About This Project

Medication errors and poor adherence remain major challenges in low-resource settings. This study tests whether a digital health app can improve medication safety among patients in Rwanda. We hypothesize that app users will show higher adherence and fewer errors than those receiving standard care. A quasi-experimental design will measure adherence, errors, and satisfaction, providing evidence on the effectiveness of digital tools in enhancing patient safety.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Medication non-adherence and errors are major contributors to preventable health complications worldwide. In low-resource settings like Rwanda, these challenges are intensified by complex prescriptions, limited patient education, and insufficient follow-up in pharmacies and outpatient clinics. Patients often struggle with missed doses or incorrect use of medicines, which can lead to worsened health outcomes and increased healthcare costs. While digital health technologies, such as mobile apps and SMS reminders, have proven effective in improving medication adherence and reducing errors in high-income countries, evidence for their impact in Rwanda is limited. This project seeks to explore whether a digital health app can empower patients, simplify medication management, and prevent errors, offering a scalable, innovative solution for patient safety and public health in a low-resource context.

What is the significance of this project?

This project is significant because it tackles two critical challenges medication errors and poor adherence that compromise health outcomes and strain healthcare systems. In Rwanda and similar low-resource settings, these problems often go unaddressed due to limited tools for patient support and monitoring. By testing a digital health app, this study introduces an innovative, low-cost solution that empowers patients to manage their medicines safely and effectively. The results will generate locally relevant evidence on the role of digital technology in improving adherence and reducing errors, filling an urgent research gap in Africa. Beyond academic impact, the findings can guide policymakers, pharmacists, and global health practitioners seeking scalable strategies to strengthen patient safety. Success here could demonstrate a model for expanding digital health innovations in other resource-limited communities worldwide, making this project both timely and transformative.

What are the goals of the project?

This project seeks to transform medication safety in Rwanda through a user-centered digital health app designed to improve adherence and reduce errors. The app will integrate personalized medication reminders, clear dosing instructions, educational content, and error-reporting features, co-designed with pharmacists, clinicians, and patients. We will pilot the app with 100 adult patients on chronic medications across selected pharmacies and outpatient clinics over eight weeks, measuring adherence through app tracking, self-reports, and pharmacy refill records, while capturing errors such as missed or incorrect doses via app logs and pharmacist verification. Quantitative and qualitative analyses will assess improvements in adherence, reductions in errors, and user experience, generating rigorous, actionable evidence to demonstrate how innovative digital tools can empower patients and strengthen healthcare in low-resource settings.