Smart packaging could improve how older adults take medication

Date:
February 24, 2022
Source:
University of Waterloo
Summary:
Older adults are open to using smart packaging to improve their
medication-taking experience, a new study finds.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Older adults are open to using smart packaging to improve their
medication- taking experience, a new study finds.


========================================================================== Smart packages are used to electronically monitor when patients take
their medication. When the prescription is not followed as advised by
their physician the smart system can notify patients and their caregivers.

Approximately half of the patients with chronic diseases in developed
nations do not take their medication properly. With an aging population
where taking multiple medications is common, incorrect medication-taking
-- called medication non-adherence -- is a problem impacting the health
of patients and costs the healthcare system billions of dollars.

There has been a surge of telehealth technology to address this issue in
the last two decades, from complex at-home medication dispensing devices
to reminder apps.

"Many of these products are advertised as user-friendly and efficient,
but not all are tested with seniors in mind. So how would we know if older adults are able to use them for their day-to-day medication intake and
are there any factors that can impact their in-home utilization?" said
Sadaf Faisal, a PhD candidate at the University of Waterloo School of
Pharmacy and lead author of the study.

The researchers visited and studied 10 participants in their homes with
a mean age of 76. On average, each took 11 medications for at least five chronic diseases. The participants were provided with a smart blister pack
that synchronized with a web portal and recorded each time a participant
opened a blister to take medications.

The researchers then interviewed the participants to assess their
experience with the smart blister package. They were also asked to rank
the usability of the technology against standardized scales used in
product assessment.

"Across participants, we found fairly consistent pros and cons to the technology," said Tejal Patel, a pharmacy professor and co-author of
the study.

"The ability to learn the product easily was important for the
participants to use it consistently. Feedback from their social circle --
such as supportive children, partners or health-care providers -- also
helped reinforce using the technology." In general, participants who were
more comfortable with technology were more open to using and liking the
smart blister pack. However, device size and lack of portability were
a significant downside, and if the product behaved inconsistently --
sending reminders one day but not another, for example - - participants
became frustrated. Participants also said cost was a barrier to use and
that they would be less likely to consider smart technology if it was
not covered by a drug plan or funded by the government.

"For technology to be effective, it has to be accepted by the end-users," Faisal said. "Smart, technology-based adherence products have the
potential to support patients, but health-care providers should
assess older adults' medication intake behaviours and barriers
and facilitators to using a product before recommending them."
special promotion Explore the latest scientific research on sleep and
dreams in this free online course from New Scientist -- Sign_up_now_>>> ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Waterloo. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Sadaf Faisal, Jessica Ivo, Ryan Tennant, Kelsey-Ann Prior, Kelly
Grindrod, Colleen McMillan, Tejal Patel. Integration of
a smart multidose blister package for medication intake:
A mixed method ethnographic informed study of older adults
with chronic diseases. PLOS ONE, 2022; 17 (1): e0262012 DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0262012 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220224091007.htm

--- up 11 weeks, 5 days, 7 hours, 13 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)