Effect of mHealth Interventions in Improving Medication Adherence among Patients with Asthma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives: This study aims to systematically review and evaluate the existing evidence on the effectiveness of mobile health technology (mHealth) interventions in addressing medication adherence among people with asthma. The objectives of the study are 1) To evaluate the effectiveness of mHealth interventions on medication adherence among asthma patients. 2) To assess clinical effectiveness of mHealth interventions in asthmatic patients. Methods: Literature searches were conducted in five databases in November 2020. Included studies were randomized controlled trials comparing mHealth interventions versus usual care in improving adherence among patients prescribed asthma medications and control of asthma. Quantitative synthesis was performed using a random effects model. Results: 5 databases are searched systematically and244 records were identified. 9 randomized controlled trails were eligible for qualitative synthesis and 8 RCTs for quantitative synthesis. Adherence of asthma medications and clinical effectiveness of asthma in mHealth intervention and usual care arm are compared. Results show a small but significant overall effect on adherence to asthma medications (SMD = 0.73, 95%CI = 0.59?0.88) across mHealth studies utilizing self-reports, electronic monitoring, and Medication adherence report scale (MARS) to measure adherence. There is significant overall effect on control of asthma (SMD = 0.06, 95%CI = -0.07?0.20) across mHealth studies utilizing Questionnaire, forced expiratory volume (FEV) and Asthma control test (ACT) to measure asthma related quality of life. Conclusion: mHealth interventions are effective and the meta-analysis of data from 8 trials showed improved medication adherence and asthma control.