Advancement of practice and use of medication adherence technologies

Ivana Tadić; Job van Boven; Ioanna  Tsiligianni; Ines Potočnjak; Jovan Mihajlović; Alexandra Lelia Dima; Urška Nabergoj Makovec; Tamas Agh; Przemyslaw Kardas; Cristina Mihaela  Ghiciuc; Guenka  Petrova; Noemi  Bitterman; Fatjona  Kamberi; Josip Culig; Bjorn  Wettermark; Valentina Marinković

Ivana Tadić University of Belgrade – Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Social Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Legislation
Job van Boven University of Groningen – University Medical Center Groningen, Medication Adherence Expertise Center of the Northern Netherlands (MAECON), Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Ioanna Tsiligianni University of Crete – School of Medicine, Department of Social Medicine
Ines Potočnjak University Hospital Centre Sisters of Charity – Institute for Clinical Medical Research and Education
Jovan Mihajlović Mihajlović Health Analytics (MiHA); University of Groningen – University Medical Center Groningen; University of Novi Sad – Faculty of Medicine
Alexandra Lelia Dima Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu – Research and Development Unit
Urška Nabergoj Makovec University of Ljubljana – Faculty of Pharmacy
Tamas Agh Syreon Research Institute
Przemyslaw Kardas Medical University of Lodz – Medication Adherence Research Centre
Cristina Mihaela Ghiciuc “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy – School of Medicine, Department of Morphofunctional Sciences II – Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Algesiology,
Guenka Petrova Medical University of Sofia – Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Social Pharmacy and Pharmacoeconomics
Noemi Bitterman Israel Institute of Technology – Technion, Industrial Design
Fatjona Kamberi University of Vlore “Ismail Qemali” – Faculty of Health, Research Center of Public Health
Josip Culig „Dr. Andrija Štampar“ Teaching Institute of Public Health – Pharmacoepidemiology Department
Bjorn Wettermark Uppsala University – Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy; Vilnius University – Faculty of Medicine
Valentina Marinković University of Belgrade – Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Social Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Legislation

Abstract

Medication non-adherence is recognized as a global problem associated with financial burden for patients and healthcare funds. At the European level, different Medication Adherence Technologies (MATech) are in use. The European Network to Advance Best practices and technoLogy on medication adherencE (ENABLE, COST Action 19132) was launched to: 1) identify current practices for Medication Adherence (MA) support by healthcare professionals; 2) create a structure for the repository of existing MATech that could be used by different stakeholders; and to 3) prepare guidance for sustainable implementation of MATech across European healthcare settings. ENABLE gathered different healthcare professionals and academics from 39 countries, to achieve the set of goals during a four-year period. Several cross-European studies were conducted employing stakeholder consultation (Delphi) and survey methods, including analysis of current practices for assessing and supporting MA in routine care, as well as barriers and facilitators to managing MA, work on medication management during COVID pandemic, reimbursement pathways of adherence interventions and protocols to identify the best practices and technologies. The MATech repository was designed by ENABLE members, and consultation of different stakeholders is currently in progress. The repository structure includes information about the MATech product and provider, goals and content related to managing MA, and information about the scientific evaluation and implementation. A cross-European expert survey identified a limited number of MA enhancing interventions that are currently subject to reimbursement. ENABLE identified the need for collaboration, infrastructure, and reimbursement to enhance the uptake of MATech in daily practice.