Table 2.
Characteristics of included studies.
| Study; method | Interventiona | Participants; sex; mean age | Adherence measurement; timing of measuring adherence |
Main conclusion |
| Artinian [27]; RCTb | Web-based monitoring system; tailored content; nature of expert/therapist contact | N = 18 (17 males; mean age 68 years); intervention group n = 9, control group n = 9 | Pill counts; baseline and 3 months | Medication compliance rate was 94% for the monitor group as measured by the monitor system |
| Jan [28]; RCTb | Blue Angel for Asthma Kids variability; tailored content; nature of expert/therapist contact | N = 164, intervention group n = 88 (35 males; mean age 10.9 years); control group n = 76 (28 males; mean age 9.9 years) | Self-reported at baseline and 12 weeks | The Blue Angel for Asthma Kids has the potential for improving asthma outcome compared with conventional treatment over a period of 12 weeks |
| Chan [29]; RCTb | Customized educational and monitoring Web site; tailored content; nature of expert/therapist contact | N = 120; intervention group n = 60 (37 males; mean age 10.2 years); control group n = 60 (38 males; mean age 9.0 years) | Computerized prescription refill record at baseline, 26 weeks, and 52 weeks | No difference in adherence between groups |
| Chan [30]; RCTb | Customized educational and monitoring Web site; tailored content; nature of expert/therapist contact | N = 10; intervention group n = 5 (1 male; mean age 6.6 years); control group n = 5 (4 males; mean age 8.7 years) | Self-reported asthma diary and computerized prescription refill record at 90 days and 180 days | After the intervention, the use of beta-agonist decreased, which is an indication of better adherence |
| Joseph [31]; RCTb | Web-based asthma management program; tailored content; user control | N = 314 (36.6% male; mean age 15.3 years); intervention group n = 162; control group n = 52 | Self-reported at baseline and 12 months | Positive changes in controller medication adherence were seen |
| Ross [32]; RCTb | SPPARO (System Providing Access to Records Online); tailored content; nature of expert/therapist contact | N = 104; intervention group n = 54 (80% male; mean age 57 years); control group n = 50 (74% male; mean age 55 years) | Self-reported at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months | Providing patients access to an online medical record improved adherence |
| Cherry [33]; prospective design | Telemedicine diabetes disease management program; tailored content; nature of expert/therapist contact | Intervention group n = 169 (39 males; mean age 53 years); historical group (usual care) | Self-reported | Outcomes offer encouraging evidence that telemedicine technology coupled with daily remote monitoring may improve appropriate use of health care services |
| Guendelman [34]; RCTb | Health Buddy, an interactive device connected to a home telephone; tailored content; nature of expert/therapist contact | N = 134; intervention group (40 males; mean age 12.2 years); control group (37 males; mean age 12.0 years) | Self-reported at baselines, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks | Patients were more likely to take their asthma medication without additional reminders |
| DeVito Dabbs [35]; RCTb | Pocket Personal Assistant for Tracking Health (PATH); tailored content; nature of expert/therapist contact | N = 30; intervention group n = 15 (60% male; mean age 55 years); control group n = 15 (60% male; mean age 57 years) | Self-reported at baseline and 2 months | Patients who received the PATH were more likely to show high adherence to the medical regimen |
| Van der Meer [36]; RCTb | Internet-based self-management program; customized health program; user control | N = 200; intervention group n = 101 (29% male; mean age 36 years); control group n = 99 (29% male; mean age 37 years) | Self-reported at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months | After 3 months asthma control improved |
| Van der Meer [37]; RCTb | Internet-based self-management program; customized health program; user control | N = 200; intervention group n = 111 (28 males; mean age 36 years); control group n = 89 (28 males; mean age 36.6 years) | Self-reported at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year | Weekly self-monitoring leads to improved asthma control in patients with partly and uncontrolled asthma at baseline and tailors asthma medication to individual patients’ needs |
| Dilorio [38]; Survey | WebEase; customized health program; user control | N = 35 (40% male; mean age 37.5 years) | Self-reported at baseline and 6 weeks | Participants showed some improvement in adherence following the program |
| Dew [39]; prospective design | Website including skills workshops, discussion group, ask an expert, question and answer, health tips, recourses, and references; customized health program; nature of expert/therapist contact | N = 64; intervention group n = 24 (18 males; mean age 45.8 years); control group n = 40 (30 males; mean age 57.5 years) | Self-reported at baseline and 4 months | The intervention appeared to be weakly associated with medical compliance change |
a Sophistication of tailoring classification based on Figure 2.
b Randomized controlled trial.