Electronic med packaging that records dosing boosts patient adherence more than similar tools

The use of electronic medication packaging (EMP) devices that are integrated into the care delivery system and designed to record dosing events are more frequently linked to improved medication adherence than other such devices, according to new research published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The authors, from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, retroactively combed through 37 studies to identify common features of EMP devices and to determine which ones boosted patient medication adherence the most.

Overall, five common characteristics among the tools were identified: dose recording, audiovisual reminders to catalyze adherence, digital displays, real-time monitoring and feedback on adherence. They concluded that more evidence is needed to paint a clearer picture of device use on adherence. Abstract