Among patients being treated for chronic conditions, non-adherence to medicines is common.1 Often this results from forgetfulness, complicated medication regimens or busy lifestyles.2 Reminder devices have the potential to improve adherence by providing visual or auditory cues to prompt patients to take their medication. However, one large trial suggests that three low-cost devices—caps with digital timers, pill bottle strips with sliding toggles, and standard pillboxes—had little effect on adherence.3

The pragmatic trial included 53,480 members of a large pharmacy benefit scheme (CVS Caremark) in the USA.3 Participants were aged 18 to 64 years, …