iMedicalApps, May 16, 2017
Adherence to medications is a major factor in determining patient outcomes. Stroke patients on direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are perfect examples of this adherence issue. Regular adherence to their DOACs is essential to prevent the risk of stroke and bleeding. Previously, we have looked into other creative solutions to improve adherence, including ingestible sensors. This time, we are looking at the concept of directly observed therapy that no longer relies on healthcare professionals reviewing patient videos, but has built-in artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.
In a 12-week, randomized, parallel-group study, Labovitz et al tested the effect of an AI-enabled app, AiCure, on medication adherence in 28 ischemic stroke patients (20 patients were on DOACs including dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban; 8 were on warfarin). Not only can AiCure provide patients with reminders and dosing information, it is also capable of carrying out directly observed therapy through HIPAA-compliant facial recognition, automatic medication identification, and real-time medication ingestion confirmation using a smartphone. Read more here.