Enhancing Medication Compliance and Improving Patient Engagement with Technology and Artificial Intelligence

People with long-term illnesses like diabetes or high blood pressure often require medication to control their health issues. However, a significant number of individuals, including the elderly population struggle to adhere to their medication schedules. This lapse in medication adherence can result in health complications. Studies indicate that approximately half of people with chronic conditions fail to follow their medication regimen. This noncompliance can exacerbate their health condition resulting in increased hospital visits and increased healthcare expenses.

The Role of Technology
Luckily, technology and AI are improving how people stick to medication schedules! There are plenty of tools that can prompt individuals to take their meds as prescribed and keep tabs on their adherence levels—some even let them stay in touch with healthcare professionals.

Mobile Apps: Mobile applications have become a highly used method to help individuals stick to their medication schedules efficiently. This is done by sending medication reminders and monitoring adherence levels effectively. They also offer the convenience of sharing treatment progress with family members or caregivers for additional support and encouragement. One example is the app Medisafe that provides customized reminders for medication intake, tracks refill dates and shares progress updates. Other apps are MyMedSchedule, MedM, and Pillboxie. These applications work with the Apple Watch to help users stay on top of medication schedules. They do this by providing reminders and tracking their adherence to the regimen. 

Intelligent Medication Dispensers: Smart pill dispensers automatically dispense medication at a set time and notify users and caregivers if a dose is missed. One example is the Hero Smart Medication Dispenser which can store up to 90 days’ worth of medication and deliver the dosage at the right time while also sending reminders to users or caregivers in case of forgotten doses. Medicine adherence can also be managed effectively with MedCube’s intelligent dispensary system that ensures medication access and monitors usage. It can notify patients to take a medication via a verbal notice such as "Sarah, it's time for your medication". There is an option to notify caregivers when doses are depleted or missed. In addition, there is a security feature to ensure that the pills are securely stored in the system. 

App, Smart Watches, and Devices: Using smart watches, patches and gadgets linked to an app can help individuals remember to take their medications effectively and on time. This is done by sending timely reminders and keeping track of medication intake. For instance, Medtronic’s Sugar.IQ tracks blood sugar levels and provides medication reminders while monitoring medication adherence diligently. Similarly, Fitbit and Withings smart watches track medication adherence. Some other examples are Medisafe and Philips’ SmartSleep – a gadget that monitors sleep cycles and prompts users to remember to take their medication while also checking medication compliance. Lastly is the sensor, from Proteos Digital Health – a sensor that is ingested with medication to track intake. This sensor then sends data to a wearable patch or mobile app, to track medication adherence.

Obstacles To Using Technology
Technology plays a role in enhancing medication adherence; however, obstacles remain to addressing this area of healthcare support. Some people lack financial resources, are unable to access technology or feel uneasy using it. Moreover, concerns regarding data security and privacy pose barriers that may make individuals reluctant to embrace these platforms.

In summary
Advancements in technology are significantly contributing to improving medication adherence among individuals by using tools such as smartphones, smart pill dispensers and wearable devices. Technology helps people manage their medications and adhere to treatment regimens. Additionally, artificial intelligence (AI) plays a role in enhancing medication adherence by anticipating instances where individuals may overlook taking their medication and sending reminders to ensure they stay consistent with their medication schedules. By using health technology innovations, the overall patient experience and outcomes can be improved significantly.


The author has no affiliation with any of the products mentioned in this article.

Kathryn Munoz, PhD, MPH is a the founder of BioPharma Accelerator Coaching.  She has spent decades in the pharmaceutical industry, working with everything from Fortune 500 companies to start-ups.  She has played significant roles in the launch of over 20 new products and indicaitons.  Now, as a columnist for Louder.News, she brings us PHARMA INK: A LOOK BEHIND THE MEDICINES YOU TAKE.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-munoz-631b5978/