How to use Behavioral Science in Patient Medication Adherence

patient medication adherence

Patient Medication Adherence

 
The pharmaceutical industry faces a significant challenge when it comes to patient medication adherence. When patients do not take their medications as prescribed, it can lead to a range of negative outcomes. Treatment failure and worsening of their health condition are obvious candidates. Behavioral science, which is the study of human behavior and decision-making, can provide valuable insights and develop effective interventions to improve adherence. In this blog post, we will discuss how the use of octalysis gamification, a behavioral science framework for applying game design to non-game contexts, can help the pharmaceutical industry achieve higher patient medication adherence.
 

 Motivation: enter Octalysis

One of the key factors that influence medication adherence is a patient’s motivation to take their medication as prescribed. If a patient is not motivated to take their medication, they may forget to take it or skip doses. Octalysis gamification can help in this regard by creating engaging and motivating experiences for patients that encourage them to take their medication as prescribed.

 The Octalysis gamification framework is based on eight core drives that motivate human behavior. These core drives are: Epic Meaning and Calling, Development and Accomplishment, Empowerment of Creativity and Feedback, Ownership and Possession, Social Influence and Relatedness, Scarcity and Impatience, Unpredictability and Curiosity, and Loss and Avoidance. By applying these core drives to the design of interventions to improve medication adherence, it is possible to create experiences that are engaging and motivating for patients.

 

How to apply Octalysis in Patient Medication Adherence?

For example, one way to apply the Octalysis gamification framework to improve medication adherence is to create a game-like experience for patients that rewards them for taking their medication as prescribed. This could involve using a mobile app that tracks a patient’s medication adherence and provides rewards, such as virtual badges or points, for taking their medication on time. This approach leverages the core drives of Development and Accomplishment, Empowerment of Creativity and Feedback, and Ownership and Possession to create an engaging and motivating experience for patients.

Another way to apply the Octalysis gamification framework to improve medication adherence is to create a social support network for patients that encourages them to take their medication as prescribed. This could involve using a social media platform or online forum where patients can connect with each other and share their experiences with medication adherence. This approach leverages the core drives of Social Influence and Relatedness, Scarcity and Impatience, and Unpredictability and Curiosity to create an engaging and motivating experience for patients.

Other applications in medication journeys

In addition to creating engaging and motivating experiences for patients, the Octalysis gamification framework can also be used to address other factors that influence medication adherence. For example, the framework can be used to provide patients with information and support to manage the potential side effects of their medication. This could involve using a mobile app or online platform that provides patients with information about the potential side effects of their medication and offers support to manage those side effects. This approach leverages the core drives of Epic Meaning and Calling, Empowerment of Creativity and Feedback, and Loss and Avoidance to create an engaging and motivating experience for patients.

 In conclusion, the use of Octalysis gamification can help the pharmaceutical industry achieve higher patient medication adherence. By applying the framework to the design of interventions to improve medication adherence, it is possible to create engaging and motivating experiences for patients that encourage them to take their medication as prescribed. This approach can help to address the underlying factors that influence medication adherence and improve patient outcomes.

 

 

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