There is potential for mHealth tools to better facilitate adherence to chronic disease management , but the evidence supporting its current effectiveness is mixed .
BACKGROUND Adherence to chronic disease management is critical to achieving improved health outcomes , quality of life , and cost-effective health care .
As the burden of chronic diseases continues to grow globally , so does the impact of non-adherence .
Mobile technologies are increasingly being used in health care and public health practice ( mHealth ) for patient communication , monitoring , and education , and to facilitate adherence to chronic diseases management .
OBJECTIVE We conducted a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the effectiveness of mHealth in supporting the adherence of patients to chronic diseases management ( " mAdherence " ) , and the usability , feasibility , and acceptability of mAdherence tools and platforms in chronic disease management among patients and health care providers .
SMS reminders improve adherence to oral medication in type 2 diabetes patients who are real time electronically monitored
BACKGROUND Poor adherence to oral antidiabetics has a negative influence on glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes patients .  Real Time Medication Monitoring ( RTMM ) combines real time monitoring of patients ' medication use with SMS reminders sent only if patients forget their medication , aim ing to improve adherence . This study aim ed to investigate the effect of these SMS reminders on adherence to oral antidiabetics in patients using RTMM  and investigate patients ' experiences with RTMM . METHODS Data were collected in a RCT involving 104 type 2 diabetes patients with suboptimal adherence to oral antidiabetics . Fifty-six patients were r and omised to receive SMS reminders if they forgot their medication , 48 patients received no reminders . Primary outcome measure was adherence to oral antidiabetics registered with RTMM , measured as : ( 1 ) days without dosing ; ( 2 ) missed doses ; ( 3 ) doses taken within predefined st and ardized time windows . Patients ' experiences were assessed with written question naires . RESULTS Over the six-month study period , patients receiving SMS reminders took significantly more doses within predefined time windows than patients receiving no reminders : 50 % vs. 39 % within a 1-h window ( p=0.003 ) up to 81 % vs. 70 % within a 4-h window ( p=0.007 ) . Reminded patients tended to miss doses less frequently than patients not reminded ( 15 % vs. 19 % , p=0.065 ) . Days without dosing were not significantly different between the groups . The majority of patients reported positive experiences with RTMM and SMS reminders . CONCLUSION RTMM with SMS reminders improves adherence of type 2 diabetes patients , especially the precision with which patients follow their prescribed regimen , and is well accepted by patients . TRIAL REGISTRATION Netherl and s Trial Register NTR1882
There is potential for mHealth tools to better facilitate adherence to chronic disease management , but the evidence supporting its current effectiveness is mixed .
BACKGROUND Adherence to chronic disease management is critical to achieving improved health outcomes , quality of life , and cost-effective health care .
As the burden of chronic diseases continues to grow globally , so does the impact of non-adherence .
Mobile technologies are increasingly being used in health care and public health practice ( mHealth ) for patient communication , monitoring , and education , and to facilitate adherence to chronic diseases management .
OBJECTIVE We conducted a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the effectiveness of mHealth in supporting the adherence of patients to chronic diseases management ( " mAdherence " ) , and the usability , feasibility , and acceptability of mAdherence tools and platforms in chronic disease management among patients and health care providers .