Application of family-involved smart medication management system in rural-dwelling middle-aged and older adult participants with chronic diseases: Management of chronic diseases in rural areas

Management of patients with chronic diseases in rural areas and the use of medications need to be urgently addressed. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a family-involved smart medication management system for rural patients with chronic diseases. Between June and August 2021, 82 patients with chronic diseases were selected using convenience sampling from 2 county towns in Hebei Province, China. They were randomly divided into control (41 participants) and experimental (41 participants) groups. The control group was managed using a routine medication management model for chronic diseases. The experimental group was managed using a family-involved smart medication management system, in addition to the control group interventions. The groups were graded using the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8), the Self-efficacy for Appropriate Medication Use Scale (SEAMS), the Medication Knowledge Assessment Questionnaire, and the Family Support Scale before the intervention and at 8 and 24 weeks after the intervention. Pre-intervention group differences were not statistically significant. At 8 weeks after the intervention, the control group showed no statistically significant differences in the MMAS-8, SEAMS, and Medication Knowledge Assessment scores pre-and post-intervention. These scores were higher in the experimental group than in the control group, with the post-intervention scores being higher than the pre-intervention scores. The MMAS-8, SEAMS, and Medication Knowledge Assessment scores for the experimental group were higher at 24 weeks than at 8 weeks; these scores were higher in the experimental group than in the control group. The experimental group also had higher family support scores than the control group; these scores were higher pre-intervention than post-intervention. A family-involved smart medication management system can effectively improve medication adherence, self-efficacy for appropriate medication use, medication knowledge assessment scores, and family support for rural middle-aged and older adult patients with chronic diseases.