diastolic blood pressure and plasma glucose level in the experimental group decreased but did not statistically differ when compared to those in the control group (P = 0.196 and 0.296, respectively). MA in the experimental group as measured by pill count and the MAST was significantly higher than that of the control group (P <0.001 and P <0.001 respectively). Conclusion: Using an app with desirable characteristics can increase MA and result in a better treatment outcome in patients older than 50 years.
Article Details
ผลการวิจัยและความคิดเห็นที่ปรากฏในบทความถือเป็นความคิดเห็นและอยู่ในความรับผิดชอบของผู้นิพนธ์ มิใช่ความเห็นหรือความรับผิดชอบของกองบรรณาธิการ หรือคณะเภสัชศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยสงขลานครินทร์ ทั้งนี้ไม่รวมความผิดพลาดอันเกิดจากการพิมพ์ บทความที่ได้รับการเผยแพร่โดยวารสารเภสัชกรรมไทยถือเป็นสิทธิ์ของวารสารฯ
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