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Reminder packaging for improving adherence to self-administered long-term medications.
Kamal R Mahtani1, Carl J Heneghan, Paul P Glasziou
1Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, 2nd Floor, 23-38 Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford, UK, OX1 2ET.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|September 9, 2011
Summary
Reminder packaging significantly improves medication adherence by increasing the percentage of pills taken. This simple intervention also showed benefits in reducing diastolic blood pressure and glycated hemoglobin levels.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics
- Health Services Research
- Patient Adherence Studies
Background:
- Current medication adherence strategies are often ineffective and resource-intensive.
- Medication reminder packaging offers a simpler approach to improve adherence.
- This review updates a 2006 Cochrane review on reminder packaging effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of reminder packaging on medication adherence.
- To assess other health outcomes associated with reminder packaging use.
- To determine the effectiveness of reminder packaging for self-administered medications taken long-term.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Searches conducted across multiple databases (CENTRAL, DARE, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO) up to September 2010.
- Included trials with at least 80% follow-up comparing reminder packaging to no device.
Main Results:
- Reminder packaging increased the percentage of pills taken by 11% (MD 11%, 95% CI 6% to 17%).
- Significant reductions observed in diastolic blood pressure (MD -5.89 mmHg) and glycated hemoglobin (MD -0.72%).
- No statistically significant effect on self-reported adherence or systolic blood pressure.
Conclusions:
- Reminder packaging is a potentially simple method to enhance medication adherence for specific conditions.
- Further research is needed to optimize the design and targeting of reminder packaging interventions.
- Patient preference for reminder packaging was noted, particularly among those with lower literacy levels.
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