Perception of Technology to Support Medication Management Among Community-dwelling African American Older Adults

Background: Community-dwelling older adults often have chronic conditions and take multiple medications, leading to an increased risk of medication-related problems. The recent global pandemic further intensified challenges associated with polypharmacy, particularly among African Americans aged 65 years and older.¹ Objective: This pilot study explored participant perceptions of digital health technologies used in combination with pharmacist-led telehealth medication therapy management (MTM) services to support medication management and address medication-related problems among community-dwelling older African American adults. Methods: This six-month study evaluated perceptions of technology use among older adults (≥65 years) in Houston, Texas, who were taking five or more medications and owned a smart device (smartphone, tablet, or computer). Interventions included pre- and post-surveys, use of a medication management app (Pill Reminder - All in One®), and completion of two one-hour pharmacist-led MTM sessions. Baseline pre-survey data were compared with post-survey data collected at a six-month follow-up. The Texas Southern University Institutional Review Board approved the study (U54MD007605). Results: Significant improvements were observed in self-reported medication knowledge (pre: 2.75 ± 0.64 vs post: 3.35 ± 0.55, p < 0.001) and perceived pharmacist responsiveness (pre: 3.82 ± 0.71 vs post: 4.48 ± 0.59, p < 0.001). Participation in virtual MTM increased from 15.0% at baseline to 85.0% post-intervention (p < 0.001). The proportion of participants reporting forgetting medications declined significantly from 73.8% to 44.1% (p = 0.01). Use of health technology increased from 13.6% to 67.6% following the intervention (p < 0.001). The sample population was predominately female (87.5%) and majority African American (92.5%). Conclusion: The authors conclude that digital health applications offer a promising avenue to address nonadherence and medication-related problems in community-dwelling older adults. These tools can provide flexible solutions tailored to individual patient needs, ranging from simple reminder tools to comprehensive medication management platforms.