Effectiveness of smartphone-based medication reminder application on medication adherence of patients with essential hypertension: A clinical trial study

Context: Failure to adhere to drug therapy in patients with high blood pressure can endanger their lives. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of smartphone-based medication reminder application on medication adherence of patients with essential hypertension. Settings and Design: This clinical trial study was conducted in Yazd Cardiac Research Center. Material and Methods: Seventy-eight patients with essential hypertension were assigned to intervention (39 patients) and control (39 patients) groups using a random sampling method. In the intervention group, the DaroYab 2.1.0 was installed on the patient’s smartphone. The control group received routine care. Data were collected using demographic characteristics form and Morriskey’s medication adherence scale (MMAS-8). The MMAS-8 completed prior to and 3 months after the intervention. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS, American multinational technology company, Armonk, New York and nonparametric tests including the Wilcoxon test and Mann–Whitney U-test. Results: The mean age of the 78 patients who completed the study was 46.6 ± 7.98 years. All of the participants had a history of drug forgetfulness and 92.5% of them had poor medication adherence before the intervention. Three months after the intervention, the ratio of good medication adherence and medication adherence scores was significantly improved in the DaroYab software group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Considering the positive impact of DaroYab as a simple, practical, and inexpensive drug reminder, on medication adherence it is recommended that health-care providers introduce this application to of hypertensive patients and encourage them to use it.