The impact of using reinforcement learning to personalize communication on medication adherence: findings from the REINFORCE trial.

ABSTRACT: Text messaging can promote healthy behaviors, like adherence to medication, yet its effectiveness remains modest, in part because message content is rarely personalized. Reinforcement learning has been used in consumer technology to personalize content but with limited application in healthcare. We tested a reinforcement learning program that identifies individual responsiveness ("adherence") to text message content and personalizes messaging accordingly. We randomized 60 individuals with diabetes and glycated hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] ≥ 7.5% to reinforcement learning intervention or control (no messages). Both arms received electronic pill bottles to measure adherence. The intervention improved absolute adjusted adherence by 13.6% (95%CI: 1.7%-27.1%) versus control and was more effective in

SUBMITTER: Lauffenburger JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10876539 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature