Automated calls can help patients to remember to to refill their blood pressure and cholesterol medications, according to a study published in the American Journal of Managed Care.
Though the improvement was only about 2 percentage points, the authors said that in a large population--the study covered more than 21,000 Kaiser Permanente members--the improvement could translate into fewer heart attacks, fewer deaths and fewer hospitalizations, an important improvement in public health overall.
The study compared patients who received automated phone calls when they were due or overdue for a refill to a second group that received the same calls, plus personalized reminder letters, live outreach calls, electronic medical record-based feedback to their primary care providers, and additional mailed materials; plus a control group.
The group that received both telephone and mailed reminders showed the greatest adherence. These gains could have the greatest impact on public health, if sustained, the authors noted. However, the sustainability of the strategy would depend on how much patients view the calls as useful versus intrusive.
And while intervention "fatigue" might be a barrier to continued efficacy, 94 percent of the patients said the service should continue for all health plan members, according to the study.
Going forward, the study authors are conducting a cost analysis to examine whether the intervention is a good value for the money.
Technology is helping to increase medical adherence in patients in many ways.
New York-based Montefiore Medical Center's University Behavioral Associates has found text messaging effective in keeping Medicaid patients on track with doctor appointments, medication regimens and healthcare goals.
Team-based care and communication are key to medication compliance, especially among older patients, according to an article at Medical Economics.
However, a clinical decision support system aimed at helping providers prescribe the drug least expensive to the patient--believed to be vital to keeping them on track--didn't produce the expected results, according to a study published at Biomed Central.
To learn more:
- read the study