Using a smartphone app to help people remember to take their blood pressure medication

mobile Cued Adherence Therapy (mCAT): a scalable habit formation intervention to improve blood pressure medication adherence based on a widely used smartphone app

['FUNDING_R01'] · ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY-TEMPE CAMPUS · NIH-11142518

This study is looking at how a smartphone app can help people on Medicaid remember to take their blood pressure medicine by letting them earn rewards for showing they took their pills each day, making it easier to stick to their treatment plan.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY-TEMPE CAMPUS (nih funded)
Locations1 site (TEMPE, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11142518 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This research investigates how a smartphone app can improve adherence to blood pressure medication among individuals, particularly those enrolled in Medicaid. By utilizing the Wellth app, participants can earn incentives for providing photographic proof of their daily pill intake. The study aims to understand how these incentives and the formation of habits can help maintain long-term medication adherence, which is crucial for managing hypertension effectively. The approach combines behavioral economics with technology to address the challenges of medication adherence.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who are enrolled in Medicaid and have difficulty adhering to their blood pressure medication regimen.

Not a fit: Patients who are already consistently adhering to their blood pressure medication or those not enrolled in Medicaid may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve blood pressure control and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases for patients who struggle with medication adherence.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that incentive-based approaches can improve medication adherence, suggesting that this method may be effective, although the specific application with the Wellth app is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

TEMPE, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.