Table 1 Study characteristics for the included studies
Study | Study design | Sample size | Intervention | Control group | Intervention arms | Length of intervention | Primary outcomes | Secondary outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hale et al. [15], USA | Randomized controlled pilot study | Intervention = 13 Control = 16 (n = 29) | MedSentry remote medication monitoring system- medication contained in individual bins with participants alerted when it is time to take it | Usual care: using their usual medication reminder method | 2 arms (control versus intervention) | 90 days | • Medication adherence • Health status • Quality of life • Emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations | Not applicable |
Gallagher et al. [16], USA | Randomized controlled pilot study | Intervention = 20 Control = 20 (n = 40) | Telemonitoring (in combination with the GlowCap system- patients told they may be contacted for monitoring in intervention group | Usual care with passive monitoring | 2 arms (control versus intervention) | 30 days | • Adherence to loop diuretics | • 30-day all cause readmission • Attendance at follow-up • Acceptability of telemonitoring |
Goldstein et al. [17], USA | Randomized controlled feasibility trial | Smartphone (n = 30) Intervention = 15 Control = 15 Container (n = 30) Intervention = 15 Control = 15 (n = 60) | Telehealth intervention (electronic pill box) and m-health intervention (app on smartphone) | Usual care with intervention device that did not provide reminders—"silent condition" | 2 × 2 arms (two control versus intervention) 1.Pillbox silent 2.Pillbox reminding 3.Smartphone silent 4.Smartphone reminding | 28 days | • Medication adherence • Mastery of intervention (participants ability to use their given device and its functions) • Device ratings | Not applicable |
Boyne et al. [18], Netherlands | Randomised controlled trial | Intervention = 197 Control = 185 (n = 382) | Telemonitoring device (HealthBuddy)- connected to a landline. Participants answered daily questions about symptoms, knowledge, and behaviour by touching one of the device keys | Usual care with easy access to a HF nurse and 4 outpatient clinic visits during follow-up | 2 arms (control versus intervention) | 12 months | • Disease-specific knowledge • Disease-specific self-care • Disease-specific self-efficacy • Disease-specific adherence to therapy | Not applicable |
Wu et al. [19], USA | Randomised controlled trial | TPB + MEMS group = 27 TPB = 27 Control = 28 (n = 82) | Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) AND Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS) feedback | Usual care | 3 arms 1.TPB and MEMS (PLUS) 2.TPB (LITE) 3. Usual care (Control) | 9 months | • Cardiac event-free survival • Quality of life • Medication adherence | Not applicable |
Felker et al. [20], USA | Randomised Controlled Trial | Intervention = 92 Control = 95 (n = 187) | Mobile Health (mHealth) intervention- educational skill-based teaching for medication management | Usual care | 2 arms (intervention versus control) | 3 months (6 months follow-up as well) | • Change in mean daily step count from baseline through 3 months | • Change in medication adherence • Quality of life • Physiological measure of disease status (NT-proNBP, HbA1c) • Metabolic profiling |
Yanicelli et al. [21], Argentina | Randomised Controlled Trial | Intervention = 20 Control = 20 (n = 40) | Home telemonitoring system (HTS)- application (app) that collects physiological measures and symptoms, with an educational and messaging function | Usual care | 2 arms (intervention versus control) | 90 days | • Changes in self-care • Changes in treatment adherence | • Rehospitalisation |
Young et al. [22], USA | Randomised Controlled Trial | Intervention = 54 Control = 51 (n = 105) | Electronic pill organizer reminder | Usual care with standard discharge teaching and scheduled follow-up doctor's appointment | 2 arms (intervention versus control) | 12-week SM training 3 + 6-month follow-up | SM adherence: • Frequencies of daily weighing • Following low-sodium diet • Taking prescribed medication • Exercising • Attending follow-up appointments • Clinical biomarkers • All-cause readmissions • ED visits | • Physical activity |
Ross et al. [23], USA | Randomised controlled trial | Intervention group = 54 Control group = 53 (n = 107) | SPPARO (System Providing Access to Records Online): • Web-based electronic medical record • Web-based educational guide • Web-based messaging system | Usual care | 2 arms (control versus intervention) | 12 months | • Self-efficacy | • Patient satisfaction • Adherence (medication and general) |