The use of incentives to reinforce medication adherence

The impact of packaging and messaging on adherence to malaria treatment: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial in Uganda

Despite substantial public and private costs of non-adherence to infectious disease treatments, patients often do not finish their medication. We explore adherence to medication for malaria, a major cause of morbidity and health system costs in Africa. We conducted a randomized trial in Uganda testing specialized packaging and messaging, designed to increase antimalarial adherence. We find that stickers with short, targeted messages on the packaging increase adherence by 9% and reduce untaken pills by 29%. However, the currently used method of boosting adherence through costly, specialized packaging with pictorial instructions had no significant impacts relative to the standard control package. We develop a theoretical framework of the adherence decision, highlighting the role of symptoms, beliefs about being cured, and beliefs about drug effectiveness to help interpret our results. Patients whose symptoms resolve sooner are substantially less likely to adhere, and the sticker interventions have the strongest impact among these patients.

A review of contingency management for the treatment of substance-use disorders: adaptation for underserved populations, use of experimental technologies, and personalized optimization strategies

This review of contingency management (CM; the behavior-modification method of providing reinforcement in exchange for objective evidence of a desired behavior) for the treatment of substance-use disorders (SUDs) begins by describing the origins of CM and how it has come to be most commonly used during the treatment of SUDs. Our core objective is to review, describe, and discuss three ongoing critical advancements in CM. We review key emerging areas wherein CM will likely have an impact. In total, we qualitatively reviewed 31 studies in a systematic fashion after searching PubMed and Google Scholar. We then describe and highlight CM investigations across three broad themes: adapting CM for underserved populations, CM with experimental technologies, and optimizing CM for personalized interventions. Technological innovations that allow for mobile delivery of reinforcers in exchange for objective evidence of a desired behavior will likely expand the possible applications of CM throughout the SUD-treatment domain and into therapeutically related areas (eg, serious mental illness). When this mobile technology is coupled with new, easy-to-utilize biomarkers, the adaptation for individual goal setting and delivery of CM-based SUD treatment in hard-to-reach places (eg, rural locations) can have a sustained impact on communities most affected by these disorders. In conclusion, there is still much to be done, not only technologically but also in convincing policy makers to adopt this well-established, cost-effective, and evidence-based method of behavior modification.

A systematic review of community-based interventions to improve oral chronic disease medication regimen adherence among individuals with substance use disorder

BACKGROUND

Poor medication adherence has been shown to cause medical complications, death, and increased healthcare costs and may be of particular importance in patients with substance use disorder (SUD). Concerns regarding adherence in this population may influence a healthcare provider's decision to prescribe a medication requiring high adherence. Guidance defining best practices that promote adherence among individuals with SUD is lacking.

METHODS

A review of English articles in Medline and PsycINFO databases, published between October 1, 1994 and October 31, 2017, was conducted in order to identify studies of interventions intended to improve adherence to oral chronic disease medication regimens among patients with SUD. Randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental study designs, and case series were included. Article quality was assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 854 abstracts were retrieved, of which 24 met inclusion criteria. Adherence interventions were categorized as those: 1) addressing the chronic disease state; 2) addressing SUD; or 3) both. Studies varied greatly with respect to intervention length, method of measuring adherence, and quality. Statistically significant improvement in adherence was observed in 12 of 24 studies (50%). Specific interventions that improved adherence included incentive-based interventions, directly observed therapy, and telephonic/home visits. Counseling-based interventions such motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy presented mixed results.

CONCLUSIONS

While effective interventions were identified, heterogeneity of study designs and study quality preclude determination of optimal interventions to promote adherence in this population. Further evaluation with sound study design may inform the development of best practices for treating chronic disease in patients with SUD.

Do incentives undermine intrinsic motivation? Increases in intrinsic motivation within an incentive-based intervention for people living with HIV in Tanzania

BACKGROUND

Cash and in-kind incentives can improve health outcomes in various settings; however, there is concern that incentives may 'crowd out' intrinsic motivation to engage in beneficial behaviors. We examined this hypothesis in a randomized trial of food and cash incentives for people living with HIV infection in Tanzania.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 469 individuals randomized to one of three study arms: standard of care, short-term cash transfers, or short-term food assistance. Eligible participants were: 1) ≥18 years old; 2) HIV-infected; 3) food insecure; and 4) initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) ≤90 days before the study. Food or cash transfers, valued at ~$11 per month and conditional on attending clinic visits, were provided for ≤6 months. Intrinsic motivation was measured at baseline, 6, and 12 months using the autonomous motivation section of the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire (TSRQ). We compared the change in TSRQ score from baseline to 6 and 12 months and the change within study arms.

RESULTS

The mean intrinsic motivation score was 2.79 at baseline (range: 1-3), 2.91 at 6 months (range: 1-3), and 2.95 at 12 months (range: 2-3), which was 6 months after the incentives had ended. Among all patients, the intrinsic motivation score increased by 0.13 points at 6 months (95% CI (0.09, 0.17), Cohen's d = 0.29) and 0.19 points at 12 months (95% CI (0.14, 0.24), Cohen's d = 0.49). Intrinsic motivation also increased within each study group at 6 months: 0.15 points in the food arm (95% CI (0.09, 0.21), Cohen's d = 0.37), 0.11 points in the cash arm (95% CI (0.05, 0.18), Cohen's d = 0.25), and 0.08 points in the comparison arm (95% CI (-0.03, 0.19), Cohen's d = 0.21); findings were similar at 12 months. Increases in motivation were statistically similar between arms at 6 and 12 months.

CONCLUSION

Intrinsic motivation for ART adherence increased significantly both overall and within the food and cash incentive arms, even after the incentive period was over. Increases in motivation did not differ by study group. These results suggest that incentive interventions for treatment adherence should not be withheld due to concerns of crowding out intrinsic motivation.

Medicaid Incentives for Preventing Chronic Disease: Effects of Financial Incentives for Smoking Cessation

OBJECTIVE

To test the effectiveness of financial incentives for smoking cessation in the Medicaid population.

DATA SOURCES

Secondary data from the Medicaid Incentives for Prevention of Chronic Disease (MIPCD) program and Medicaid claims/encounter data from 2010 to 2015 for five states.

STUDY DESIGN

Beneficiaries were randomized into receipt or no receipt of financial incentives. We ran multivariate regression models testing the impact of financial incentives on the use of counseling services, smoking behavior, and Medicaid expenditures and utilization.

DATA EXTRACTION

Participating states provided Medicaid eligibility, claims and encounters, program enrollment, and incentivized service use data.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Participants who received incentives were more likely to call the Quitline and complete counseling sessions. Incentive receipt was positively associated with self-reported quit attempts, self-reported quits, or passing cotinine tests of smoking cessation in most programs, although results were only statistically significant in a subset. There was no systematic evidence that incentives affected health care use or spending.

CONCLUSIONS

Financial incentives are a promising policy lever to motivate behavioral change in the Medicaid population, but more evidence is needed regarding optimal incentive size, effectiveness of process-versus outcome-based incentives, targeting of incentives, and long-run cost-effectiveness.

Using the Behaviour Change Wheel to explore potential strategies for minimising harms from non-recreational prescription medicine sharing

INTRODUCTION

Non-recreational sharing of prescribed medicines can have positive outcomes under some circumstances, but can also result in negative health outcomes. This paper describes a theoretically underpinned and systematic approach to exploring potential interventions to reduce harm.

METHODS

Individual, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with purposively sampled pharmacists (n = 8), doctors (n = 4), nurses (n = 6) and patients (n = 17) from Auckland, New Zealand. Thematic analysis of suggested interventions was undertaken, and these were linked to relevant intervention functions of the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW). Analysis of previously defined factors influencing sharing were mapped onto the "Capability, Opportunity, Motivation - Behaviour" (COM-B) model of the BCW.

RESULTS

COM-B analysis of the factors influencing sharing behaviour revealed: (i) 'Capability'-related factors, such as patient misconceptions about the safety of certain medicines, forgetting to refill or to carry around own medicines, and lack of knowledge about safe disposal of leftover/unused medicines; (ii) 'Opportunity'-related factors included lack of access to health facilities, lack of time to see a doctor, linguistic and cultural barriers, lack of information from healthcare providers about risks of sharing, and having leftover/unused medicines, and (iii) 'Motivation'-related factors included altruism, illness denial, embarrassment about seeing a doctor, not carrying around own medicines, habit, and fear of negative health consequences from missing a few doses of medicines. Five intervention functions of the BCW appear to be the most likely candidates for targeting the factors which relate to medicine sharing. These are education, persuasion, enablement, environmental restructuring and restriction.

CONCLUSIONS

A variety of personal and external factors which influence sharing behaviours were identified, and the BCW provided a means by which theoretically underpinned interventions to reduce potential harms from this behaviour could be proposed. The findings can help with the design of approaches to reduce harm associated with non-recreational medicine sharing.

Moderating Effects of Patient Characteristics on the Impact of Financial Incentives

While financial incentives to providers or patients are increasingly common as a quality improvement strategy, their impact on patient subgroups and health care disparities is unclear. To examine these patterns, we analyzed data from a randomized clinical trial of financial incentives to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in patients at risk for cardiovascular disease. Patients with higher baseline LDL experienced greater cholesterol reductions in the shared incentive arm (0.23 mg/dL per unit change in baseline LDL, 95% CI [-0.46, -0.00]) but were also less likely to have medication potency increases in the physician incentive arm ( OR = 0.98, 95% CI [0.97, 0.996]). Uninsured patients and those of race other than Black or White were less likely to have potency increases in the shared incentive arm ( OR = 0.15, 95% CI [0.03, 0.70] and OR = 0.09, 95% CI [0.01, 0.93], respectively). These findings suggest some differential response to incentives, particularly in the form of targeted medication changes.

Impact of Facility-Based Mother Support Groups on Retention in Care and PMTCT Outcomes in Rural Zimbabwe: The EPAZ Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission elimination goals are hampered by low rates of retention in care. The Eliminating Paediatric AIDS in Zimbabwe project assessed whether mother support groups (MSGs) improve rates of retention in care of HIV-exposed infants and their HIV-positive mothers, and maternal and infant outcomes.

METHODS

The study involved 27 rural clinics in eastern Zimbabwe. MSGs were established in 14 randomly selected clinics and met every 2 weeks coordinated by volunteer HIV-positive mothers. MSG coordinators provided health education and reminded mothers of MSG meetings by cell phone. Infant retention in care was defined as "12 months postpartum point attendance" at health care visits of HIV-exposed infants at 12 months of age. We also measured regularity of attendance and other program indicators of HIV-positive mothers and their HIV-exposed infants.

RESULTS

Among 507 HIV-positive pregnant women assessed as eligible, 348 were enrolled and analyzed (69%) with mothers who had disclosed their HIV status being overrepresented. In the intervention arm, 69% of infants were retained in care at 12 months versus 61% in the control arm, with no statistically significant difference. Retention and other program outcomes were systematically higher in the intervention versus control arm, suggesting trends toward positive health outcomes with exposure to MSGs.

DISCUSSION

We were unable to show that facility-based MSGs improved retention in care at 12 months among HIV-exposed infants. Selective enrollment of mothers more likely to be retained-in-care may have contributed to lack of effect. Methods to increase the impact of MSGs on retention including targeting of high-risk mothers are discussed.

New digital adherence devices could prevent millions of strokes from atrial fibrillation by the end of the next century

The effectiveness and safety of a pharmacologic intervention is highly dependent on patient's capability to follow the recommended treatment regimen. Non-adherence to pharmacologic treatments is associated with worsening conditions including hospitalization and death. This is a significant burden to healthcare systems on a global scale with non-adherence rates being as high (or higher) as 50% in the first treatment year. The most common causes for non-adherence are forgetfulness, busy lifestyle or complexity and changes in therapeutic schedules. In conditions like atrial fibrillation (AFib) this leads to a drastic increase in event rates, e.g. strokes. Patients diagnosed with AFib are strongly recommended to receive anticoagulant treatments for stroke prevention. Treatments with Vitamin K antagonists or novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) can dramatically lower the risk of ischemic strokes in the presence of AFib. Non-adherence can expose the patients to an increased stroke risk. This is especially true for NOACs, due to their short half-life. Patients have to take these medications once or twice daily for adequate stroke prevention, i.e., single non-use of the medication can already diminish or reset the anticoagulative effect. Adherence devices could help improve patient's compliance by reminder or feedback function. They have shown to be successful in a number of clinical trails. Especially, newer devices that make use of digital technologies show promising results but are not used broadly in clinical practice. Here we provide evidence for our hypothesis that newly available adherence devices might increase adherence rates and thereby reduce the number of strokes in patients with AFib.

Community Pharmacy-Based Inducement Programs Associated With Better Medication Adherence: A Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Inducement programs can promote customer loyalty; however, the clinical effects of these programs are unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To examine relationships among inducement program use, medication adherence, and health outcomes.

METHODS

Alberta residents with ≥ 1 physician visit for diabetes or hypertension between April 2008 and March 2014 were eligible for this study and included if they were new statin users and alive at least 455 days after the first statin dispensation. Group assignment was based on whether all statin dispensations in the first year were obtained from pharmacies with or without inducement programs. Discontinuation was defined as no statin dispensations between 275 and 455 days after the first statin dispensation. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) hospitalizations or deaths were identified between 456 days and 3 years after the first statin dispensation. Multivariable regression analyses were conducted to examine relationships among inducement program use, discontinuation, and ACS events.

RESULTS

Among the 159 998 new statin users, mean age was 60.2 (±13.7) years and 67 534 (42%) were women. Statin discontinuation occurred in 22 455 (28.9%) of 77 803 inducement group participants and 25 816 (31.4%) of 82 195 noninducement group participants (adjusted odds ratio = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.86-0.90). Risk of an ACS event was similar between groups (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.00; 95% CI 0.92-1.08); however, discontinuing statin therapy was associated with a higher risk of an ACS event (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.27; 95% CI = 1.16-1.39).

CONCLUSIONS

Inducement programs are associated with better adherence and not directly associated with risk of health outcomes.

A pilot trial of In vivo NRT sampling to increase medication adherence in community corrections smokers

BACKGROUND

Individuals in the criminal justice system demonstrate high rates of cigarette use (70-80%) and low adherence to smoking cessation medication. Educational approaches have not been shown to promote adherence or cessation, though medication sampling has boosted both use and cessation. The objective of the present study was to determine whether In vivo nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) sampling approach increases NRT adherence among criminal justice smokers during a subsequent quit attempt.

METHODS

We conducted a pilot study with 43 community corrections smokers randomized to a 4-session (one 30-min session per week) precessation intervention of either In vivo NRT sampling (Session 1: patch; Session 2: gum; Session 3: combination NRT (cNRT); Session 4: review) vs. 4 time-matched sessions of standard smoking cessation with cNRT started after Session 1. Both groups received an additional 8weeks of cNRT following the four intervention sessions.

RESULTS

During the in vivo administration of NRT, total withdrawal and craving severity significantly decreased from pre- to post-session compared to Control participants. In vivo participants evinced greater patch use at Session 4 and greater gum use through Week 8 relative to Controls.

DISCUSSION

In vivo NRT sampling may increase NRT adherence relative to standard counseling sessions among criminal justice smokers. A larger trial of this novel intervention appears to be warranted.

The WHF Roadmap for Reducing CV Morbidity and Mortality Through Prevention and Control of RHD

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a preventable non-communicable condition that disproportionately affects the world's poorest and most vulnerable. The World Heart Federation Roadmap for improved RHD control is a resource designed to help a variety of stakeholders raise the profile of RHD nationally and globally, and provide a framework to guide and support the strengthening of national, regional and global RHD control efforts. The Roadmap identifies the barriers that limit access to and uptake of proven interventions for the prevention and control of RHD. It also highlights a variety of established and promising solutions that may be used to overcome these barriers. As a general guide, the Roadmap is meant to serve as the foundation for the development of tailored plans of action to improve RHD control in specific contexts.

Predictors of medication adherence and smoking cessation among smokers under community corrections supervision

INTRODUCTION

Individuals in the U.S. criminal justice system now represent over 12% of all current U.S. smokers. With smoking banned in most U.S. jails and prisons, the cessation focus for this population has shifted to individuals who are under community correction supervision (e.g., probation, parole). The aim of this study was to examine predictors of successful smoking cessation among criminal justice individuals supervised in the community.

METHODS

Five hundred participants under community corrections supervision were randomized to receive either four sessions of smoking cessation counseling or no counseling in conjunction with 12weeks of bupropion treatment plus brief physician advice to quit. Logistic regression analyses examined associations of smoking variables with medication adherence and successful abstinence. Mediation analysis evaluated the indirect effects of medication adherence on smoking abstinence.

RESULTS

The strongest associate of medication adherence was previous use of bupropion, while the strongest associate of smoking abstinence was medication adherence. Mediation analysis indicated that previous use of bupropion indirectly increased cessation rates through the pathway of increased medication adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

These results highlight the importance of medication adherence for smoking cessation among community corrections smokers. Providing exposure to medication may be a promising intervention to increase medication adherence and subsequent cessation rates in this population.

Development of a Multi-Target Contingency Management Intervention for HIV Positive Substance Users

Contingency management (CM) interventions generally target a single behavior such as attendance or drug use. However, disease outcomes are mediated by complex chains of both healthy and interfering behaviors enacted over extended periods of time. This paper describes a novel multi-target contingency management (CM) program developed for use with HIV positive substance users enrolled in a CTN multi-site study (0049 Project HOPE). Participants were randomly assigned to usual care (referral to health care and SUD treatment) or 6-months strength-based patient navigation interventions with (PN+CM) or without (PN only) the CM program. Primary outcome of the trial was viral load suppression at 12-months post-randomization. Up to $1160 could be earned over 6 months under escalating schedules of reinforcement. Earnings were divided among eight CM targets; two PN-related (PN visits; paperwork completion; 26% of possible earnings), four health-related (HIV care visits, lab blood draw visits, medication check, viral load suppression; 47% of possible earnings) and two drug-use abatement (treatment entry; submission of drug negative UAs; 27% of earnings). The paper describes rationale for selection of targets, pay amounts and pay schedules. The CM program was compatible with and fully integrated into the PN intervention. The study design will allow comparison of behavioral and health outcomes for participants receiving PN with and without CM; results will inform future multi-target CM development.

The Health Promotion Model in HIV Care

Un tratamiento médico eficaz con un compromiso ininterrumpido en el cuidado es crítico para mejorar la supervivencia y la calidad de vida de los pacientes infectados con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH). Objetivos: se han llevado a cabo múltiples intervenciones conductuales para promover comportamientos de adherencia. Sin embargo, la adhesión a los medicamentos contra el VIH y las citas médicas siguen siendo un tema de preocupación mundial. Método: el modelo de promoción de la salud (HPM) es una adaptación de enfermería del modelo de creencias de salud. El HPM se centra en características y experiencias individuales, así como cogniciones y resultados específicos del comportamiento. La integración del HPM en el abordaje de los comportamientos de adherencia podría ser uno de los pilares del éxito en el cambio del comportamiento de la salud. Resultados: una búsqueda en la literatura no mostró ningún estudio que aplicó el HPM en los estudios de comportamiento de adherencia realizados entre las poblaciones infectadas por el VIH. Conclusión: este artículo presenta al lector la disponibilidad de las actuales intervenciones de adherencia-comportamiento y estrategias que se alinean con los componentes del modelo HPM. Además, propone la necesidad de que los miembros del equipo de tratamiento médico adopten el HPM en la práctica clínica actual con el fin de abordar eficazmente los problemas de comportamiento de adherencia.

Some current dimensions of the behavioral economics of health-related behavior change

Health-related behaviors such as tobacco, alcohol and other substance use, poor diet and physical inactivity, and risky sexual practices are important targets for research and intervention. Health-related behaviors are especially pertinent targets in the United States, which lags behind most other developed nations on common markers of population health. In this essay we examine the application of behavioral economics, a scientific discipline that represents the intersection of economics and psychology, to the study and promotion of health-related behavior change. More specifically, we review what we consider to be some core dimensions of this discipline when applied to the study health-related behavior change. Behavioral economics (1) provides novel conceptual systems to inform scientific understanding of health behaviors, (2) translates scientific understanding into practical and effective behavior-change interventions, (3) leverages varied aspects of behavior change beyond increases or decreases in frequency, (4) recognizes and exploits trans-disease processes and interventions, and (5) leverages technology in efforts to maximize efficacy, cost effectiveness, and reach. These dimensions are overviewed and their implications for the future of the field discussed.

Adherence to Psychotropic Medications and Associated Factors in Primary Health Care

The study aims were to analyze patients' adherence to psychotropic medications and its association with sociodemographic factors, therapeutic regimen, presence of common mental disorders, and illness factors. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in ten Primary Health Care units in Brazil. The tools were the Measurement of Treatment Adherence Test and the Self Reporting Questionnaire. Nonadherence to psychotropic drugs was 88.9%. There was association between adherence and age and among patients positive for Common Mental Disorders (97.8%). In the multivariate analysis this association was not maintained. Findings indicate strategies are needed to improve medication adherence in the Primary Health Care services. However, no strategy will be effective if patients and their families are not involved in the process.

The Feasibility of Financial Incentives to Increase Exercise Among Canadian Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients

PURPOSE

To examine the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of financial incentives for exercise self-monitoring in cardiac rehabilitation (CR).

METHODS

A 12-week, 2 parallel-arm, single-blind feasibility study design was employed. A volunteer sample of CR program graduates was randomly assigned to an exercise self-monitoring intervention only (control; n = 14; mean age ± SD, 62.7 ± 14.6 years), or an exercise self-monitoring plus incentives approach (incentive; n = 13; mean age ± SD, 63.6 ± 11.8 years). Control group participants received a "home-based" exercise self-monitoring program following CR program completion (exercise diaries could be submitted online or by mail). Incentive group participants received the "home-based" program, plus voucher-based incentives for exercise diary submissions ($2 per day). A range of feasibility outcomes is presented, including recruitment and retention rates, and intervention acceptability. Data for the proposed primary outcome of a definitive trial, aerobic fitness, are also reported.

RESULTS

Seventy-four CR graduates were potentially eligible to participate, 27 were enrolled (36.5% recruitment rate; twice the expected rate), and 5 were lost to followup (80% retention). Intervention acceptability was high with three-quarters of participants indicating that they would likely sign up for an incentive program at baseline. While group differences in exercise self-monitoring (the incentive "target") were not observed, modest but nonsignificant changes in aerobic fitness were noted with fitness increasing by 0.23 mL·kg-·min- among incentive participants and decreasing by 0.68 mL·kg-·min- among controls.

CONCLUSION

This preliminary study demonstrates the feasibility of studying incentives in a CR context, and the potential for incentives to be readily accepted in the broader context of the Canadian health care system.

Adherence to Self-Care Behaviors among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes-The Role of Risk Preferences

OBJECTIVES

To examine whether the degree of risk aversion is associated with adherence to disease self-management among adults with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 408) aged 21 to 70 years who presented for routine visits in the diabetes clinic at a university medical center in Beer-Sheva, Israel. The authors used validated questionnaires to estimate adherence, risk preferences, motivation, self-efficacy, impulsivity, perceptions about the disease and the interpersonal process of care, and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, in addition to retrieving data from computerized patient medical records of clinical indicators of disease severity. Multivariable linear and ordered-logit models examined predictors of adherence to each self-care behavior.

RESULTS

Multivariable analyses revealed that, compared with others, risk-seeking patients reported lower general adherence (β = -0.32; P ≤ 0.05), and specifically, lower adherence to healthful eating plan (β = -0.48; P ≤ 0.1), consumption of low-fat food (β = -0.47; P ≤ 0.1), exercise (β = -0.73; P ≤ 0.05), blood glucose monitoring (β = -0.69; P ≤ 0.05), and foot care (β = -0.36; P ≤ 0.1). Risk-seeking patients did not report lower consumption of fruits and vegetables (β = -0.19; P > 0.1). Because 96% of the study population reported optimal adherence to medication, determinants of this behavior could not be analyzed.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk preference is associated with adherence to self-care behaviors. Identifying risk seekers may enable practitioners to target these patients with tailored strategies to improve adherence, thus more efficiently allocating scarce health care resources.

Study on Incentives for Glaucoma Medication Adherence (SIGMA): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial to increase glaucoma medication adherence using value pricing

Background

Many glaucoma patients do not adhere to their medication regimens because they fail to internalize the (health) costs of non-adherence, which may not occur until years or decades later. Behavioural economic theory suggests that adherence rates can be improved by offering patients a near-term benefit. Our proposed strategy is to offer adherence-contingent rebates on medication and check-up costs. This form of value pricing (VP) ensures that rebates are granted only to those most likely to benefit. Moreover, by leveraging loss aversion, rebates are expected to generate a stronger behavioural response than equivalent financial rewards.

Methods/Design

The main objective of the Study on Incentives for Glaucoma Medication Adherence (SIGMA) is to test the VP approach relative to usual care (UC) in improving medication adherence. SIGMA is a randomized, controlled, open-label, single-centre superiority trial with two parallel arms. A total of 100 non-adherent (Morisky Medication Adherence Scale ≤6) glaucoma patients from the Singapore National Eye Centre are block-randomized (blocking factor: single versus multiple medications users) into the VP and UC arms in a 1:1 ratio. The treatment received by VP patients will be strictly identical to that received by UC patients, with the only exception being that VP patients can earn either a 50 % or 25 % rebate on their glaucoma-related healthcare costs conditional on being adherent on at least 90 % or 75 % of days as measured by a medication event monitoring system. Masking the arm allocation will be precluded by the behavioural nature of the intervention but blocking size will not be disclosed to protect concealment. The primary outcome is the mean change from baseline in percentage of adherent days at month 6. A day will be counted as adherent when the patients take all their medication(s) within the appropriate dosing windows.

Discussion

This trial will provide evidence on whether adherence-contingent rebates can improve medication adherence among non-adherent glaucoma patients, and more generally whether this approach represents a promising strategy to cost-effectively improve chronic disease management.

Trial registration

NCT02271269. Registered on 19 October 2014.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-016-1459-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Economic interventions to improve population health: a scoping study of systematic reviews

BACKGROUND

Recognizing the close relationship between poverty and health, national program managers, policy-makers and donors are increasingly including economic interventions as part of their core strategies to improve population health. However, there is often confusion among stakeholders about the definitions and operational differences between distinct types of economic interventions and financial instruments, which can lead to important differences in interpretation and expectations.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping study to define and clarify concepts underlying key economic interventions - price interventions (taxes and subsidies), income transfer programs, incentive programs, livelihood support programs and health-related financial services - and map the evidence currently available from systematic reviews.

RESULTS

We identified 195 systematic reviews on economic interventions published between 2005 and July 2015. Overall, there was an increase in the number of reviews published after 2010. The majority of reviews focused on price interventions, income transfer programs and incentive programs, with much less evidence available from systematic reviews on livelihood support programs and health-related financial services. We also identified a lack of evidence on: health outcomes in low income countries; unintended or perverse outcomes; implementation challenges; scalability and cost-effectiveness of economic interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that while more research is clearly needed to assess suitability and effectiveness of economic interventions in different contexts, before interventions are tested and further systematic reviews conducted, a consistent and accurate understanding of the fundamental differences in terminology and approaches is essential among researchers, public health policy makers and program planners.

Interventions for improving adherence to treatment for latent tuberculosis infection: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) control relies on high initiation and completion rates of preventive treatment to preclude progression to tuberculosis disease. Specific interventions may improve initiation and completion rates. The objective was to systematically review data on determinants of initiation, adherence and completion of LTBI treatment, and on interventions to improve initiation and completion.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature (PubMed, Embase) published up to February 2014 was performed. Relevant prospective intervention studies were assessed using GRADE.

RESULTS

Sixty-two articles reporting on determinants of treatment initiation and completion were included and 23 articles on interventions. Determinants of LTBI treatment completion include shorter treatment regimen and directly observed treatment (DOT, positive association), adverse events and alcohol use (negative association), and specific populations with LTBI (both positive and negative associations). A positive effect on completion was noted in intervention studies that used short regimens and social interventions; mixed results were found for intervention studies that used DOT or incentives.

CONCLUSION

LTBI treatment completion can be improved by using shorter regimens and social interventions. Specific needs of the different populations with LTBI should be addressed taking into consideration the setting and condition in which the LTBI treatment programme is implemented.

Feasibility and success of cell-phone assisted remote observation of medication adherence (CAROMA) in clinical trials

OBJECTIVE

Medication nonadherence is a serious issue in clinical trials, especially in studies of substance abuse disorders. Measuring and confirming adherence is critical to ensuring that collected data is accurate and interpretable. This study evaluated the feasibility and success of a smartphone-based approach (Cellphone Assisted Remote Observation of Medication Adherence [CAROMA]) to visually confirm medication adherence in a clinical trial.

METHOD

Medication adherence was confirmed visually via smartphones provided to participants in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial for cannabis dependence. Every morning, subjects (n=20) were video-called by staff who observed consumption of study medication. Adherence was also assessed with weekly face-to-face visits, pill counts and plasma drug levels. Subjects were paid for completing daily CAROMA visits, and for returning the smartphone at study completion.

RESULTS

CAROMA confirmed 96.04% adherence to medication. Concordance between expected and actual remaining study medication counted at weekly study visits was 87.69%. Subjects assigned to active study medication had detectable plasma drug levels, while those assigned to placebo did not. CAROMA was estimated to cost approximately $100 per subject per week - a total of $300.24 per subject for the 3-week outpatient portion of the trial.

CONCLUSION

This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility, success and cost-effectiveness of CAROMA to facilitate and confirm medication adherence in a clinical trial. Preliminary findings support larger and longer studies, and possibly applying this approach to clinical care - especially in other populations with high rates of medication nonadherence.

Are Pharmacotherapies Ineffective in Opioid-Dependent Smokers? Reflections on the Scientific Literature and Future Directions

While rates of smoking in the general population have decreased in recent years, dramatic disparities remain among disadvantaged subgroups of smokers, particularly those with concurrent substance abuse. Prevalence rates of smoking among opioid-dependent patients, for example, are fourfold those of the general population. While pharmacotherapies are recommended as a first-line treatment for nicotine dependence, the few studies that have investigated their effectiveness in this population have shown dramatically poorer outcomes compared to the general population. Indeed, these findings have led some researchers to suggest that pharmacotherapies may simply be ineffective in opioid-maintained smokers. In this commentary, we briefly summarize the extant literature on pharmacotherapies in opioid-maintained smokers and contribute new data investigating the contribution of bupropion on smoking outcomes in 81 methadone- and buprenorphine-maintained participants from two randomized trials of financial incentives for smoking cessation. We also discuss several important parameters (ie, timing of the quit attempt, medication adherence, nicotine withdrawal) that may be leveraged to strengthen smoking pharmacotherapy outcomes in opioid-dependent patients. Taken together, an improved understanding of these issues will aid efforts to reduce tobacco-related health disparities in this group of challenging smokers.

Incorporating Natural Products, Pharmaceutical Drugs, Self-Care and Digital/Mobile Health Technologies into Molecular-Behavioral Combination Therapies for Chronic Diseases

Merging pharmaceutical and digital (mobile health, mHealth) ingredients to create new therapies for chronic diseases offers unique opportunities for natural products such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), curcumin, resveratrol, theanine, or α-lipoic acid. These compounds, when combined with pharmaceutical drugs, show improved efficacy and safety in preclinical and clinical studies of epilepsy, neuropathic pain, osteoarthritis, depression, schizophrenia, diabetes and cancer. Their additional clinical benefits include reducing levels of TNFα and other inflammatory cytokines. We describe how pleiotropic natural products can be developed as bioactive incentives within the network pharmacology together with pharmaceutical drugs and self-care interventions. Since approximately 50% of chronically-ill patients do not take pharmaceutical drugs as prescribed, psychobehavioral incentives may appeal to patients at risk for medication non-adherence. For epilepsy, the incentive-based network therapy comprises anticonvulsant drugs, antiseizure natural products (n-3 PUFA, curcumin or/and resveratrol) coupled with disease-specific behavioral interventions delivered by mobile medical apps. The add-on combination of antiseizure natural products and mHealth supports patient empowerment and intrinsic motivation by having a choice in self-care behaviors. The incentivized therapies offer opportunities: (1) to improve clinical efficacy and safety of existing drugs, (2) to catalyze patient-centered, disease self-management and behavior-changing habits, also improving health-related quality-of-life after reaching remission, and (3) merging copyrighted mHealth software with natural products, thus establishing an intellectual property protection of medical treatments comprising the natural products existing in public domain and currently promoted as dietary supplements. Taken together, clinical research on synergies between existing drugs and pleiotropic natural products, and their integration with self-care, music and mHealth, expands precision/personalized medicine strategies for chronic diseases via pharmacological-behavioral combination therapies.

Comparing the effectiveness of individualistic, altruistic, and competitive incentives in motivating completion of mental exercises

This study examines the impact of individually oriented, purely altruistic, and a hybrid of competitive and cooperative monetary reward incentives on older adults' completion of cognitive exercises and cognitive function. We find that all three incentive structures approximately double the number of exercises completed during the six-week active experimental period relative to a no incentive control condition. However, the altruistic and cooperative/competitive incentives led to different patterns of participation, with significantly higher inter-partner correlations in utilization of the software, as well as greater persistence once incentives were removed. Provision of all incentives significantly improved performance on the incentivized exercises. However, results of an independent cognitive testing battery suggest no generalizable gains in cognitive function resulted from the training.

Pilot Study to Test the Effectiveness of Different Financial Incentives to Improve Medication Adherence

BACKGROUND

Medication nonadherence affects health care costs, morbidity, and mortality. Concepts from behavioral economics can guide the development of interventions to improve medication adherence.

OBJECTIVE

To measure the relative effectiveness of 2 behavioral economic-based incentive structures to improve medication adherence.

METHODS

This randomized controlled trial compared adherence among participants taking antihypertensive or antihyperlipidemic medications randomized to usual care (UC), guaranteed pay-out (GPO) incentives, or lottery incentives. Daily adherence was measured over a 90-day period using electronic caps (Medication Event Monitoring System [MEMS]). The GPO group received $30 up-front in a virtual account, with $0.50 deducted for each missed dose. Lottery group participants were eligible for a weekly $50 drawing, but only if they had taken their medication as prescribed all week. An electronic survey assessed self-reported adherence. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, paired t tests, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlations.

RESULTS

In all, 36 participants were randomized (UC, n = 11; GPO, n = 14; lottery, n = 11). Mean percentage (±SD) of days adherent during the incentive period was highest in the lottery group (96% ± 5%), followed by the GPO group (94% ± 9%) and the UC group (94% ± 9%). There were no statistically significant differences among groups (P > 0.05). MEMS-measured adherence was not significantly correlated with a patient's self-reported adherence (P > 0.05) at baseline but was correlated at 90-day follow-up (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Although no statistically significant differences in adherence were demonstrated in this small sample of highly adherent participants, larger studies in a more diverse population or with other medications might show otherwise.

Do incentives improve tuberculosis treatment outcomes in the Republic of Moldova?

SETTING

Tuberculosis (TB) health facilities in the Republic of Moldova, where various incentives were provided to TB patients to improve treatment outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To compare treatment outcomes among new drug-susceptible TB patients registered for treatment before (2008) and after (2011) introduction of incentives.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study using data from the national electronic patient database and incentive registers.

RESULTS

Of 2378 patients registered in 2011, 1895 (80%) received incentives (cash, food vouchers, travel reimbursement). Compared to 2008 (no incentives, n = 2492), the patients registered with incentives in 2011 had higher treatment success (88% vs. 79%, P < 0.001) and lower proportions of unsuccessful outcomes: loss to follow-up (5% vs. 10%, P < 0.001), death (5% vs. 6%, P = 0.03) and failure (2% vs. 5%, P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis (log-binomial regression) using the intention-to-treat approach, provision of incentives was independently associated with an overall reduction in unsuccessful outcomes of 50% (RR 0.5, 95%CI 0.45-0.62, P < 0.001), after adjusting for other confounders such as sex, age, education, occupation, residence, homelessness, type of TB and human immunodeficiency virus status.

CONCLUSION

Provision of incentives to TB patients significantly improved treatment success rates and needs to continue. Treatment retention increased, thus potentially preventing drug resistance, a serious problem in the Republic of Moldova.

Impact of Employer-Sponsored Onsite Pharmacy and Condition Management Programs on Medication Adherence

BACKGROUND

Poor medication adherence is associated with worsened health outcomes and higher health care expenditures. An increasing number of employers are sponsoring wellness initiatives designed to support healthy lifestyles, improve productivity, and offer a return on investment. Onsite pharmacies may facilitate higher medication adherence rates by providing employees a convenient, low-cost option for filling prescriptions that is integrated with other onsite health services.

OBJECTIVES

To (a) assess the impact of an employer's onsite pharmacy on health plan members' medication adherence using multiple measures of medication adherence and persistence, including medication possession ratio (MPR), average number of days until discontinuation (60-day gap in coverage), and percentage of members without a 30-day gap in coverage, and (b) evaluate these outcomes between those members who participated in condition management programs and those who did not.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of a self-insured employer's claims data was undertaken. Medication adherence was assessed among the self-insured employer's health plan members, which included subscribers and their dependents who filled an asthma, depression, diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia medication at an onsite pharmacy, compared with those who used a community pharmacy. Multiple standard measures of medication adherence were considered. These measures included MPR, which was assessed for 1- and 2-year time periods. MPR was chosen because it is one of the most commonly referenced formulas in the literature and represents adherence over a fixed period of time. In addition, medication persistence was estimated by 30-day gaps in coverage and discontinuation of treatment. To assess the impact of onsite pharmacy use and account for covariate effects, the linear mixed model approach was applied with the logit transformed MPR as the response variable. An analysis of MPR among condition management participants was also performed.

RESULTS

In total, 2,498 subscribers and their dependents were included in the analysis. The average MPR at 365 days was significantly higher (P  <  0.0001) among onsite pharmacy users for all medication types, ranging from 13% higher for depression medications to 20% higher for hypertension medications. This trend persisted at 730 days (P  <  0.001), with average MPRs ranging from 6% higher for hyperlipidemia medications to 11% higher for hypertension medications. A mixed model analysis indicated that members who used the onsite pharmacy were 3.44 times more likely to demonstrate medication adherence (95% CI = 2.84-4.16; P  <  0.0001) at 365 days. Likewise, at 180 and 365 days, onsite pharmacy users were less likely to have 30-day gaps in treatment. The average number of days until discontinuation (defined as a 60-day gap) was also significantly longer (P  <  0.0001) among onsite pharmacy users, ranging from an average of 56 additional days for depression medications to 105 additional days for hypertension medications. While the average MPR tended to be higher among those subscribers and their dependents who participated in condition management programs, this trend was not statistically significant for all medication types.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on multiple measures, onsite pharmacy use was associated with higher medication adherence, while the results were inconclusive for condition management participation.

Modafinil in the treatment of crack-cocaine dependence in the Netherlands: Results of an open-label randomised controlled feasibility trial

BACKGROUND

Crack-cocaine dependence is a serious disorder with no approved pharmacological treatment. Modafinil is a promising medication with increased cocaine abstinence and reduced craving in some previous studies. In the present study, we examined the acceptance, safety and potential benefits of modafinil as an add-on treatment to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in crack-cocaine dependent patients.

METHODS

Sixty-five crack-cocaine dependent outpatients participated in an open-label, randomised feasibility trial. Patients were randomised to receive either 12-week individual CBT plus 400 mg/day modafinil or 12-week individual CBT only. The primary outcome measure was CBT treatment retention. Secondary outcomes included modafinil adherence, tolerability and safety, use of cocaine and other substances, cocaine craving, health, social functioning and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS

Modafinil adherence was low, with only 10% treatment completers. Intent-to-treat analyses showed that modafinil did not improve CBT treatment retention or any of the secondary cocaine-related outcomes. Both groups showed similar, large reductions in cocaine use during the study treatment. Post hoc exploratory analyses within the CBT plus modafinil group showed significantly larger baseline to week 12 reductions in cocaine use days in high (⩾ 8 weeks) modafinil adherent patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Acceptance and benefits of modafinil were not demonstrated in the present study. Since reduction in cocaine use was observed in high modafinil adherent patients, further research in the treatment of cocaine dependence, in which modafinil adherence is optimised, is warranted.

Negotiating structural vulnerability following regulatory changes to a provincial methadone program in Vancouver, Canada: A qualitative study

While regulatory frameworks governing methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) require highly regimented treatment programs that shape treatment outcomes, little research has examined the effects of regulatory changes to these programs on those receiving treatment, and located their experiences within the wider context of social-structural inequities. In British Columbia (BC), Canada, provincial regulations governing MMT have recently been modified, including: replacing the existing methadone formulation with Methadose(®) (pre-mixed and 10 times more concentrated); prohibiting pharmacy delivery of methadone; and, prohibiting pharmacies incentives for methadone dispensation. We undertook this study to examine the impacts of these changes on a structurally vulnerable population enrolled in MMT in Vancouver, BC. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 34 people enrolled in MMT and recruited from two ongoing observational prospective cohort studies comprised of drug-using individuals in the six-month period in 2014 following these regulatory changes. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically, and by drawing on the concept of 'structural vulnerability'. Findings underscore how these regulatory changes disrupted treatment engagement, producing considerable health and social harms. The introduction of Methadose(®) precipitated increased withdrawal symptoms. The discontinuation of pharmacy delivery services led to interruptions in MMT and co-dispensed HIV medications due to constraints stemming from their structural vulnerability (e.g., poverty, homelessness). Meanwhile, the loss of pharmacy incentives limited access to material supports utilized by participants to overcome barriers to MMT, while diminishing their capacity to assert some degree of agency in negotiating dispensation arrangements with pharmacies. Collectively, these changes functioned to compromise MMT engagement and increased structural vulnerability to harm, including re-initiation of injection drug use and participation in high-risk income-generating strategies. Greater attention to the impacts of social-structural inequities on MMT engagement is needed when modifying MMT programs, especially as other jurisdictions are adopting similar changes. Comprehensive environmental supports should be provided to minimize adverse outcomes during transitional periods.

Conceptual model and economic experiments to explain nonpersistence and enable mechanism designs fostering behavioral change

BACKGROUND

Medical nonpersistence is a worldwide problem of striking magnitude. Although many fields of studies including epidemiology, sociology, and psychology try to identify determinants for medical nonpersistence, comprehensive research to explain medical nonpersistence from an economics perspective is rather scarce.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to develop a conceptual framework that augments standard economic choice theory with psychological concepts of behavioral economics to understand how patients' preferences for discontinuing with therapy arise over the course of the medical treatment. The availability of such a framework allows the targeted design of mechanisms for intervention strategies.

METHODS

Our conceptual framework models the patient as an active economic agent who evaluates the benefits and costs for continuing with therapy. We argue that a combination of loss aversion and mental accounting operations explains why patients discontinue with therapy at a specific point in time. We designed a randomized laboratory economic experiment with a student subject pool to investigate the behavioral predictions.

RESULTS

Subjects continue with therapy as long as experienced utility losses have to be compensated. As soon as previous losses are evened out, subjects perceive the marginal benefit of persistence lower than in the beginning of the treatment. Consequently, subjects start to discontinue with therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results highlight that concepts of behavioral economics capture the dynamic structure of medical nonpersistence better than does standard economic choice theory. We recommend that behavioral economics should be a mandatory part of the development of possible intervention strategies aimed at improving patients' compliance and persistence behavior.

Employment-based reinforcement of adherence to oral naltrexone in unemployed injection drug users: 12-month outcomes

Oral naltrexone could be a promising relapse-prevention pharmacotherapy for recently detoxified opioid-dependent patients; however, interventions are often needed to promote adherence with this treatment approach. We recently conducted a study to evaluate a 26-week employment-based reinforcement intervention of oral naltrexone in unemployed injection drug users (Dunn et al., 2013). Participants were randomly assigned into a contingency (n = 35) group required to ingest naltrexone under staff observation to gain entry into a therapeutic workplace or a prescription (n = 32) group given a take-home supply of oral naltrexone and access to the workplace without observed ingestion. Monthly urine samples were collected and analyzed for evidence for naltrexone adherence, opioid use, and cocaine use. As previously reported, contingency participants provided significantly more naltrexone-positive urine samples than prescription participants during the 26-week intervention period. The goal of this current study is to report the 12-month outcomes, which occurred 6 months after the intervention ended. Results at the 12-month visit showed no between-groups differences in naltrexone-positive, opioid-negative, or cocaine-negative urine samples and no participant self-reported using naltrexone at the follow-up visit. These results show that even after a period of successfully reinforced oral naltrexone adherence, longer-term naltrexone use is unlikely to be maintained after reinforcement contingencies are discontinued. (PsycINFO Database Record

Combining non-pharmacological treatments with pharmacotherapies for neurological disorders: a unique interface of the brain, drug-device, and intellectual property

Mobile medical applications (mHealth), music, and video games are being developed and tested for their ability to improve pharmacotherapy outcomes and medication adherence. Pleiotropic mechanism of music and gamification engages an intrinsic motivation and the brain reward system, supporting therapies in patients with neurological disorders, including neuropathic pain, depression, anxiety, or neurodegenerative disorders. Based on accumulating results from clinical trials, an innovative combination treatment of epilepsy seizures, comorbidities, and the medication non-adherence can be designed, consisting of antiepileptic drugs and disease self-management software delivering clinically beneficial music. Since creative elements and art expressed in games, music, and software are copyrighted, therefore clinical and regulatory challenges in developing copyrighted, drug–device therapies may be offset by a value proposition of the exclusivity due to the patent–independent protection, which can last for over 70 years. Taken together, development of copyrighted non-pharmacological treatments (e-therapies), and their combinations with pharmacotherapies, offer incentives to chronically ill patients and outcome-driven health care industries.

Performance pay improves engagement, progress, and satisfaction in computer-based job skills training of low-income adults

Advancing the education of low-income adults could increase employment and income, but adult education programs have not successfully engaged low-income adults. Monetary reinforcement may be effective in promoting progress in adult education. This experiment evaluated the benefits of providing incentives for performance in a job-skills training program for low-income, unemployed adults. Participants worked on typing and keypad programs for 7 months. Participants randomly assigned to Group A (n = 23) earned hourly and productivity pay on the typing program (productivity pay), but earned only equalized hourly pay on the keypad program (hourly pay). Group B (n = 19) participants had the opposite contingencies. Participants worked more on, advanced further on, and preferred their productivity pay program. These results show that monetary incentives can increase performance in a job-skills training program, and indicate that payment in adult education programs should be delivered contingent on performance in the training program instead of simply on attendance.

Interventions to improve delivery of isoniazid preventive therapy: an overview of systematic reviews

Background

Uptake of isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) to prevent tuberculosis has been poor, particularly in the highest risk populations. Interventions to improve IPT delivery could promote implementation. The large number of existing systematic reviews on treatment adherence has made drawing conclusions a challenge. To provide decision makers with the evidence they need, we performed an overview of systematic reviews to compare different organizational interventions to improve IPT delivery as measured by treatment completion among those at highest risk for the development of TB disease, namely child contacts or HIV-infected individuals.

Methods

We searched the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), and MEDLINE up to August 15, 2012. Two authors used a standardized data extraction form and the AMSTAR instrument to independently assess each review.

Results

Six reviews met inclusion criteria. Interventions included changes in the setting/site of IPT delivery, use of quality monitoring mechanisms (e.g., directly observed therapy), IPT delivery integration into other healthcare services, and use of lay health workers. Most reviews reported a combination of outcomes related to IPT adherence and treatment completion rate but without a baseline or comparison rate. Generally, we found limited evidence to demonstrate that the studied interventions improved treatment completion.

Conclusions

While most of the interventions were not shown to improve IPT completion, integration of tuberculosis and HIV services yielded high treatment completion rates in some settings. The lack of data from high burden TB settings limits applicability. Further research to assess different IPT delivery interventions, including those that address barriers to care in at-risk populations, is urgently needed to identify the most effective practices for IPT delivery and TB control in high TB burden settings.

Treatment of crack-cocaine dependence with topiramate: a randomized controlled feasibility trial in The Netherlands

BACKGROUND

Crack-cocaine dependence is a complex disorder with limited treatment options. Topiramate is one of the promising medications with reported reductions in cocaine use and craving in former studies. The present study evaluated the acceptance and effectiveness of topiramate as an add-on to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in crack-cocaine dependent patients.

METHODS

Seventy-four crack-cocaine dependent outpatients participated in an open-label, randomized feasibility trial. They were randomized to receive either 12-week CBT plus topiramate (200mg/day) or 12-week CBT only. The primary outcome measure was treatment retention. Secondary outcomes included medication adherence, safety, cocaine and other substance use, health, social functioning, and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS

Adherence to topiramate treatment was low. In the intent-to-treat analyses, topiramate neither improved treatment retention nor reduced cocaine and other substance use. Post hoc, exploratory analyses suggested a moderation effect of comorbid opioid dependence, with a significant effect of topiramate on cocaine use reduction only in crack-cocaine dependent patients with comorbid opioid dependence.

CONCLUSIONS

Topiramate was safe and well-tolerated in this sample of crack-cocaine dependent patients, but efficacy was not supported probably due to low acceptance of the treatment. Given the equivocal results of previous studies and the negative findings in our study, the potential of topiramate in the treatment of cocaine dependence seems limited.

Adherence and health care costs

Medication nonadherence is an important public health consideration, affecting health outcomes and overall health care costs. This review considers the most recent developments in adherence research with a focus on the impact of medication adherence on health care costs in the US health system. We describe the magnitude of the nonadherence problem and related costs, with an extensive discussion of the mechanisms underlying the impact of nonadherence on costs. Specifically, we summarize the impact of nonadherence on health care costs in several chronic diseases, such as diabetes and asthma. A brief analysis of existing research study designs, along with suggestions for future research focus, is provided. Finally, given the ongoing changes in the US health care system, we also address some of the most relevant and current trends in health care, including pharmacist-led medication therapy management and electronic (e)-prescribing.

Stages of change for adherence to antiretroviral medications

Providers do not predict reliably which of their HIV-positive patients are having difficulty adhering to antiretroviral therapy (ART). The transtheoretical, or stages of change model, may be a useful tool to help providers identify patients who are having difficulty with ART adherence. The objective of the current study was to determine the relationship between stages of change and ART adherence among patients who were actively taking ART. Data from a randomized trial of a provider-focused intervention were used to examine the relationship between the stages of change and adherence, measured using electronic monitoring devices in the 30 days following the stages of change assessment. Individuals were eligible for inclusion if they were taking ART and had detectable plasma viral load (HIV-RNA). Repeated measures analysis of covariance was used to determine the impact of stages of change on adherence after controlling for potential confounders. The sample of 137 participants was 22% female, 48% white, 28% African-American, with a mean age of 42 years. Fifty-eight percent reported sex with a man as an HIV risk factor, while 13% reported sex with a woman, 14% reported injecting drugs and 15% reported other risk factors. In adjusted models, those in earlier stages of change (i.e., contemplation and preparation) had significantly lower adherence (-9.8%, p=0.04) compared to those in the action and maintenance phases. No demographic characteristics predicted adherence. The stages of change model may function as a screening tool for clinicians to discover patients at-risk of lower adherence.

Conditional economic incentives to improve HIV treatment adherence: literature review and theoretical considerations

We present selected theoretical issues regarding conditional economic incentives (CEI) for HIV treatment adherence. High HIV treatment adherence is essential not only to improve individual health for persons living with HIV, but also to reduce transmission. The incentives literature spans several decades and various disciplines, thus we selectively point out useful concepts from economics, psychology and HIV clinical practice to elucidate the complex interaction between socio-economic issues, psychological perspectives and optimal treatment adherence. Appropriately-implemented CEI can help patients improve their adherence to HIV treatment in the short-term, while the incentives are in place. However, more research is needed to uncover mechanisms that can increase habit formation or maintenance effects in the longer-term. We suggest some potentially fruitful avenues for future research in this area, including the use of concepts from self-determination theory. This general framework may have implications for related research among disadvantaged communities with high rates of HIV/AIDS infection.

50% adherence of patients suffering chronic conditions--where is the evidence?

The World Health Organization states that in a widespread report that “in developed countries, adherence among patients suffering chronic diseases averages only 50%”. We followed the quoted references to this statement. The data basis for this statement is one randomized controlled trial (RCT) on hypertensive steel workers in Canada published in 1975 and one study dealing with neurotic outpatients in Pennsylvania, USA published in 1965. Both studies are not suitable to assume such generalized adherence estimation and are not for different reasons transferable to today’s patient care.

Fairness and wellness incentives: what is the relevance of the process-outcome distinction?

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the commonly drawn distinction between the fairness of incentives targeting behavioral processes (or effort) and those targeting outcomes (or achievement) provide suitable grounds for favoring either approach in healthcare research, policy and practice.

METHODS

Conceptual analysis, literature review.

RESULTS

A categorical distinction between process- and outcome-based incentives is less crisp than it seems. Both processes and outcomes involve targets, and both are subject to differences - across and within socio-economic groups - in circumstance and perspective. Thus, a spectrum view is more appropriate, in which the fairness of incentive programs increases with the extent of control that people have. The effectiveness of incentives is a further relevant consideration, and some available evidence suggests that incentives closer to the outcome-end of the spectrum can be more effective.

CONCLUSIONS

Simple distinctions between processes and outcomes by themselves provide little assurance that programs are effective or fair. Effectiveness can and should be assessed empirically. Assessments of fairness should focus on the extent to which an activity or outcome might be feasible and under an individual's control, not on whether it targets a process or outcome. Rigid uniform targets for all are generally less desirable than those that reward person-specific improvement.

Coronary heart disease as a case study in prevention: potential role of incentives

Coronary atherosclerosis is a complex entity with behavioral, genetic and environmental antecedents. Most risk factors for coronary heart disease have a behavioral component. These include tobacco use, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes and physical inactivity. The role of monetary incentives to encourage healthful behaviors related to the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease has received little attention. In this review, the potential role of monetary incentives to prevent or treat coronary heart disease is discussed. In particular, the potential role of providing incentives for patients to participate in cardiac rehabilitation (CR), a multi-risk intervention, is highlighted.