Can Behavioural Science Be the Key to Unlocking Patient Adherence? Evidence-Led Development of an Engaging Digital Health Solution

Abstract

Patient self-management of illnesses place a greater responsibility on the patient, as they administer or track their own treatment. This amplifies the impact of adherence on outcomes – any missed or incorrect actions have the potential to reduce treatment efficacy. However, adherence is often lower than expected (e.g., around 50% for chronic conditions; WHO, 2003), making it a crucial aspect to address for effective patient centered management. This work created and evaluated a digital health concept (the Abily app) to increase patient adherence. Crux’s behavioural design methodology was used to integrate behavioural insights with design, developing the Abily app, which: (1) increased user attention, (2) increased task comprehension, and (3) reduced use problems. The results give promising evidence for using digital health solutions to raise adherence.