208 Pharmacy Students Explore Use of an Electronic Medication Adherence Device

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: To examine pharmacy students’ and patients’ perspectives on use of an automatic pill dispenser (APD) and adherence device, and secondly, to identify patient characteristics impacting selection of an APD. This knowledge will assist pharmacists in making appropriate device recommendations that improve medication adherence and effectiveness. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: One hundred fifty-three pharmacy students participated in a personal APD simulation, living the life as a person taking medication. Students then each identified an actual patient exhibiting medication nonadherence from pharmacy records at their work setting, provided them with an APD free of charge and instructed them on its use. The students later interviewed their patients and reported on their patients’ ability to use the APD, as well as their perspectives (likes and dislikes) on the features of the device. Students identified individual patient characteristics associated with successful use of the APD. This new knowledge will aid these future pharmacists in making recommendations for medication adherence devices for their patients. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: In general, patients perceived more difficulty with use of the 10 APD features than did students. Over half of the patients indicated that the following features were a distinct advantage in adherence: individual medication compartment size, method of loading medications, alarm, flashing light, ability to lock the dispenser, and method of retrieving the medication from the device. Patients felt that the biggest disadvantage was its bulky size and lack of portability. In spite of individual difficulties with use, the research findings showed that persons who are elderly, homebound, have memory problems, take multiple medications and/or have complex regimens are most likely to benefit from the device features and exhibit improved adherence to their prescribed medication regimen. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Medication adherence rates in the U.S are agreed upon to be about 50% - highly relevant to healthcare practitioners since several studies suggest a correlation between adherence and improved health outcomes. Pharmacists must be knowledgeable about non-adherence tools and consider patient characteristics when recommending an adherence aid.