title: Mobile Applications to Improve Medication Adherence.
abstract: Background and Introduction: Mobile applications are useful tools to improve medication adherence. As developers continue to improve the features of existing mobile applications, pharmacists should be aware of the current features that are available to patients. There are limited studies available that discuss which applications have the most desirable features. The aim of this study was to compare available mobile applications and identify ideal application features used to improve medication adherence.
  
  
  
  As of September 5, 2014, the search terms "medication adherence" and "medication reminder" generated a total of 225 hits. Ideal application features were used to create an Application Score Card to identify applications with the highest number of ideal features.
  
  
  
  We identified 30 applications that were written in English, medication related, last updated in 2014, and did not meet any exclusion criteria. The top five applications RxNetwork, Mango Health, MyMeds, C3HealthLink, and HuCare are discussed in detail.
  
  
  
  There are numerous studies looking at medication adherence. However, current literature regarding mobile applications to improve medication adherence is lacking. This article will provide pharmacists with a brief overview of the available mobile applications and features that could be used to improve patient adherence to medications.
  
  
  
  Existing mobile applications to improve medication adherence have ideal features that could help patients take medication as prescribed. Once further research is performed to establish their efficacy, pharmacists could begin to recommend mobile applications to their patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haase
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Karen B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Farris
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dorsch
mesh_terms: D016494:Computer Security; D020408:Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence; D063731:Mobile Applications; D009042:Motivation; D010595:Pharmacists; D024382:Professional Role; D017010:Reminder Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014481:United States
keywords: medication adherence; mobile applications; nonadherence