Abstract
BACKGROUND: Adults with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at risk for higher rates of substance use, suicide attempts, and accidental injuries than their non-ADHD peers. Treatment can be challenging due to the core features of ADHD which include forgetting to take medication, with approximately 42% of patients not refilling their medications as prescribed. Using a medication reminder app is a strategy shown to improve medication non-adherence. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects that a medication reminder app will have on medication adherence for adults with ADHD. METHODS: Documentation of days between stimulant refills for occurred for three months prior to the intervention and again for three months following the intervention. RESULTS: Mean days between refills pre-intervention was 46. The mean days between refills post-intervention was 34 days. Paired t-test compared refill frequency pre- and post-intervention indicating statistically significant improvement (P = .02). An effect size of 0.96 shows that use of the app influenced the number of days between refills in this population. CONCLUSIONS: This project demonstrated that using a medication reminder app increases medication adherence. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Medication reminder apps can positively impact medication adherence and are easily implemented.