Forma F, Chiu K, Shafrin J, Boskovic DH, & Veeranki SP. (2022). Are caregivers ready for digital? Caregiver preferences for health technology tools to monitor medication adherence among patients with serious mental illness. Digital health, 8, 20552076221084472. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076221084472
This study explored the preferences and willingness-to-pay for digital tools that monitor medication adherence among caregivers of persons with serious mental illness (SMI). Among digital tools, four options were identified: (1) smart pill bottles that records the frequency the bottle is opened or closed; (2) smart pill dispenser that sorts and organizes pills for use; (3) mobile apps; and (4) pills embedded with an ingestible event market (IEM) sensor that signals to a mobile app upon medication ingestion. Researchers administered a web-based survey to 184 caregivers of adult SMI patients recruited through phone, conferences, social media, and referrals. Fifty-seven participants cared for bipolar depression, 61 for major depressive disorder, and 66 for schizophrenia. The survey instrument consists of a discrete choice experiment module that assesses the caregivers’ preferences for adherence monitoring tools. Specifically, the survey includes items to assess source of medication adherence information, medication adherence information accessibility, patients’ report of wellbeing, and caregivers’ monthly out-of-pocket cost for the health technology tool. Results demonstrated that caregivers highly preferred a medical adherence tool using a pill embedded with an IEM sensor and tracking patients’ well-being compared to a non-digital pill organizer. Caregivers were willing to pay on average $255 more per month for this tool than a pill organizer. Findings suggest that caregivers value digital tools that monitor adherence and track their loved ones’ health.