Managing diabetes is challenging for patients because efforts to control it create lifestyle burdens. Patients must regularly` monitor blood glucose levels, consistently take their medication and make routine changes that favor healthy diet and exercise. If paired with comorbidities and/or denial and depression, it can become even more difficult for patients to manage daily medication regimens. Because of these difficulties, adherence rates to diabetes medications average just 53%, according to reporting from IQVIA (1).
The payoff that improved adherence gives to patients is substantial. According to one study (2), every percentage increase in Medication Possession Ratio (MPR) confers 48% lower odds of poor glycemic control. Another study (3) reported that each percentage drop in self-reported medication adherence is associated with a .21% increase in HbA1c and a 20.9% increase in hospital visits.
A leading injectable diabetes medication franchise partnered with HealthPrize to develop an adherence and education program targeted toward the unique needs of patients with diabetes in order to support improved outcomes. The program – integrated into the brand’s existing patient support portal that offered, among other resources, nurse educators and coaches – utilized HealthPrize’s approach of using behavioral science, education and gamification to help patients develop the routines and habits needed to better self-manage their diabetes on a day-to-day basis and get access to the brand’s high-touch diabetes management resources.
In HealthPrize programs, patients verified to be prescribed a brand engage daily with educational content and behavioral triggers that support improved medication adherence. Members receive daily prompts via text message or email to report their medication taking. They earn points for engaging with daily and weekly educational content and assessments. Points are redeemable in a Points Exchange for either gift cards, health-related items or charitable donations. This program used gift cards.
Members are also eligible to win monthly leaderboard competitions and weekly challenges based on their levels of engagement. All prescription fills are verified through HealthPrize’s proprietary verification system.
The program’s educational content, delivered consistently through daily tips, weekly quizzes and weekly surveys, focused on themes of critical importance to the brand:
The program delivered a 2.9 incremental fill increase, representing a 57% lift in adherence, patients verified to be on the brand’s medication.
96% of patients reported that they would miss the program after it ended.
Over 75% of patients completed weekly educational quizzes and surveys, and 60% of patients read the health tips daily.
Let’s discover how a HealthPrize pilot program can help you assess the feasibility and efficacy of a branded program in your unique patient population.
