Use of an electronic pillbox by older adults with mild Alzheimer’s disease: Impact on medication administration and adherence
M. Tellier, C. Auger, N. Bier, L. Demers
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AbstractBackground: Medication management is a key concern for people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and their family caregivers in the home environment. Using an electronic pillbox or multicompartment medication device (eMMD) could help them on a daily basis. Research aim: The aim of this study was to teach older adults with mild AD how to use an eMMD and evaluate the impact of its use on independence with medication administration and medication adherence. Method: We conducted a multiple baseline single-case study with an A1BA2 design across tasks (A1 = no training, no eMMD; B = training with eMMD; A2 = no training, daily use of eMMD). Four participants with AD learned how to use an eMMD by following a training program involving specific learning strategies. Independence with medication administration was scored on a 5-point scale observation chart and analyzed visually and quantitatively using Tau. Medication adherence was measured using the automated data generated by the eMMD over the 12 weeks post-training. Results: All participants were able to learn to use the eMMD within 11 training sessions. Score variability and trends showed an increase in independence with medication administration between A1 and A2. Tau yielded significant (p < 0.05) effect sizes. Medication adherence was over 80% for the 12 weeks post-training. Conclusion: This study suggests that engaging older adults with mild AD in using an eMMD can improve medication management. The results also reinforce the relevance of technology research and development focusing on this population.Keywords: Alzheimer disease, medication management, electronic pillbox, errorless learning
M. Tellier, C. Auger, N. Bier, L. Demers (2020). Use of an electronic pillbox by older adults with mild Alzheimer’s disease: Impact on medication administration and adherence. Gerontechnology, 19(1), 66-76
https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2020.19.1.007.00