Walgreens mobile pill reminder feature and its activity tracking digital health solutions has improved medication adherence among pharmacy patients, according to two recent company studies. Recent Walgreens research has shown that consumers over 50 years of age who track activities through its Balance® Rewards for healthy choices (BRhc) program, which awards loyalty points for healthy behaviors and activities, are more adherent to their medication therapies. A separate Walgreens study found that the pill reminder feature within the Walgreens mobile app is also demonstrating better optimal adherence[1] among users.
Balance Rewards for healthy choices and patients over 50 Study
The Walgreens retrospective cohort study examined patients who filled an antihypertensive, oral antidiabetic or antihyperlipidemic medication among those 50 years old or greater, between March and October 2014. The findings concluded that tracking physical activity four or more times per week were 11.2 percent higher for antihypertensives, 5.1 percent higher for oral antidiabetics and 4.5 percent higher for antihyperlipidemics.
[2] In addition, tracking blood pressure twice or more per week or tracking blood glucose once or more per week was associated with significantly better optimal adherence: 6.8 percent higher for patients taking antihypertensives and 12.3 percent higher for oral antidiabetics.
Mobile Pill Reminder Research Findings
For the mobile pill reminder feature, the Walgreens study took a group comprised of patients who used the pill reminder and had oral antidiabetic, antihypertensive or antihyperlipidemic medications between an index period of January 2014 and September 2014 and compared to a control group comprised of those who did not use the pill reminder.
The research found that utilization of the Walgreens mobile app pill reminder was 12.3 percent higher for oral antidiabetics, 11.3 percent higher for antihypertensives and 9.1 percent higher for antihyperlipidemics.
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