Feasibility of a smartphone App for increasing medication adherence.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A novel smartphone app for increasing medication adherence in patients prescribed antihypertensive medication in a community pharmacy setting: Randomised feasibility study
IRAS ID
230685
Contact name
Stephen Sutton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Cambridge
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN96168767
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 6 months, 28 days
Research summary
About eight million people in England receive treatment for high blood pressure.Treatment for high blood pressure usually consists of one or more blood pressure lowering medicines. Taking medication as prescribed can significantly reduce risks,complications and early deaths associated with these conditions. However, many people do not take their medication as prescribed, reducing how well treatment works as well as costing the NHS hundreds of millions of pounds annually on wasted medicines. Community pharmacists can support patients to take medication, but they have limited time. There is therefore a need for low-cost solutions for helping patients to take their medication as prescribed. A promising approach is to use digital solutions such as smartphone ‘Apps’.
We are working with the developers of a new smartphone app (Healthera), designed to help patients take their medication. A member of the pharmacy team introduces the App study when the patient collects their blood pressure medication at the pharmacy counter. Two versions of the Healthera App will be tested alongside a widely available medication management App (Medisafe), in 102 people prescribed blood pressure lowering medication.
Patients who download the standard Healthera App to their smartphone can scan the barcode on the side of the box of medication, which automatically sends information about the medication to the patient’s phone. The patient then inputs their medication taking schedule. The App can also be used to send messages to the pharmacist and to receive replies.
We want to find out whether the App helps patients take their medication as prescribed and whether patients like using it. If the results are encouraging, we plan to test the effectiveness of the App in a larger trial. After the App has been tested we will interview some study participants and ask them about their experiences using the App and of participating in the study.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0120
Date of REC Opinion
10 Apr 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion