Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 6, 2026

In Silico Clinical Trials for Cardiovascular Disease

In Silico Clinical Trials for Cardiovascular Disease

Published on: May 27, 2022

Medication reminder applications to improve adherence in coronary heart disease: a randomised clinical trial

Karla Santo^1,2,3, Anna Singleton^1,3, Kris Rogers^2,4

¹Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Heart (British Cardiac Society)

|August 29, 2018

Insights

Medication reminder apps improved adherence in coronary heart disease patients. Advanced app features did not further enhance medication adherence compared to basic apps.

Area of Science:

Cardiology
Digital Health
Health Behavior

Background:

Medication adherence is crucial for managing coronary heart disease (CHD).
Digital health tools, specifically mobile applications, offer potential solutions for improving adherence.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the effectiveness of medication reminder apps in improving medication adherence in patients with CHD.
To compare adherence between basic and advanced app features versus usual care.
To assess secondary clinical outcomes such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Main Methods:

A randomized controlled trial involving 163 patients with CHD.
Participants were assigned to usual care, a basic medication reminder app, or an advanced app with interactive features.
The primary outcome was measured using the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) at 3 months.

Main Results:

Patients using medication reminder apps showed significantly higher adherence (mean MMAS-8 score 7.11) compared to the usual care group (mean MMAS-8 score 6.63).
No significant difference in adherence was observed between basic and advanced app users.
No significant differences were found in secondary clinical outcomes.

Conclusions:

Medication reminder apps are effective in improving medication adherence for patients with CHD.
Advanced app features do not offer additional benefits for adherence compared to basic versions.
Medication apps show promise for improving adherence in chronic conditions, warranting further investigation into sustained benefits.

Read full analysis

Abstract

Objective:

The aim of the MEDication reminder APPs to improve medication adherence in Coronary Heart Disease Study was to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of using publicly available high-quality medication reminder applications (apps) to improve medication adherence compared with usual care in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). An additional aim was to examine whether an app with additional features improved adherence further.

Methods:

Patients with CHD (n=163) were randomised to one of three groups: (1) usual care, (2) a basic app or (3) an advanced app with interactive/customisable features. The primary analysis compared usual care versus app use on the primary outcome of the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) at 3 months. Secondary outcomes included blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Results:

The mean age was 57.9 years and 87.7% were male. At 3 months, patients using an app had higher adherence (mean MMAS-8 score 7.11) compared with the usual care group (mean MMAS-8 score 6.63) with a mean difference between groups of 0.47 (95% CI 0.12 to 0.82, p=0.008). There was no significant difference in patients using the basic app versus the advanced app (mean difference -0.16, 95% CI -0.56 to 0.24, p=0.428). There were no significant differences in secondary clinical outcome measures.

Conclusion:

Patients with CHD who used medication reminder apps had better medication adherence compared with usual care, and using apps with additional features did not improve this outcome further. These data suggest medication apps are likely to help patients with chronic health conditions adhere to medicines, but further examination of whether such benefits are sustained is warranted.

Clinical Trial Registration Number:

ACTRN12616000661471; Results.

Keywords:

apps coronary heart disease medication adherence mhealth smartphone

More Related Videos

Novel Percutaneous Approach for Deployment of 3D Printed Coronary Stenosis Implants in Swine Models of Ischemic Heart Disease

Novel Percutaneous Approach for Deployment of 3D Printed Coronary Stenosis Implants in Swine Models of Ischemic Heart Disease

Published on: February 18, 2020

Author Spotlight: Unveiling Prognostic Indicators in Heart Failure - The Role of Phase Angle and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis

Author Spotlight: Unveiling Prognostic Indicators in Heart Failure - The Role of Phase Angle and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis

Published on: June 30, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Clinical Trials

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are prospective experimental studies conducted on humans to determine the safety and efficacy of treatments, drugs, diet methods, and medical devices. Using statistics in clinical trials enables researchers to derive reasonable and accurate conclusions from the collected data, allowing them to make wise decisions in uncertain situations. In medical research, statistical methods are crucial for preventing errors and bias.
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...

Coronary Artery Disease III: Clinical Manifestations

Coronary Artery Disease III: Clinical Manifestations

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is a primary health risk worldwide, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. The condition arises from the buildup of atherosclerotic plaques within the coronary arteries, resulting in diminished blood supply to the heart muscle.The clinical manifestations of CAD vary widely, from asymptomatic stages to severe, life-threatening conditions. Understanding these manifestations is crucial for early diagnosis and effective management.Angina Pectoris: The Warning...

Rheumatic Heart Disease III: Medical Management

Rheumatic Heart Disease III: Medical Management

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) management can be divided into two main strategies: prevention and long-term management.Primary PreventionPrimary prevention focuses on timely diagnosis and management of group A streptococcal pharyngitis to prevent acute rheumatic fever. The most widely used antibiotic for treating this condition is intramuscular benzathine penicillin G.Acute Rheumatic Fever TreatmentThe primary treatment goal for a patient diagnosed with acute rheumatic fever is to suppress the...

Clinical Trials: Overview

Clinical Trials: Overview

Clinical development focuses on how the drug will interact with the human body and encompasses four key phases of clinical trials, each serving a specific purpose in assessing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs. These phases overlap and build upon one another. Phase I involves a small group of healthy volunteers (typically 20-80 individuals) or, in cases where significant toxicity is expected, patients with the targeted disease, such as cancer or AIDS. The volunteers are tested for...

Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key clinical manifestations of Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) include several distinct cardiac symptoms.Carditis, a hallmark of acute rheumatic fever, involves inflammation of the heart's endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium. Chronic RHD often results from recurrent episodes of carditis. Its symptoms include the following:Murmurs are caused by valvular damage, especially to the mitral and aortic valves. Mitral stenosis or regurgitation is common, with characteristic heart murmurs...

Heart Failure V: Medical Management

Heart Failure V: Medical Management

Medical Management of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF)The primary goals of therapy for patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) include:Relieving symptomsOptimizing volume statusSupporting oxygenation and ventilationMaintaining cardiac output (CO) and end-organ perfusionIdentifying and addressing the cause of ADHFPreventing complicationsProviding patient education on factors precipitating HF exacerbationPlanning for dischargeOngoing monitoring and assessment...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Prophylactic implantation of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for the primary prevention of sudden cardiac death after myocardial infarction: protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

BMJ open·2026

Conversational artificial intelligence HeAlth supporT in Atrial Fibrillation Self-Management (CHAT-AF-S): rationale and randomised controlled trial design.

BMJ open·2026

Sex differences in risk factor control and medication adherence post-ACS: insights from the TEXTMEDS randomised clinical trial.

Open heart·2026

Multilingual Video Education for Hospitalized Patients With Myocardial Infarction (EDUCATE-MI): Single-Arm Implementation Study.

JMIR cardio·2026

The HeartHealth Program: A Mixed Methods Study of a Community-Based Text Messaging Support Program for Patients With Cardiovascular Disease From 2020 to 2024.

JMIR cardio·2026

Utilization and implementation of remote monitoring of cardiac implantable electronic devices in Australia and New Zealand: Adoption, workload, and integration challenges.

Heart rhythm O2·2026

See all related articles