Improving Medication Adherence in Elderly Patients Through IoMT-Enabled Smart Pill Dispensers: A Narrative Review

Non-adherence to medications represents a major complication among the elderly, with dire consequences on health outcomes and healthcare costs. The advent of internet of medical things (IoMT)-enabled dispensers opened up opportunities feasible for confronting these issues of great concern. With real-time monitoring, automated personal reminders, and caregiver interfacing, these devices address some of the common barriers to adherence with attention to patient and caregiver experience. The objective of this review was to evaluate the contribution of IoMT-enabled dispensers toward the improvement of medication compliance in elderly patients. Evidence extracted from research on Scopus, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library suggests high adherence rates, low missed doses, and greater levels of satisfaction from both the patient and caregiver. Furthermore, effectiveness is explained by personal real-time reminders, tailored interventions, and interfacing with healthcare systems. However, their uptake is opposed by constraints such as limited-quality internet access, issues with privacy of data, and financial constraints. The review builds on highlighting opportunities for the future for incorporation into AI technologies, policy measures, and educational programs to improve the availability and performance of the devices.