Keep up with taking my medication

Market: Complex Patients

Scenario: A 65-year-old complex patient takes multiple medications daily for his chronic conditions. He begins by understanding his medication regimen and then plans how to incorporate it into his daily routine. He sets up medication reminders, monitors his adherence, and communicates with his healthcare team to ensure he takes his medications as prescribed.

Average Difficulty: Medium (max difficulty scores are mostly in the 20-30% range or mostly mild with a few intense steps)

42 Outcomes 0% to 27% Difficulty

Research Insights

This study identified the most difficult aspects of remembering to take medication for people with polypharmacy, including managing the emotional toll of taking multiple medications, preventing drug interactions, and fitting the medication routine into their daily schedule. They also struggle with adjusting the medication plan when needed and finding information they can trust about potential side effects.

Job Steps

1. Understand Medication Goals

2. Organize and Schedule Medications

3. Set up a place to keep my medications

4. Confirm Access to Medication (through Insurance or pay out-of-pocket)

5. Stick to taking my medication correctly and consistently

6. Monitor Medication Supply and Refills

7. Adjust Medication Routine as Needed

8. Prepare for next medication Cycle

Themes Identified

• Medication Management: Understanding the purpose of each medication, preventing drug interactions, and adjusting the medication plan when health needs change.
• Emotional Well-being: Managing the emotional toll of taking multiple medications, feeling in control of the medication routine, and maintaining a positive attitude towards the medication regimen.
• Integration with Daily Life: Incorporating the medication routine into daily schedules, remembering to take medications when routines change, and managing the medication routine while traveling or away from home.

Recommendations

• Develop a user-friendly medication management app that helps users understand the purpose of each medication and identifies potential drug interactions.
• Offer personalized medication reminders that can adapt to changes in daily routines and travel plans.
• Provide resources for managing the emotional aspects of polypharmacy, such as coping strategies and peer support forums.
• Create a centralized platform for tracking medication adherence and sharing updates with healthcare providers.
• Curate reliable and easy-to-understand information about medications and their potential side effects.

Cautions

• Avoid overwhelming users with too much information or complex medical terminology when providing medication resources.
• Ensure that medication reminders are customizable and do not contribute to alarm fatigue or user frustration.
• Be mindful of the privacy and security concerns associated with storing and sharing personal health information.
• Do not neglect the emotional and psychological impact of polypharmacy on users' well-being.
• Regularly update the medication management tools to reflect changes in prescriptions and health needs.