Assessing the feasibility of pillbox organizers for medication adherence among Egyptian adults with chronic diseases: a preliminary study

Background

Patients with chronic diseases often have difficulties in managing multiple medications, resulting in poor adherence and, subsequently, adverse health consequences. Extensive research has demonstrated the beneficial effects of medication management devices, such as pill box organizers (PBOs) on enhancing medications adherence and improving patients’ health outcomes. However, research on PBOs in Egypt is limited. This study seeks to assess the awareness, user satisfaction of PBOs and their influence on medication adherence among Egyptian people with chronic illnesses.

Methods

Fifty -six Egyptian adults participated in a prospective observational study. Participants were recruited from two locations: a university employee and community individuals. Participants were asked to use a pillbox organizer for three months. Demographic data were gathered at baseline. During a bi-weekly interviews, we calculated missing doses for the past two weeks. At the end of the study period, a questionnaire containing yes/no questions to assess patients' awareness and PBO feasibility was conducted. The acceptability, usability, medication management support, and satisfaction of patients with the device were evaluated using a Likert scale.

Results

Sixty-one percent of the participants were aged 50 years or older. Almost 66% individuals possessed no prior awareness of pillbox organizers (95% CI: 0.54, 0.78, p = 0.0162). Nearly 90% deemed PBO beneficial for drug adherence (95% CI: 0.95, 1.02, p = 0). Most of the participants (80%) believed the PBO user-friendly, while 89% indicated that the device assisted in reminding them to adhere to their prescription regimen. The mean satisfaction score was 4.02 (± 0.25) on a 5-point Likert scale. Ninety-one percent of interviewees indicated that they would acquire a PBO if required.

Conclusion

The study participants viewed the PBO as an acceptable and useful tool for managing multiple medications, despite their limited awareness of them. The higher satisfaction and perceived usefulness indicate the feasibility for using PBOs in the Egyptian healthcare environments as well as its impact in enhancing drug adherence. Future research could focus on evaluating long-term adherence and health outcomes.