Development of a Smart Pillbox with Passive RFID to Support Prospective Memory and Medication Adherence

Abstract

The economic loss due to unused medicines is estimated at be 50 billion yen, as many people do not consume or carry their prescribed medicines due to forgetfulness. One reason for this is that people forget to take or carry their medication. Many scholars have investigated smart indoor pillboxes by linking with cameras, RFID, and web applications; however, all of them are based on the condition of being at home, or requiring a human to enter the dose to be taken. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a new portable smart pillbox using passive RFID in the 13.56 MHz frequency band to improve medication adherence. Unprecedentedly, in this study, a critical-function prototype of a smart pillbox using a passive RFID filter in the 13.56 MHz frequency band was developed; and passive RFID was designed after conducting a solution study. An investigation was undertaken to assess the efficacy of prospective memory in enhancing medication adherence using both normal and smart pillboxes. The objective was to ascertain if the intelligent dispenser could mitigate medication discrepancies among patients newly initiated on their therapeutic regimen. 8 students in their 20s who had previously taken their medication were selected as participants. Participants performed the disengagement decision task as a background task and the action of taking medication from a pillbox as a prospective memory task. Participants were given a smartphone and were reminded by a notification if the pillbox from which they took their medication was a smart pillbox. Performance on the prospective memory task was assessed using a semi-structured questionnaire and an interview. The findings indicate that the reminder is not the precipitating factor in the diminution of prospective memory discrepancies; rather, an overestimation of one's mnemonic capabilities emerges as a salient contributor to such errors. And, the use of passive RFID in the development of smart pillboxes shows its potential contribution to reducing prospective memory errors and improving medication adherence. By examining a broader perspective, the results of the current study are promising for widespread implementation as a method to improve medication adherence.