Smart-Meds, a medication management app for patients after an acute coronary syndrome: A pilot pre-post study of adherence and health literacy (Preprint)

Abstract

Medication non-adherence remains a significant challenge in the management of chronic conditions, often leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Innovative interventions that address the underlying factors contributing to non-adherence are needed. Gamified mobile applications have shown promise in promoting behavior change and engagement

This pilot study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and usability of a gamified mobile application that employed a narrative storytelling approach to enhance medication adherence among patients following Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). The study aimed to assess changes in participants' beliefs about medication and self-reported adherence before and after the intervention. Additionally, user feedback regarding the narrative component of the app was gathered.

Eighteen patients who recently experienced ACS were recruited for a one-month intervention using the gamified app. Participants' beliefs about medication and self-reported adherence were assessed using standardized scales pre- and post-intervention. The app's usability was also evaluated through a post-intervention questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the significance of changes in belief and adherence scores.

The results did not indicate a significant improvement in participants' beliefs about medication following the intervention. However, self-reported adherence significantly improved (p < 0.05) after the intervention, with participants demonstrating a greater self-efficacy to their prescribed medication regimen. The usability evaluation revealed positive feedback, indicating a good usability rating for the gamified app. However, the narrative storytelling component of the app was not favored by the participants, as indicated by their feedback.

This pilot study suggests that a gamified mobile application employing narration may effectively enhance medication self-efficacy and positively influence patients' beliefs about medication following ACS. However, the narrative component of the app did not receive favorable feedback from participants. Future research should focus on exploring alternative methods to engage participants in the app's narrative elements while maintaining the positive impact on adherence and beliefs about medication observed in this study.