Evaluating Objective Metrics of habit strength for taking medications.

DRUG tablets; SCIENTIFIC observation; SELF-evaluation; SELF-management (Psychology); HABIT; DIABETES; MEDICAL protocols; DRUGS; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; RESEARCH funding; PATIENT compliance; PSYCHOLOGICAL adaptation; BEHAVIOR modification; GOAL (Psychology); EVALUATION

Habit strength for taking medication is associated with medication adherence. However, habit strength is typically measured via self-reports, which have limitations. Objective sensors may provide advantages to self-reports. To evaluate whether habit-strength metrics derived from objective sensor data (MEMS® Caps; AARDEX Group) are associated with self-reported habit strength and adherence (objective and self-reported) and whether objective and self-reported habit strength are independently associated with adherence. Patients (N = 79) on oral medications for type 2 diabetes completed self-reports of habit strength and medication adherence and used MEMS® Caps to take their prescribed medication for one month. MEMS® Caps data were used to create five objective metrics of habit strength (e.g., individual-level variance in pill timing) and quantify medication adherence (% days correct dosing). Consistency in behavior from week to week (versus across each day) had the greatest association with self-reported habit strength (r(78) = 0.29, p = 0.01), self-reported adherence (r(78) = 0.32, p = 0.005), and objective adherence (r(78) = 0.61, p < 0.001). Objective and self-reported habit strength were independently associated with adherence. Weekly pill-timing consistency may be more useful than daily pill-timing consistency for predicting adherence and understanding patients' medication-taking habits. Self-reports and objective metrics of habit strength may be measuring different constructs, warranting further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Behavioral Medicine is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)