Effects of Drug Reminder Application and Manual for Improving Adherence of Oral Contraceptives

Abstract

Objective: To enhance the adherence in the use of oral contraceptives (OCs) by using the notification application combined with providing the knowledge of OCs. Method: Participants were 72 females aged 18-35-years-old who asked for contraceptive pills from six drugstores in Kham Riang and Kantharawichi Districts in Maha Sarakham during February and April 2016. The subjects were allocated into experimental group (n=37) and control group (n=35) using randomization with blocks of four. The experimental group received counseling and instruction manual from the pharmacist together with the installation of the Mypill® application. The control group received advice or usual care from the pharmacist. Both groups received a report form to self-record their medication taking. Medication adherence and knowledge of drug use were assessed before and after the study for 1 month. Results: Medication adherence in the experimental group significantly increased from 81 to 100 percent (P=0.016). After the intervention, adherence in the experimental group was significant higher than that in the control group (100 percent and 89 percent, respectively, P=0.036). Average score of knowledge in the experimental group significantly increased from 3.4±1.69 to 6.2±1.99 points (P<0.001) (out of the full score of 10). Average knowledge in the experimental group after intervention was significantly higher than that in control group (6.2±1.99 to 3.7±1.42, P<0.001). The subjects were very satisfied with the application in terms of accessibility and difficulty. However, the majority of subjects commented that the application did not provide the information on what to do when they forgot to take the drug and encountered adverse drug reactions. Conclusion: Notification application with education improves adherence and knowledge on the use of oral contraceptives.