The Use of Mobile Health Technology and Behavioral Economics to Encourage Adherence in Adolescents
1 other identifier
interventional
11
1 country
1
Brief Summary
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) affects over one million Americans and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by as much as 20-fold. Although the use of statins can substantially reduce this risk, adherence to statins in adults and adolescence is poor. In adults, lower rates of adherence are associated with an increased rate of CVD events and all-cause mortality, as well as an additional $44 billion annually in health care costs. Novel interventions are needed to improve medication adherence in patients with FH, starting in adolescents. An underused strategy to improve medication adherence incorporates the principles of behavioral economics. Traditional economic theory suggests that providing an incentive to perform a behavior will increase the frequency of that behavior. However, two prominent theories in behavioral economics, Present Bias and Loss Aversion, suggest that not all types of incentives are effective and that poorly structured incentives can actually be negative enforcers. With novel mobile health technologies (mHealth), interventions based on behavioral economics can now be studied on a larger scale. In this proposal, the investigators will test the use of monetary incentives ($30 per 30 days) to improve medication adherence in eligible subjects. The investigators will test the subject's adherence prior to the use of incentives (using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale and the Wellth Mobile Application) and during the period of time the incentives are provided. Lastly, the investigators will test the subject's adherence (using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale and Wellth App) during the 60 days following discontinuation of the incentives to determine if any effect of the incentive persists after the incentive is discontinued.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at below P25 for not_applicable
Started Jan 2021
Longer than P75 for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
July 1, 2020
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
July 7, 2020
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
January 1, 2021
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
June 30, 2024
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
July 31, 2024
CompletedAugust 21, 2024
August 1, 2024
3.5 years
July 1, 2020
August 19, 2024
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (3)
1.1: Baseline adherence level
Baseline adherence level to determine eligibility of subjects
Day 0
1.2: Change in adherence with monetary incentives
Change in statin adherence in enrolled subjects following an intervention that includes access to the Wellth mobile phone application with reminders to take their medication, and will receive monetary incentives for taking medication as prescribed.
Days 14-74
1.3: Change in adherence withOUT monetary incentives
Change in statin adherence in enrolled subjects following an intervention that includes access to the Wellth application with reminders to take their medication, but with no monetary incentives.
Days 75-134
Study Arms (1)
Interventions
EXPERIMENTALAll subjects in this trial will receive the following interventions: 1. Pre-Intervention (Days 0-14): Subjects given access to Wellth application reminders, no incentives provided. A virtual "check in" with the study team will occur at the end of the pre-intervention period (14 days). 2. Intervention (Days 15-74): Subjects will use Wellth app for 60 days, with incentives provided at the 30- and 60-day mark. At the end of the intervention period (Day 60), the subject will attend a clinic visit with the medical provider and a fasting lipid panel and MMAS will also be collected at this time. 3. Post-intervention (Days 74-134): Subjects will continue to use the Wellth app and receive reminders, but with no incentives provided, for 60 days. A clinic visit, fasting lipid profile, and MMAS will also be collected following the post-intervention period.
Interventions
This intervention will assess the efficacy of subjects using the Wellth mobile phone application to provide reminders to take their statin medication, and receiving monetary incentives for taking their medication as prescribed.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Diagnosis of FH based on National Lipid Association (NLA) criteria and/or genetic testing
- Prescribed a statin
- Be able to provide written, informed consent or have a parent/guardian provide written, informed consent
- Be able to use a mobile phone and application
- Morisky Medication Adherence Scale score of ≤ 6
You may not qualify if:
- Diagnosis of Homozygous FH
- Residence in a long-term care facility where medications are administered
- May become pregnant
- History of adverse effect or allergy to a statin, or any ingredient in a statin
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- Boston Children's Hospitallead
- Wellth Inc.collaborator
- MMAS-8 with permission from Dr Donald Morisky. as written belowcollaborator
Study Sites (1)
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
Related Publications (48)
1. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Statins for the prevention of cardiovascular events. Technology Appraisal. London: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, 2006.
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PMID: 40810443DERIVED
Related Links
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- NA
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- SINGLE GROUP
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Staff Cardiologist and Instructor of Pediatrics
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
July 1, 2020
First Posted
July 7, 2020
Study Start
January 1, 2021
Primary Completion
June 30, 2024
Study Completion
July 31, 2024
Last Updated
August 21, 2024
Record last verified: 2024-08
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share