LAUSR

Background: Asthma medication adherence is low among high risk children. The objectives of this pilot study were to assess usability and feasibility of adherence monitoring devices to assess medication adherence over 3 months. Methods: Participants were aged 6-19 years with at least 1 hospital admission or 2 emergency visits in the last year. We identified 135 potential subjects, enrolling a convenience sample of 25 children. Sensors were placed on controller and rescue medications. Patients and provders were enrolled in the online system and completed surveys about the devices. Results: Twenty patients completed the final visit. Eighty-four percent (21/25) of families had eligible smartphones. Five of 9 providers (56%) stated that the intervention changed some aspect of their care. Of the patients who completed the study, 16 of 20 (80%) were very satisfied with the devices, 20 (100%) found the information easy to understand, and 16 (80%) stated that their children were more likely to take their medications. The average weekly adherence to prescribed controller medications ranged from 76% at entry to 36% at 3 months, with a mean adherence rate of 56% (Figure 1). Conclusions: The monitoring device was well accepted by both patients and providers, however adherence declined over time. Further studies are needed to evaluate ways to continue to engage this high-risk group of patients.