Improving medication adherence in chronic sports injuries through digital health interventions: a randomized controlled trial in community pharmacy and rehabilitation settings
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v66.113498Keywords:
Chronic sports injuries, medication adherence, digital health interventions, rehabilitation, wearable devicesAbstract
Introduction: Athletes and active individuals suffer chronic sports injuries, leading to long-term pain and disability. Digital health interventions (DHIs) can improve medication adherence and rehabilitation outcomes through reminders and progress tracking.
Objective: Affecting whether a mobile application with a wearable device can increase medication adherence, pain management, rehabilitation progress and quality of life in individuals suffering from chronic sports injuries.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted with 200 participants. The intervention group used the DHI, while the control group received standard care. Medication adherence, pain scores, associated rehabilitation progress (DASH scale), and quality of life (SF-36) were the data collected at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks.
Results: The intervention groups showed significant improvements in medication adherence rate (85.2 vs. 62.1, (p < 0.001), pain reduction (3.2 vs. 5.0 on VAS, (p < 0.001), rehabilitation progress (−22.5 vs. −12.3 on DASH, (p < 0.001) versus the interventions group after the intervention. In the intervencion group, quality of life also greatly improved (22.4 vs. 12.3, p<0,001).
Conclusion: DHIs significantly improve medication adherence, pain management, rehabilitation progress, and quality of life in individuals with chronic sports injuries, suggesting their potential for broader clinical application in rehabilitation settings.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Mr. Partha Sarathi Satapathy, Dr. Praveen Katiyar, K Annapuranam, Dr. Chandra Shekhar Singh, Dr. Keerthana B. Chigateri, Dr. Prithpal Singh Matreja, Dr. Hemang S Jani
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