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. 2025 Apr 29;67(1):e1-e8.
doi: 10.4102/safp.v67i1.6031.

Effectiveness of inbuilt cell phone reminders in chronic medication compliance

Thanduxolo P Myeni  1 , Somasundram Pillay
Affiliations

Effectiveness of inbuilt cell phone reminders in chronic medication compliance

Thanduxolo P Myeni et al. S Afr Fam Pract (2004). .

Abstract

Background: Adherence to chronic medication is crucial for managing chronic diseases and preventing complications. However, maintaining consistent adherence remains challenging, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where forgetfulness is a common barrier. The widespread use of mobile phones, even in resource-limited settings, offers a practical opportunity to leverage inbuilt reminder features to support medication adherence. This study evaluates the effectiveness of inbuilt cell phone reminders in enhancing chronic medication compliance among patients in the eThekwini health district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Methods: In this prospective, cross-sectional study, 400 patients on chronic medications were systematically selected from five healthcare centres. Participants were divided into two groups: those using mobile phone reminders (Group 1) and those who did not (Group 2). Medication adherence was assessed using a standardised questionnaire, and statistical analyses, including Chi-square tests and logistic regression, were conducted to identify differences in adherence rates.

Results: Group 1 exhibited significantly higher adherence rates (87%) compared to Group 2 (67%, p 0.001). The use of cell phone reminders was associated with a 2.5-fold increase in the odds of adherence (odds ratio [OR] = 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7-3.6, p 0.001).

Conclusion: Inbuilt cell phone reminders are a cost-effective intervention that significantly enhances medication adherence, especially in resource-limited settings. Integrating mobile technologies into public health strategies could improve chronic disease management.Contribution: This study highlights the potential of mobile phone reminders as a practical tool for improving medication adherence, with significant implications for public health strategies in low-resource settings.

Keywords: cell phone reminders; chronic disease management; compliance; digital health interventions; medication adherence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Chronic medications.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Cell phone reminder use.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Comparison of responses for Group 1 and Group 2.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Comparison of Group 1 and Group 2 responses.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Forgetfulness without cell phone reminders (Group 1).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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