ENABLE webinar January 2025: Using Behaviour Science to enhance Medication Adherence Technologies
Resources for studying adherence behaviours and applying impactful change strategies
How can technologies help patients to stay on track with their treatment?
Taking medication is not just about swallowing a pill—it’s about managing a condition, preventing complications, and improving quality of life. Yet, despite the best intentions, sticking to a prescribed treatment plan is often challenging. Forgetfulness, side effects, complex regimens, and daily disruptions can all get in the way of adherence.
When patients don’t take their medication as prescribed, the benefits of treatment decrease, and the risk of complications rises. Healthcare professionals provide guidance and support, but they can’t be there every moment of the day to remind, encourage, or adapt treatment plans when the context changes. So how can we help patients stay engaged with their treatment?
Behaviour Science has structured the diversity of ways in which behaviour change may be supported into a number of distinct Behavioral Change Techniques (BCTs). By performing rigorous research on how they work and applying them systematically in practice, we can build reliable knowledge on whether they can improve medication adherence and in what situations. These BCTs include reminders (prompts and cues), action planning, self-monitoring, and personalized feedback among others. Digital health technologies, from smartphone apps to connected devices, are incorporating these techniques to provide real-time support, helping patients build lasting habits and overcome common barriers.
But integrating BCTs into technology is not just about adding a reminder function. Which BCTs should be used, when, and how? How can we make them effective and engaging? What do patients really need in different phases of their treatment journey?
This webinar offers a structured approach to selecting and implementing BCTs in digital health solutions. By understanding the behavioral science behind adherence and applying practical frameworks like the COM-B model, developers can create solutions that truly support patients and maximize health outcomes.
This webinar took place on January 28 2025. You can watch the webinar recording and download the webinar materials below:
Practice – how to choose a BCT