Intervention
In order to design the application used in this study, an in-depth review was conducted on the existing medication reminder application (both in Farsi and English) to identify their week points in order to solve these issues in new design. A drug management app compatible with android operating system with features such as ease of use, adjustable font and text size, use of proper colors in background and app item, saying the name of the drug and showing its picture while playing a reminder for its use, and using phrases like “Dear mother/father! It’s time for your drug” was designed for Iranian older adults in Persian language for the first time. The drugs name and picture was recorded when setting the reminding alarm. All educational content in this app were reviewed and confirmed by three geriatric experts. In order to protect the privacy and security of app users, the most up-to-date programing codes were used to design the app. As a pilot test and finding the possible flaws and ensuring its correct function on mobile phones, it was installed on the mobile phones of 10 elders. They were asked to report any problem and their ideas about app improvement and its ease of use. The comments of geriatric experts in this field and older adults were both used in design phase. After receiving the final correct operability confirmation and obtaining informed consent, the app was installed on the mobile phones of the participants in the intervention group. Face-to-face training on how to use the app was offered to each participant in a 60-minute session and medication use alarms were set. During the intervention, app users were contacted via phone calls or in routine hospital referrals to ask and check if there is any problem using the app to ensure to ensure intervention fidelity. Also the participants could contact the researcher through the phone number given to them to ask their questions. Number and therapeutic category of drugs were similar in the control and intervention groups. The participants in the control group received the routine care of the health center including periodical visits to evaluate the treatment process and required care. Considering the Covid-19 pandemic in Iran and the sensitive conditions of older adults, it was difficult to make the necessary arrangements for participation of the elders in the introduction session, which included various topic such as the objective of the study, using the app, and completing the questionnaire. To address this problem, the participants were grouped into different groups, and Covid-19 related protocols including social distancing, face mask use, and disinfection were strictly considered.