According to a recent study, the statins, a medicine used for treating heart patients, is consumed only 6%. This study was discussed in the meeting, '2019 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.’
The study was aimed at cardiologists all over the globe to help their patients fill that first statin prescription but also continue to help them take their medications over the long term.
Lead author Benjamin Horne, director of cardiovascular and genetic epidemiology at the Intermountain Healthcare Heart Institute, said, "These nudges are helping individuals increase and maintain their adherence to their medications more than the standard approach of giving a patient a prescription with little follow-up."
"Given what we know about statins improving long term outcomes for patients with heart disease, just reminding patients to take their medication can give them a much better chance of survival."
The findings of this study were a part of a randomized trial – the ENCOURAGE trial, that aimed on the improvement of medication adherence through the implementation of personal nudges.
Patients were randomized so that half of them received nudges about their statin prescriptions (personalized in format and message per patient), and half received standard control care.
Nudges were personalized using machine learning techniques based on the patient's psychographic profile (e.g., their perspectives, impressions, and opinions about healthcare) and their health status and needs.
Researchers found that patients who received nudges were more likely to take their medications and had a higher percentage of the proportion of days covered (80%), meaning that they had better adherence to their prescribed statins.
These kinds of reminders are becoming more important in healthcare, said Dr Horne, as less treatment is happening inside a healthcare setting, and as the popularity of technologies, such as wearables and smartwatches, make these kinds of reminders possible.
