Evaluating Medication Adherence of Patients With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease With Support of Smartphone Application GERDCare

Evaluating Medication Adherence of Patients With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease With Support of the Smartphone Application GERDCare

Adherence to GERD treatment, including medication, diet, and lifestyle, is essential for symptom control and complication prevention, yet adherence rates remain low due to various demographic and clinical factors. Digital therapeutics, particularly mobile health applications, have shown promising potential in supporting chronic disease management and improving patient outcomes.

The GERDCare mobile application was developed with direct input from gastrointestinal experts. It is designed to enhance treatment adherence and patient engagement by offering features such as educational resources, symptom tracking, medication reminders, and direct communication between patients and physicians.

We are conducting a single-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of using GERDCare in improving patient adherence. Patients are followed up after four weeks of GERD treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• ≥18 years old
• Presents with typical GERD symptoms (regurgitation, heartburn)
• Owns a smartphone and capable of using smartphone applications.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Acute GI conditions (upper GI bleeding, acute peptic ulcer…)
• GI malignancy (esophageal cancer, gastric cancer…)
• Severe chronic comorbidities (heart failure, liver failure, chronic kidney disease…)
• Pregnancy, alcohol abuse, mental health conditions impacting medication adherence or app usage