Feasibility of Electronic Medication Monitoring Among Adolescents and Emerging Adults with Sickle Cell Disease

Aimee K Hildenbrand; Katherine M Kidwell; Meghan E McGrady; Constance A Mara; Charles T Quinn; Lori E Crosby

doi:10.2147/PPA.S431595

Feasibility of Electronic Medication Monitoring Among Adolescents and Emerging Adults with Sickle Cell Disease

Patient Prefer Adherence. 2023 Dec 5:17:3167-3171. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S431595. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Aimee K Hildenbrand^{1

2

3}, Katherine M Kidwell⁴, Meghan E McGrady^{5

6}, Constance A Mara^{5

6}, Charles T Quinn^{6

7}, Lori E Crosby^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Center for Healthcare Delivery Science, Nemours Children's Health, Wilmington, DE, USA.
² Division of Behavioral Health, Nemours Children's Hospital Delaware, Wilmington, DE, USA.
³ Department of Pediatrics, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
⁴ Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
⁵ Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
⁶ Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
⁷ Division of Hematology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the feasibility of using MEMS^® bottles to assess adherence among adolescents and emerging adults with sickle cell disease.

Patients and methods: Eighteen non-Hispanic Black participants with HbSS (M = 17.8 years; 61% male) were given a MEMS^® bottle to store hydroxyurea (n = 14) or deferasirox (n = 4).

Results: One hundred percent initiated MEMS^® use and 61% sustained use through the 18-week study; at follow-up, only 11% returned their bottle on time. Barriers to MEMS^® use included medication changes and transition to adult care; facilitators included tip sheets and reminders.

Conclusion: While MEMS^® is acceptable to this population, ensuring sustained use and timely provision of bottles will require additional supports.

Keywords: MEMS; adherence; medicine; sickle cell anemia.

Grants and funding

K07 HL108720/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States