Psychosocial Determinants of Adherence to Digital Therapeutics

Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute | RMIT University | RMIT Europe

 

Supervisors: Meritxell Davins Riu | Vasileios Stavropoulos | Gabriela Irrazabal

 

Research areas: Psychology; social psychology; medical/health sociology

IGTP-PF1

This research line focuses on the psychosocial determinants affecting patient adherence to prescribed digital therapeutics, particularly telemedicine interventions across various health conditions. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, including in-depth qualitative methods such as interviews, focus groups, and thematic analysis, the research line explores the barriers and facilitators to telemedicine adherence among patients with high digital literacy levels. The aim of the research line is to generate actionable knowledge to inform the development of strategies and interventions to enhance patient engagement and improve adherence to prescribed telemedicine therapies, ultimately contributing to the effectiveness of digital health interventions.

The proposed project will leverage a comprehensive dataset containing patient records from over 40 health conditions, enabling robust quantitative analyses alongside with qualitative insights. The integration of these methods will provide a holistic understanding of adherence behaviour, identifying key barriers and enablers, offering an evidence-based foundation for exploring strategies to improve adherence rates. These findings will also inform the design and piloting of targeted interventions to enhance the effectiveness of digital therapeutics in real-world settings.

By addressing challenges in digital therapeutics adherence, this research contributes to regenerative futures and planetary health by advancing the adoption of restorative healthcare practices. Improved adherence to digital therapeutics enhances individual wellbeing while reducing the environmental footprint associated with traditional in-person care, such as travel and use of resources. Furthermore, optimising digital therapeutics adherence can decrease healthcare system costs while fostering a more resilient and adaptive approach to health interventions that benefits both individuals and the broader ecosystem.

Research group website