Exploring Medication Adherence Using M-Health: A Study from Veterinary Medicine

Abstract

Background: Pharmacy practice includes the handling of human and animal medication. Amongst veterinary pharmaceutical treatments, the management of Canine Atopic Dermatitis (CAD), a chronic skin condition affecting 10%–15% of the canine population, is complex and demanding. Medication regimens are tailored to each animal and their owner or caregiver. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a mobile health (m-health) application (Petable®) to support the medication adherence in CAD treatment and clinical improvement. Methods: A total of 30 atopic dogs under treatment for CAD and their caregivers were enrolled. Both the dogs’ and owners’ background data were recorded as well as clinical and medication adherence information. This was accomplished by direct observation, clinical files consultation, mobile application, and medication adherence (Medida de Adesão aos Tratamentos—MAT questionnaire) feedback. Results: The overall non-adherence of the sample was 12.6% according to the mobile application, while 60% of caregivers self-scored as adherent according to the MAT. The only significant and positive correlation was between overall adherence and the caregiver’s education. The average degree of pruritus decreased over time and during treatment, independently to the level of m-health app usage. Conclusions: The adherence to chronic treatments may be improved through m-health apps, although further studies are needed to gauge their actual usefulness in supplementing known adherence determinants.

Are images worth a thousand words? A preliminary study testing a video for owner education in canine atopic dermatitis

“…Therapeutic adherence was measured using a published tool ( Medida de Adesão aos Tratamentos or the MAT questionnaire) 35 . This tool was validated in 2001 for people 35 and adapted into a veterinary context by direct changes in the wording (MATv) 6 . All clients answered the MATv at D56, and, as the validation paper instructs, any owner with a score equal or superior to the median value was considered successfully adherent 35…”

“…A study performed in 2020 also evaluated the adherence of pet owners to a therapeutic plan in a number of dogs with cAD. 6 Compliance was measured using a mobile health application (Petable) in addition to the MATv tool, used in our study. In that study, the MATv results showed that only 60% of the owners adhered to the treatment plan.…”

“…2,3 The multifactorial nature of this disease demands a challenging, multimodal therapeutic approach, often including a combination of topical and systemic medications which require variation in the frequency of administration or dose depending on the disease activity. [3][4][5][6] The owners of dogs with cAD require a degree of autonomy to manage the disease in their pet, 7,8 namely knowing when and how to administer both reactive and proactive treatment. 5,9 Lastly, cAD has a significant impact on the quality-of-life of both affected dogs and their owners, [10][11][12][13] frequently leading to caregiver burden.…”

“…Canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) is a highly prevalent, 1 chronic, life‐long and complex disease 2,3 . The multifactorial nature of this disease demands a challenging, multimodal therapeutic approach, often including a combination of topical and systemic medications which require variation in the frequency of administration or dose depending on the disease activity 3–6 . The owners of dogs with cAD require a degree of autonomy to manage the disease in their pet, 7,8 namely knowing when and how to administer both reactive and proactive treatment 5,9 .…”

Optimizing antimicrobial use by improving medication adherence among pig producers

“…Many interventions for increasing adherence have been tested, and 771 intervention trials suggest that healthcare providers should focus the intervention content more on behavioral strategies than on cognitive strategies designed to change knowledge levels and beliefs (Conn & Ruppar, 2017). Some studies on adherence have been conducted in companion animals (Lavan et al, 2020; Ribas et al, 2020) but not in production animals.…”