REMinD Research on Electronic MedIcatioN Devices
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An exploratory study of the acceptability and perceived value of electronic multi-compartment medication devices to inform a subsequent RCT of their effect on medication adherence.
IRAS ID
155310
Contact name
Brian McKinstry
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Edinburgh
Research summary
Poor adherence to medication is a major cause of morbidity and hospital admission for people with long-term conditions. One solution is to use multi-compartment medication devices (MMDs). MMDs vary in form from refillable boxes to sophisticated electronic web-linked devices (electronic MMDs [eMMDs]) which alert patients when to take medicines and warn patients/carers if medication has not been taken or taken inappropriately. Such devices are now widely available and being promoted to patients and carers, but their efficacy has not been tested rigorously, such as in a randomised controlled trial. However, there are many challenges to running such a trial including: deciding participant inclusion criteria, choice of the technology, acceptability of the intervention to patients, pharmacists and General Practitioners (GPs), the choice of outcome measures, and ability to recruit participants. This is a pre-clinical modelling exploratory study of the perceived advantages and disadvantages of eMMDs to patients, carers and professional stakeholders. We plan to identify candidate conditions, outcomes and devices to include in a subsequent phase II pilot Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) and explore likely recruitment approaches and rates. We will hold focus groups with patients and their carers to explore experience of and perceptions of MMDs and eMMDs, using sample devices as aids. Focus groups will also be held with health and social care professionals to explore experience of MMDs and eMMDs, views on which types of people are most likely to benefit from such devices, and which conditions are eligible candidates for measuring adherence, and what kinds of outcome measures would be useful. Finally, quantitative data will be gathered by pharmacists on the number of patients with candidate conditions (identified in the staff focus groups) are currently using conventional MMDs and other who may have adherence problems.
REC name
London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1089
Date of REC Opinion
10 Jun 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion