1.

1 INTRODUCTION
Mobile healthcare applications have gained increasing popularity due to the ubiquity of smartphones
and their potential to enhance healthcare delivery. One of the significant challenges in healthcare
management is medication adherence, which can be a difficult task for patients with chronic diseases.
Medication non-adherence can lead to poor health outcomes, including increased healthcare costs,
hospitalizations, and morbidity. Therefore, mobile healthcare applications with medicine reminders can
be an effective tool to improve medication adherence and ultimately enhance patient outcomes.

Health care is very essentials for human being. Nowadays, all people have a busy hectic schedule.
Today’s life is full of responsibilities, stress etc. So, people have different types diseases and it is our duty
to make themselves fit and healthy. Even the old age people who generally stay home or with their
servants find it difficult to remember which medicine is to be taken and when. In our everyday life, it is
difficult for a person to remind their daily intake of medicines. Today every person has mobiles in hand.
Our life is totally dependent on gadgets especially mobiles. With this, we get an opportunity to use
technology in a better way so that we can help our society to keep them healthy. It plays an important
part in our everyday life and helps us staying healthy. We are developing an Android application, whose
objective is to remind the patients of their dosage timings through Alarm Ringing system so that they
can stay healthy all the time. With the alarm ringing system, they may remember which medicine is to
be taken. This mobile application main focus on the people who forget to take medicines on time. It
allows users to set an alarm along with the date and time which will allow them to set alarm for multiple
medicines at different time intervals

Chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and asthma affect millions of people worldwide, and
medication adherence is a key factor in managing these conditions effectively. However, patients often
struggle to remember to take their medications at the right time and in the correct dosage, leading to
suboptimal health outcomes. Mobile healthcare applications have the potential to support patients in
managing their medication regimen and improving their medication adherence. This research paper
describes the design and evaluation of a mobile healthcare application that includes a medicine
reminder feature.

1.2 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The problem of poor medication adherence among patients with chronic conditions is a global issue that
affects millions of people worldwide. Despite the availability of effective medications, many patients fail
to take their medication as prescribed, leading to suboptimal health outcomes, increased healthcare
costs, and a higher risk of complications.

In the context of Kenya, medication non-adherence is a significant problem that contributes to the
burden of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and HIV/AIDS. According to the World Health
Organization, non-communicable diseases account for 27% of all deaths in Kenya, with cardiovascular
diseases, cancers, and diabetes being the leading causes of mortality. Poor medication adherence is a
major contributing factor to the high morbidity and mortality rates associated with these conditions.
Despite the availability of mobile healthcare applications, the current offerings are limited in their
usability, customizability, and integration with clinical workflows. Most of the existing applications are
not tailored to the specific needs of patients with chronic conditions in Kenya and may not be effective
in improving medication adherence and health outcomes in this population.

Therefore, there is a need for a mobile healthcare application that is customized to the specific needs of
patients with chronic conditions in Kenya, integrates with clinical workflows, and provides a medication
reminder feature that is user-friendly and effective in improving medication adherence.

The current study aims to address this knowledge gap by designing and evaluating a mobile healthcare
application with a medicine reminder feature that is customized to the needs of patients with chronic
conditions in Kenya. The study will evaluate the usability and effectiveness of the application in
improving medication adherence and health outcomes for patients with different chronic conditions.

In summary, the background of the study shows the genesis of the problem of poor medication
adherence among patients with chronic conditions, highlights the global and regional context of the
problem, and identifies specific knowledge gaps that justify the need for the current study. The
background leads logically to the statement of the problem, which is the need for a mobile healthcare
application with a medicine reminder feature that is customized to the needs of patients with chronic
conditions in Kenya.

Previous research has shown that medication reminders delivered through mobile healthcare
applications can improve medication adherence and health outcomes for patients with chronic
conditions. However, many existing applications suffer from poor usability, lack of customization, and
limited integration with clinical workflows. Therefore, there is a need for a user-centered design
approach that addresses these limitations and meets the needs of patients with chronic conditions.

1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The problem addressed in this research is the poor medication adherence among patients with chronic
conditions in Kenya. Medication non-adherence is a widespread problem in the healthcare industry and
is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. In Kenya, non-communicable diseases are
responsible for 27% of all deaths, with poor medication adherence contributing significantly to the high
mortality rates associated with these conditions. The lack of a user-centered mobile healthcare
application with a medicine reminder feature that is customized to the specific needs of patients with
chronic conditions in Kenya is a significant contributor to the problem. The proposed study aims to
develop and evaluate a mobile healthcare application that will address this issue by improving
medication adherence and ultimately improving health outcomes for patients with chronic conditions in
Kenya. If left unaddressed, the problem of poor medication adherence can result in increased healthcare
costs, reduced quality of life, and increased morbidity and mortality rates.
1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study is to design and evaluate a mobile healthcare application with a medicine
reminder feature that is customized to the needs of patients with chronic conditions in Kenya. The study
aims to improve medication adherence and ultimately improve health outcomes for patients with
chronic conditions. By developing a user-centered mobile healthcare application that integrates with
clinical workflows and is customized to the specific needs of patients with chronic conditions in Kenya,
this study seeks to address the current gap in the availability of effective mobile healthcare applications
in the region. The overall goal of the study is to contribute to the development of innovative and
effective healthcare solutions that can improve the lives of patients with chronic conditions in Kenya.

1.5 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objectives of this study are as follows:

1. To identify the medication adherence behavior among patients with chronic conditions in
Kenya.

2. To define the requirements for a user-centered mobile healthcare application with a medicine
reminder feature that is customized to the needs of patients with chronic conditions in Kenya.

3. To design and develop a mobile healthcare application with a medicine reminder feature that is
customized to the specific needs of patients with chronic conditions in Kenya.

4. To evaluate the usability and effectiveness of the developed mobile healthcare application in
improving medication adherence among patients with chronic conditions in Kenya.

5. To investigate the factors that influence the adoption and sustained use of the developed
mobile healthcare application among patients with chronic conditions in Kenya.

These objectives are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. The outcome-
based verbs used in the objectives include identify, design and develop, evaluate, assess, and
explore. By achieving these objectives, the study aims to contribute to the development of
effective and sustainable mobile healthcare solutions that can improve medication adherence
and health outcomes among patients with chronic conditions in Kenya.

1.6 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are the current healthcare needs and medication management practices among patients
with chronic diseases in Kenya?
 2. How effective is the use of mobile healthcare applications with medication reminders in
improving medication adherence among patients with chronic diseases in Kenya?

3. What are the factors that influence the adoption and use of mobile healthcare applications with
medication reminders among patients with chronic diseases in Kenya?

4. What are the privacy and security concerns associated with the use of mobile healthcare
applications with medication reminders, and how can they be addressed?

5. How can mobile healthcare applications with medication reminders be designed and tailored to
meet the unique needs of patients with chronic diseases in Kenya?

6. What are the potential challenges and barriers to implementing mobile healthcare applications
with medication reminders in the Kenyan healthcare system, and how can they be overcome?

7. How does the use of mobile healthcare applications with medication reminders impact
healthcare outcomes and healthcare costs in Kenya?

8. How can healthcare providers effectively integrate mobile healthcare applications with
medication reminders into their practice, and what are the best practices for patient
engagement and education?

1.7 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

The justification for this study is based on the need to address the problem of poor medication
adherence among patients with chronic conditions in Kenya. Non-adherence to medication has been
identified as a significant challenge in the management of chronic conditions, leading to poor health
outcomes, increased healthcare costs, and reduced quality of life for patients. Despite the increasing
popularity of mobile health applications as tools for improving medication adherence, there is a lack of
user-centered mobile healthcare applications with medicine reminder features that are customized to
the needs of patients with chronic conditions in Kenya.

This study seeks to develop and evaluate a mobile healthcare application with a medicine reminder
feature that is customized to the specific needs of patients with chronic conditions in Kenya. By
addressing the gap in the availability of effective mobile healthcare applications in the region, this study
has the potential to improve medication adherence and ultimately improve health outcomes for
patients with chronic conditions in Kenya. The study findings will also contribute to the development of
innovative and effective healthcare solutions that can be scaled up to other regions with similar
healthcare challenges.

The beneficiaries of this study include patients with chronic conditions, healthcare providers, healthcare
policymakers, and researchers in the healthcare industry. Patients with chronic conditions will benefit
from improved medication adherence, leading to better health outcomes and an improved quality of
life. Healthcare providers will benefit from a tool that can support patient care and improve patient
outcomes. Healthcare policymakers can use the study findings to inform policy decisions and improve
the healthcare system's effectiveness. Finally, researchers in the healthcare industry will benefit from
new knowledge and insights into the design and evaluation of mobile healthcare applications for
medication adherence.

1.8 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of this study is focused on the development, evaluation, and adoption of a mobile healthcare
application with a medicine reminder feature for patients with chronic conditions in Kenya. The study
will specifically target adult patients with chronic conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and
HIV/AIDS, who are receiving treatment and care at selected healthcare facilities in urban and peri-urban
areas of Kenya. The development and evaluation of the mobile healthcare application will be conducted
in partnership with healthcare providers and patients at the selected healthcare facilities, and the study
will focus on assessing the usability, effectiveness, and impact of the application on medication
adherence, health outcomes, and healthcare utilization among the target population. The study will not
cover other aspects of mobile healthcare, such as telemedicine or remote patient monitoring, and will
not include pediatric patients or patients with acute conditions..

1.9 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

There are several limitations to this study that should be acknowledged. First, the study's findings may
not be generalizable to other populations with different healthcare needs, healthcare systems, or
cultural contexts. Second, the study's reliance on self-reported medication adherence may introduce
bias or measurement error, and alternative methods of measuring medication adherence (e.g., pill
counts, pharmacy refill data) were not used. Third, the study's sample size may be relatively small, and
the study may not have sufficient statistical power to detect small but meaningful differences in
outcomes. Fourth, the study's design may be susceptible to selection bias, as patients who volunteer to
participate in the study may differ from those who do not. Finally, the study's implementation may be
subject to external factors such as technical difficulties or changes in the healthcare system that may
affect the adoption or use of the mobile healthcare application.

To overcome these limitations, the study will use validated self-report measures of medication
adherence, employ rigorous recruitment and retention strategies to ensure a diverse and representative
sample, use appropriate statistical methods to account for potential confounding variables, and engage
with stakeholders throughout the study to address any implementation challenges that may arise.
Additionally, the study will acknowledge and report on any limitations and potential sources of bias in
the final publication to ensure transparency and accountability.
1.10 ASSUMPTIONS OF THE STUDY

Some potential assumptions for a study on a mobile healthcare application with medicine reminders
could include:

Assumption 1: Users of the mobile healthcare application will have access to a smartphone or other
mobile device capable of running the application.

Assumption 2: Users of the application will be willing and able to enter accurate information about their
medications and health conditions into the application.

Assumption 3: The medication reminders and other features of the application will be effective in
improving medication adherence and overall health outcomes for users.

Assumption 4: The sample of participants recruited for the study will be representative of the broader
population of potential users of the application.

Assumption 5: The data collected through the application and other research methods will be reliable
and valid, allowing for accurate analysis and interpretation of the results.

Conclusion:

The mobile healthcare application with a medicine reminder feature developed in this study showed
promising results in improving medication adherence and health outcomes for patients with chronic
conditions. The study highlights the importance of a user-centered design approach