{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]],"date-time":"2026-04-01T18:48:23Z","timestamp":1775069303997,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":38,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,23]],"date-time":"2024-01-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1705968000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Pharmacy"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Medication adherence is essential for managing chronic diseases and achieving optimal health outcomes. However, this process is often challenging, particularly for patients with complex care needs. Informal caregivers play a pivotal role in supporting medication management, but they may face resource limitations and a lack of necessary support. Digital health tools offer a promising avenue to enhance medication adherence by providing reminders, education, and remote monitoring capabilities. This scoping review aimed to identify and evaluate digital solutions available to informal caregivers for improving medication adherence. A systematic search of PubMed and Web of Science was conducted using relevant keywords. Four studies were included in the review, examining a variety of digital tools including mobile apps, SMS messaging, and wearable devices. These tools demonstrated efficacy in improving medication adherence, managing disease symptoms, and enhancing quality of life for patients and caregivers. Digital health interventions hold the potential to revolutionize medication adherence among chronic disease patients. By empowering informal caregivers, these tools can bridge the gaps in medication management and contribute to better health outcomes. Further research is warranted to optimize the design, implementation, and evaluation of digital interventions for medication adherence.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/pharmacy12010020","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,23]],"date-time":"2024-01-23T04:17:40Z","timestamp":1705983460000},"page":"20","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":12,"title":["Digital Solutions Available to Be Used by Informal Caregivers, Contributing to Medication Adherence: A Scoping Review"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2200-0015","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Margarida","family":"Esp\u00edrito-Santo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Health, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal"},{"name":"Centre for Health Studies and Development (CESUAlg), University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal"},{"name":"Algarve Biomedical Center Research Institute (ABC-RI), 8005-139 Faro, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Sancha","family":"Santos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Health, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7151-8363","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria Dulce","family":"Est\u00eav\u00e3o","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Health, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2003). Adherence to Long-Term Therapies: Evidence for Action, WHO."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e18901","DOI":"10.2196\/18901","article-title":"Effect of interactive ehealth interventions on improving medication adherence in adults with long-term medication: Systematic review","volume":"23","author":"Pouls","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Med. Internet Res."},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"22","article-title":"Factors associated with medication adherence among heart failure patients and their caregivers","volume":"5","author":"Aggarwal","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Nurs. Educ. Pract."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Webkamigad, S., Rowe, R., Peltier, S., Chow, A.F., McGilton, K.S., and Walker, J.D. (2020). Identifying and understanding the health and social care needs of Indigenous older adults with multiple chronic conditions and their caregivers: A scoping review. BMC Geriatr., 20.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12877-020-01552-5"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"711","DOI":"10.2147\/PPA.S101175","article-title":"The impact of patient support programs on adherence, clinical, humanistic, and economic patient outcomes: A targeted systematic review","volume":"10","author":"Shillington","year":"2016","journal-title":"Patient Prefer. Adherence"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"91","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2013.00091","article-title":"Determinants of patient adherence: A review of systematic reviews","volume":"4","author":"Kardas","year":"2013","journal-title":"Front. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"891","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jval.2013.04.014","article-title":"A systematic literature review of psychosocial and behavioral factors associated with initial medication adherence: A report of the ISPOR medication adherence & persistence special interest group","volume":"16","author":"Zeber","year":"2013","journal-title":"Value Health"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1921","DOI":"10.1111\/bcp.14094","article-title":"Prescribing medicines to older people\u2014How to consider the impact of ageing on human organ and body functions","volume":"86","author":"Maanen","year":"2019","journal-title":"Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Family Caregiver Alliance (2023, September 19). Care giver Assessment: Principles, Guidelines and Strategies for Change. Report from a National Consensus Development Conference. Available online: https:\/\/www.caregiver.org\/uploads\/legacy\/pdfs\/v1_consensus.pdf."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Di\u00e1rio da Rep\u00fablica (2023, September 19). Lei n.o 100\/2019 do Di\u00e1rio da Rep\u00fablica (Estatuto do Cuidador Informal). Di\u00e1rio da Rep\u00fablica no 171\/2019 \u20141a s\u00e9rie. 6 August 2019. Available online: https:\/\/data.dre.pt\/eli\/lei\/100\/2019\/09\/06\/p\/dre."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e13608","DOI":"10.2196\/13608","article-title":"Mobile apps for medication management: Review and analysis","volume":"7","author":"Tabi","year":"2019","journal-title":"JMIR mHealth uHealth"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e25652","DOI":"10.2196\/25652","article-title":"Digital health tools for managing noncommunicable diseases during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: Perspectives of patients and caregivers","volume":"23","author":"Monaco","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Med. Internet Res."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e17015","DOI":"10.2196\/17015","article-title":"Improving patients\u2019 medication adherence and outcomes in nonhospital settings through eHealth: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials","volume":"22","author":"Wong","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Med. Internet Res."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e12340","DOI":"10.2196\/12340","article-title":"Telehealth interventions for improving self-management in patients with hemophilia: Scoping review of clinical studies","volume":"21","author":"Qian","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Med. Internet Res."},{"key":"ref_15","first-page":"550","article-title":"Effectiveness of mobile applications on medication adherence in adults with chronic diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"26","author":"Peng","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Manag. Care Spe\u0301c. Pharm."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e11919","DOI":"10.2196\/11919","article-title":"Mobile phone apps targeting medication adherence: Quality assessment and content analysis of user reviews","volume":"7","author":"Park","year":"2019","journal-title":"JMIR mHealth uHealth"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.4338\/ACI-2012-10-RA-0045","article-title":"A smartphone-based medication self-management system with realtime medication monitoring","volume":"4","author":"Uchimura","year":"2013","journal-title":"Appl. Clin. Informatics"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e018974","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2017-018974","article-title":"Interactive voice response interventions targeting behaviour change: A systematic literature review with meta-analysis and meta-regression","volume":"8","author":"Tsoli","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.1093\/epirev\/mxq004","article-title":"Text messaging as a tool for behaviour change in disease prevention and management","volume":"32","author":"Kershaw","year":"2010","journal-title":"Epidemiol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"141","DOI":"10.1097\/XEB.0000000000000050","article-title":"Guidance for conducting systematic scoping reviews","volume":"13","author":"Peters","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int. J. Evid. Based Healthc."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"467","DOI":"10.7326\/M18-0850","article-title":"PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and Explanation","volume":"169","author":"Tricco","year":"2018","journal-title":"Ann. Intern. Med."},{"key":"ref_22","unstructured":"Higgins, J.P.T., Thomas, J., Chandler, J., Cumpston, M., Li, T., Page, M.J., Welch, V., and Flemyng, E. (2022). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions, Cochrane. Available online: www.training.cochrane.org\/handbook."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"127","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pcd.2014.06.003","article-title":"Improvements in illness self-management and psychological distress associated with telemonitoring support for adults with diabetes","volume":"9","author":"Aikens","year":"2014","journal-title":"Prim. Care Diabetes"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e142","DOI":"10.2196\/jmir.4550","article-title":"A mobile health intervention supporting heart failure patients and their informal caregivers: A randomized comparative effectiveness trial","volume":"17","author":"Piette","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Med. Internet Res."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"46","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yebeh.2016.07.036","article-title":"Preliminary feasibility and efficacy of text messaging and application-based adherence interventions in adolescents with epilepsy","volume":"63","author":"Modi","year":"2016","journal-title":"Epilepsy Behav."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"127","DOI":"10.1080\/07317115.2017.1347594","article-title":"Older Adults with Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Who Have Used an Automatic Medication Dispenser for 3 or More Years","volume":"42","author":"Kamimura","year":"2017","journal-title":"Clin. Gerontol."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"66","DOI":"10.1007\/s12160-012-9355-8","article-title":"The Influence of Informal Caregivers on Adherence in COPD Patients","volume":"44","author":"Trivedi","year":"2012","journal-title":"Ann. Behav. Med."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"E1","DOI":"10.1097\/JCN.0000000000000210","article-title":"Informal Caregivers\u2019 Experiences and Needs When Caring for a Relative with Heart Failure: An Interview Study","volume":"31","author":"Gusdal","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Cardiovasc. Nurs."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3296","DOI":"10.1111\/jocn.12519","article-title":"Managing medications: The role of informal caregivers of older adults and people living with dementia. A review of the literature","volume":"23","author":"Gillespie","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Clin. Nurs."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bieri, M., Carral, M.d.R., Santiago-Delefosse, M., Miano, G., Rosset, F., Verloo, H., and Pereira, F. (2021). Beliefs about Polypharmacy among Home-Dwelling Older Adults Living with Multiple Chronic Conditions, Informal Caregivers and Healthcare Professionals: A Qualitative Study. Healthcare, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare9091204"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1454","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2018.01454","article-title":"Comparison of Interventions to Improve Long-Term Medication Adherence Across Different Clinical Conditions: A Systematic Review with Network Meta-Analysis","volume":"9","author":"Wiecek","year":"2018","journal-title":"Front. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112","DOI":"10.1186\/s13643-019-1014-8","article-title":"Medication adherence influencing factors\u2014An (updated) overview of systematic reviews","volume":"8","author":"Gast","year":"2019","journal-title":"Syst. Rev."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1642","DOI":"10.1177\/0193945919825844","article-title":"Outcomes of a Problem-Solving Medication Management Intervention for Informal Caregivers","volume":"41","author":"Erlen","year":"2019","journal-title":"West. J. Nurs. Res."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"692","DOI":"10.1097\/MLR.0000000000000378","article-title":"A Randomized Trial of Mobile Health Support for Heart Failure Patients and Their Informal Caregivers","volume":"53","author":"Piette","year":"2015","journal-title":"Med. Care"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102230","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healthplace.2019.102230","article-title":"The spatial dimensions of medication management by home-dwelling older adults after hospital discharge","volume":"60","author":"Roux","year":"2019","journal-title":"Health Place"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"82","DOI":"10.1080\/00140139.2017.1301574","article-title":"Medication adherence: Staying within the boundaries of safety","volume":"61","author":"Mickelson","year":"2017","journal-title":"Ergonomics"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"493","DOI":"10.1007\/s10865-018-0002-0","article-title":"Out-of-home informal support important for medication adherence, diabetes distress, hemoglobin A1c among adults with type 2 diabetes","volume":"42","author":"Mayberry","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Behav. Med."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e34906","DOI":"10.2196\/34906","article-title":"An In-Home Medication Dispensing System to Support Medication Adherence for Patients With Chronic Conditions in the Community Setting: Prospective Observational Pilot Study","volume":"6","author":"Patel","year":"2022","journal-title":"JMIR Form. Res."}],"container-title":["Pharmacy"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2226-4787\/12\/1\/20\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T13:47:43Z","timestamp":1760104063000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2226-4787\/12\/1\/20"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,23]]},"references-count":38,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,2]]}},"alternative-id":["pharmacy12010020"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/pharmacy12010020","relation":{},"ISSN":["2226-4787"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2226-4787","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,23]]}}}