Older adults are open to using smart packaging for their medication, a new study has found.
A smart system can notify family members or caregivers if a patient used their medication incorrectly, giving patients and their carers peace of mind.
According to the University of Waterloo research, approximately half of patients in developed nations with a chronic condition do not take their medication correctly.
So-called medication non-adherence not only impacts the health of patients but costs the healthcare system billions of dollars.
While innovations such as reminder apps and medication-dispensing devices have emerged in recent years, they are not routinely tested older people.
Sadaf Faisal, a PhD candidate at the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy and lead author of the study, said:
“Many of these products are advertised as user-friendly and efficient, but not all are tested with seniors in mind.
“So how would we know if older adults are able to use them for their day-to-day medication intake and are there any factors that can impact their in-home utilisation?”
The researchers visited 10 participants in their homes with a mean age of 76.
The participants took an average of 11 medications for at least five chronic diseases.
The participants were given a smart blister pack linked up to a web portal which recorded when they opened their medication.
The researchers then interviewed the participants about their experiences and asked them to rank the technology’s usability.
Tejal Patel, a pharmacy professor and co-author of the study, said:
“Across participants, we found fairly consistent pros and cons to the technology.
“The ability to learn the product easily was important for the participants to use it consistently.
“Feedback from their social circle – such as supportive children, partners or health-care providers – also helped reinforce using the technology.”
The participants who were more comfortable with technology tended to be open to, and enjoyed using, the smart packaging.
However, the device size and lack of portability did cause problems, and some participants were frustrated when the product behaved inconsistently.
They also said that they would be less likely to use the technology without support from the government or a health plan.
“For technology to be effective, it has to be accepted by the end-users,” Faisal said.
“Smart, technology-based adherence products have the potential to support patients, but health-care providers should assess older adults’ medication intake behaviours and barriers and facilitators to using a product before recommending them.”