Enhancing patient adherence with A.I.

The life sciences sector is at the forefront of innovation, particularly in the healthcare industry that implements AI applications to revolutionize patient care. Despite advancements, the pharmaceutical industry has never really tackled improving patient adherence with concrete solutions.
Partnering with CROPLAND since 2023, Novellas Healthcare has taken on the challenge of improving patient adherence with the help of AI.

We started a feasibility study together with VLAIO, focusing on two primary questions:

1. Can we measure therapy adherence accurately?
2. Is it possible to predict patient therapy adherence?

We first needed to define therapy adherence. Through extensive research and expert consultations, we created a tailored definition that considers:

• WHO’s categories affecting adherence: health system, condition, treatment regimen, socioeconomic environment, and the patient.
• AMA’s threshold: adherence is taking at least 80% of prescribed medication.
• APA’s factors: education, medication cost, belief in treatment, and fear of side effects.

Combining these insights, the study proposed that therapy adherence refers to a patient’s commitment to follow the agreed treatment plan, including medication dosage and timing, while considering factors such as symptoms, side effects, medication cost, and disease knowledge. With our expert input, we refined this definition, emphasizing the importance of the therapeutic area and medication administration mode.

We at Novellas Healthcare had CROPLAND analyse our datasets, focusing on adherence programs and factors like age, location, disease, and dropout rates, while we developed Dynamic Forms to capture structured patient data securely.

Add sensitive data and a first vague description of therapy adherence to the equation made it clear that the analysis of the entirety was no piece of cake. With a custom data pipeline, CROPLAND data engineers were able to transform unstructured patient surveys into workable data. We then used this data to assess the correlation between a range of factors and therapy adherence. Novellas Healthcare experts, who were continuously involved in the project, supported the interpretation of this data. This iterative approach created a constructive collaboration between both partners, leading to better results than either could have achieved separately.

1. Face-to-Face (F2F) Visits:
   • Regular F2F visits significantly improve adherence compared to digital-only interactions.
   • Optimal frequency of visits is crucial, as too many visits have an equally negative impact on therapy adherence as too few.
2. Other Factors:
   • Age, location, and gender showed less significant impact on adherence.

Together, we have successfully quantified and measured therapy adherence, enabling personalized actions to maximize adherence. By combining A.I and healthcare ability, Novellas Healthcare and CROPLAND are paving the way for innovative solutions.

Ready to discover what A.I can do for you? Do not hesitate to contact our partner CROPLAND, the industry experts!