Opportunity 

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Statins lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of myocardial infarction by 30 percent, but even among patients who have had a heart attack, nearly half stop taking their statin medications within a year of their initial prescription. 

Intervention 

A team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania leveraged Way to Health to run two randomized controlled trials to test whether social forces could improve statin adherence. Patients with diabetes and a history of low statin adherence based on pharmacy refills were enrolled in the trials.  

In the PROMOTE trial, participants in intervention groups received weekly messages summarizing their own statin adherence or messages that compared their statin adherence against that of other participants.  

In the SUPPORT trial, each participant identified a Medication Adherence Partner (MAP) to receive reports about their adherence. Participants were then assigned to the control group or one of three intervention groups in which adherence reports were sent to MAPs daily, weekly, or only if a dose was missed.  

Adherence was measured through electronic pill bottles. When bottles were opened, a signal was wirelessly transmitted to the Way to Health platform. 

Impact 

None of the social force interventions demonstrated an ability to improve medication adherence.