Improved Medication Compliance Through Health IT: Design and Mixed Methods Evaluation of the Application ePill

Enhancing information provision in patient information leaflets for medication with health IT has the potential to improve lacking medication compliance. Following the design science research paradigm, a web application (ePill – electronic patient information leaflet) providing information on pharmaceuticals and supplementary services while avoiding drawbacks of patient information leaflets was created. Mixed methods are employed for artifact evaluation and refinement in subsequent design cycles. ePill can mend the prevalent problem of medication compliance by alleviating the process of gaining knowledge about medication one is taking. A special focus is on the tradeoff between offered functionality and information security and privacy concerns. Building on foundations of information systems research as well as medical sciences, this research is on the verge of both domains. This paper examines the theoretical background, presents completed design cycles, including creation, design as well as results of qualitative evaluations, and discusses the planned quantitative ePill evaluation in progress.