Abstract

Background
Around half of medications for long term conditions (LTCs) are not taken by patients as directed. Text messaging (TM) is currently used for a variety of health purposes and software can now automate delivery and response to messages, making use of this technology more efficient. This systematic review will examine the evidence of using automated two-way patient contact to support patients’ medicine-taking behaviour.
Methods
For inclusion in this narrative synthesis systematic review studies must focus on adults self-caring for LTCs independently, the primary intervention should use automated TM or Interactive Voice Response (IVR) (communication via voice recognition or keypad input) and aim to improve medicines adherence. All study designs except pilot and feasibility studies will be included. Outcomes of interest are adherence to medicines, clinical condition control, patient and provider acceptability and quality of life.
A comprehensive electronic search strategy will be used including databases such as PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. The Capability Opportunity and Motivation Behaviour model (COM-B) will be used as a framework for the analysis and quality of studies will be appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.
Anticipated findings
Existing systematic reviews of the use of mobile health have found a potential benefit in using this technology for medicines adherence. This review will aim to discover how automated patient contact interventions can support medicines adherence, to inform the design of a new intervention which can be tailored to the barriers that face individual patients when they take medicines for LTCs.