Table 1 Published studies testing a possible intervention effect of electronic-medication monitoring on typical medication-taking behavior
Author & publication year | Study design | Description of the sample | n | EM | Description of the intervention | Outcome variable: medication adherence or clinical outcome | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wagner et al. 2002 | Randomized controlled trial | A community convenience sample of adult HIV-positive patients on HAART | 117 | MEMS | Experimental group received EM; control group did not | Adherence measured with self-report 4 weeks after study start (% of prescribed pills taken) | Less adherence in the EM group (91%) than in the control group (94%; p=.73) |
Pre-post intervention study | A community convenience sample of adult HIV-positive patients on HAART monitored with EM | 60 | MEMS | EM started after baseline blood pressure measurement | Adherence measured with self-report at baseline and after 4 weeks | Less adherence after introducing EM (91%) compared to baseline (93%; p=.16) | |
Bertholet et al. 2000 | Pre-post intervention study | A convenience sample of primary care/hypertensive clinic patients with therapy-resistant hypertension | 69 | MEMS | EM started after baseline blood pressure measurement | Clinical outcome: blood pressure evaluation after 1 – 2 months | Blood pressure was lower after EM (14/9 cm Hg) compared to baseline (16/10 cm Hg; p < .001) |
Matsui et al. 1994 | Pre-post intervention study | A convenience sample of young β-thalassemia outpatients on a new iron chelator | 10 | MEMS | The purpose of EM was disclosed to patients after ± 11 months | Adherence measured by EM using the taking adherence parameter ± 18 months after disclosure | Greater adherence after disclosure (84%) compared to before (77%; p=.49) |
Yeung et al. 1994 | Quasi-experimental study | Non-equivalent study: two convenience samples of asthma patients on inhaling therapy | 21 | MDI | Intervention group given disclosure; control group not given disclosure | Adherence measured by EM using the taking adherence parameter after 2 – 3 weeks from the study start | Greater adherence in the disclosed group (81%) than in the undisclosed group (71%; p=.53) |
Elixhauser et al. 1990 | Randomized controlled trial | A convenience sample of psychiatric outpatients treated with lithium | 90 | Blister package | Experimental group received EM; control group did not | Adherence measured by self-reported, assay, % of expected prescription refills (after 2 – 4 months of study start) | Fewer expected prescription refills in the EM group (18%) than in the control group (31%; p < .01) |
Cramer et al. 1990 | Observational study | An unspecified sample of patients | 24 | MEMS | All patients received EM | Adherence measured by EM using the taking adherence parameter during the first and after a mean of 7 months from the start of the study | No difference before and after (79% vs. 79%). |