Case Study: myMeds—A multichannel support programme for Type 2 Diabetes

Background

The Challenge

  • Type 2 diabetes is a common, progressive, and long-term health condition that can place a significant burden on patient and healthcare resources if not managed
  • Oral hypoglycaemic agents are the first-line pharmacological treatment to delay the need to start insulin therapy
  • Adherence to oral hypoglycaemic agents can be as low as 36%
  • Targeting people's beliefs about their condition and medication can improve adherence to treatment

Our Behaviour Change Approach

  • Health psychology theory and behavioural science principles were used to develop the programme content
    • Focus groups were conducted with patients to develop insights into their understanding of diabetes and how they used their medications 
    • SMS messages, emails, and webpages were designed using validated behaviour change techniques
    • Nurse calls were guided by behaviour change principles and the nurses adopted a motivational interviewing approach to patient interactions

The Solution

The myMeds support programme provided a highly-personalised, multichannel experience tailored to address key nonadherence risk factors for each patient in their 26-week programme journey

Topics addressed included: 

  • Illness perceptions
  • Medication concerns
  • Strategies to help with remembering and organising
  • Medication necessity
  • Diabetes distress

Patient beliefs were measured at enrolment to personalise their programme journey, and determine intervention intensity (low, medium, high) 

The Impact

  • 20% increase in median prescriptions filled per year compared to matched control group

  • Significant increase in total number of prescriptions filled by myMeds patients (median = 6.0) compared to baseline (median = 5.0)

  • 81% NPS (recommend myMeds to others)

In addition to improvements in adherence, the myMeds programme:

  • Improved disease and treatment understanding
  • Improved patients' ability to self-manage
  • Improved patients' health overall, as reported by 76% of patients

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