Author(s):
Mohammad M. Al-Ahmad, Sawsan Shanableh, Muaed Jamal Alomar
Email(s):
m.alomar@ajman.ac.ae
DOI:
10.52711/0974-360X.2026.00668
Address:
Mohammad M. Al-Ahmad1, Sawsan Shanableh2, Muaed Jamal Alomar2*
1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
2Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.
*Corresponding Author
Published In:
Volume - 19,
Issue - 10,
Year - 2026
ABSTRACT:
This research is intended to discuss the problem of compliance and adherence among people in general then narrows the scope of discussion to people with visual disabilities. It aims to create a computer application which can be uses as mobile phone app to help both the visually impaired and non-visually impaired patients in taking their medications properly. This will help in reducing medication errors, improving patient’s compliance, take medications on time, safety and assure more degree of patient independency and autonomy. The application also provides patients with medical advice, drug information and dosing regimens while opens a direct contact with the pharmacist. The application will help pharmacists in the process of patient counseling and education; it also helps in medication reconciliation. This will become a manner of concordance between the patient and the pharmacist on every aspect of the treatment. An algorithm has been developed to be able to read bar codes of medications, retrieve the information from the program, analyze data related to a specific blind patient then give the right advice, alarm, reminder, warning, refill and expiry date. From the perspective of the pharmacist, light-spot will be linked to a program downloaded onto the pharmacist’s computer that enables fitting information related to the drug needed and have profiles for each patient made, making it easier for all types of patients to take their medications.
Cite this article:
Mohammad M. Al-Ahmad, Sawsan Shanableh, Muaed Jamal Alomar. Creation of a Mobile Health Application to Support Medication Adherence among Blind patients: The “Blind-Spot” Project. Research Journal Pharmacy and Technology. 2026;19(10):4789-4. doi: 10.52711/0974-360X.2026.00668
Cite(Electronic):
Mohammad M. Al-Ahmad, Sawsan Shanableh, Muaed Jamal Alomar. Creation of a Mobile Health Application to Support Medication Adherence among Blind patients: The “Blind-Spot” Project. Research Journal Pharmacy and Technology. 2026;19(10):4789-4. doi: 10.52711/0974-360X.2026.00668 Available on: https://rjptonline.org/AbstractView.aspx?PID=2026-19-10-44
REFERENCES:
1. Priyan G G, B P, A D, K B, R K, V K, et al. The Digital Transformation of Healthcare: A Review of Telepharmacy, Digital Health and Remote Service Delivery. Asian J Pharm Technol [Internet]. 2026; 16(1): 63. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.52711/2231-5713.2026.00010
2. Loharkar KS, Vadje SS, Kuwar U V. Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Telemedicine: Advancing Diagnosis, Monitoring, and Management of Chronic Diseases. Res J Pharm Dos Forms Technol [Internet]. 2026; 18(1): 83. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.52711/0975-4377.2026.00014
3. Osterberg L, Blaschke T. Adherence to Medication. N Engl J Med [Internet]. 2005; 353(5): 487–97. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/nejmra050100
4. Smith M, Sharpe L, Nicholson Perry K. Factors affecting medication adherence in people with visual impairment. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2014;8:735–42.
5. Aronson JK. Compliance, concordance, adherence. Br J Clin Pharmacol [Internet]. 2007; 63(4): 383–4. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2007.02893.x
6. Kentab BY, Barry HE, Al‐Aqeel SA, Hughes CM. Barriers and Facilitators to Medicines Use in Patients With Vision Impairment: A Theory‐Informed Qualitative Study of Patients and Caregivers. Heal Expect [Internet]. 2025; 28(2). Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/hex.70234
7. Makmor-Bakry M, Zhi-Han L, Hui-Yin Y. Medication-handling challenges among visually impaired population. Arch Pharm Pract [Internet]. 2017;8(1):8. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/2045-080x.199613
8. Granger BB, Bosworth HB. Medication adherence: emerging use of technology. Curr Opin Cardiol [Internet]. 2011; 26(4): 279–87. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/hco.0b013e328347c150
9. Ma X, Wang Y, Chen Y, Lian Y, Zhao X, He X, et al. Association between medication complexity and follow-up care attendance: insights from a retrospective multicenter cohort study across 1,223 Chinese hospitals. Front Pharmacol [Internet]. 2024;15. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2024.1448986
10. Mokha AK, Dhawan S. Mobile applications: A boon to human. Asian J Manag [Internet]. 2017; 8(3): 607. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.5958/2321-5763.2017.00097.x
11. Fatima J, Sadiq SM, Ahmed S, Khan R, Uddin MN. Patient Medication Adherence and the Health Outcome. Asian J Pharm Res [Internet]. 2018; 8(2): 78. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.5958/2231-5691.2018.00013.8
12. Lutfey KE, Wishner WJ. Beyond “compliance” is “adherence”. Improving the prospect of diabetes care. Diabetes Care [Internet]. 1999;22(4):635–9. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.2337/diacare.22.4.635
13. Mir TH. Adherence Versus Compliance. HCA Healthc J Med [Internet]. 2023; 4(2). Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.36518/2689-0216.1513
14. Khan R, Socha-Dietrich K. Investing in medication adherence improves health outcomes and health system efficiency: Adherence to medicines for diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidaemia. OECD Heal Work Pap [Internet]. 2018; (105): 1,3-8,11-37. Available from: doi: 10.1787/8178962c-en
15. Bedell SE, Jabbour S, Goldberg R, Glaser H, Gobble S, Young-Xu Y, et al. Discrepancies in the Use of Medications: Their Extent and Predictors in an Outpatient Practice. Arch Intern Med [Internet]. 2000 Jul 24; 160(14): 2129–34. Available from: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/485410
16. Cutler RL, Fernandez-Llimos F, Frommer M, Benrimoj C, Garcia-Cardenas V. Economic impact of medication non-adherence by disease groups: a systematic review. BMJ Open. 2018;8:e016982.
17. Cornish PL, Knowles SR, Marchesano R, Tam V, Shadowitz S, Juurlink DN, et al. Unintended medication discrepancies at the time of hospital admission. Arch Intern Med. 2005; 165(4): 424–9.
18. Peng Y, Wang H, Fang Q, Xie L, Shu L, Sun W, et al. Effectiveness of Mobile Applications on Medication Adherence in Adults with Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Manag Care & Spec Pharm [Internet]. 2020; 26(4): 550–61. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2020.26.4.550
19. Poorcheraghi H, Negarandeh R, Pashaeypoor S, Jorian J. Effect of using a mobile drug management application on medication adherence and hospital readmission among elderly patients with polypharmacy: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Health Serv Res [Internet]. 2023; 23(1). Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10177-4
20. Patel SB, Narkhede KB, Prajapati A, Narkhede SB, Luhar S. Impact of Digital Health Technologies on Medication Adherence. Asian J Res Pharm Sci [Internet]. 2025;141–6. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.52711/2231-5659.2025.00022
21. Babaskin D V, Litvinova TM, Babaskina LI, Krylova О V, Winter EA. Popular Diabetes Mobile Applications for Medication Intake Monitoring. Res J Pharm Technol [Internet]. 2022; 347–56. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.52711/0974-360x.2022.00057
22. Babaskin D V, Zakharchenko MA, Shestakov MS, Litvinova TM, Babaskina LI, Glazkova IU. Development of opportunities to provide medication treatment for seniors through mobile applications. Res J Pharm Technol [Internet]. 2023; 4741–50. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.52711/0974-360x.2023.00770
23. WHO EMRO - WHO releases new global estimates on visual impairment [Internet]. Available from: https://www.emro.who.int/control-and-preventions-of-blindness-and-deafness/announcements/global-estimates-on-visual-impairment.html
24. WHO. Blindness and vision impairment [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment
25. Flaxman SR, Bourne RRA, Resnikoff S, Ackland P, Braithwaite T, Cicinelli M V, et al. Global causes of blindness and distance vision impairment 1990–2020: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob Heal. 2020; 8(12): e1448–60.
26. Crews JE, Campbell VA. Vision Impairment and Hearing Loss Among Community-Dwelling Older Americans: Implications for Health and Functioning. Am J Public Health [Internet]. 2004; 94(5): 823–9. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/ajph.94.5.823
27. Panchal S, Batra N. Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme (STP) regarding early detection and prevention of visual impairment among older people. Asian J Nurs Educ Res [Internet]. 2018; 8(1): 73. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.5958/2349-2996.2018.00017.4
28. Fayyad MIM, SABAR-AYAD MM, ABDUELKAREM AR. Medication Management by Visually Impaired Persons in the UAE: Self-Determination Practice and Law Demands. Pharm Pract (Granada) [Internet]. 2025;23(1):1–10. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.18549/pharmpract.2025.1.3028
29. Merenda T, Sibilles Z, Denis J, Sabot JP, Patris S. Prescribing medications to patients living with a visual impairment: a qualitative study of physicians to explore their usual clinical practices. Fam Med Community Heal [Internet]. 2025; 13(2): e003253. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2024-003253
30. Mathew AC, Aneesa M V, Rehman A, Suresh D, Suriyaprakash TNK, Joy SP. Assessment of medication adherence patterns and various causes of non-adherence in long term therapies in a tertiary care hospital. Res J Pharm Technol [Internet]. 2020; 13(5): 2420. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.5958/0974-360x.2020.00434.5
31. Riewpaiboon A. How the blind cope with problems of medicine utilization: a study in Bangkok, Thailand. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf [Internet]. 2009; 18(8): 708–12. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pds.1771
32. Weeraratne C, Opatha S, Rosa C. Challenges faced by visually disabled people in use of medicines, self-adopted coping strategies and medicine-related mishaps. WHO South-East Asia J Public Heal [Internet]. 2012; 1(3): 256. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/2224-3151.207022
33. Ramamurthy S, Al Yammahi S, Abdul Rahim A. The Role of the Metaverse in Transforming Healthcare. Res J Pharm Technol [Internet]. 2023; 5506–13. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.52711/0974-360x.2023.00891
34. Bubalo J, Warden BA, Wiegel JJ, Nishida T, Handel E, Svoboda LM, et al. Does applying technology throughout the medication use process improve patient safety with antineoplastics? J Oncol Pharm Pract [Internet]. 2013;20(6):445–60. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1078155213514469
35. Thesa Ghozali M, Satibi S, Forthwengel G. Design, Development, and Usability Testing of a Mobileapp for Medication reminder among patients with Chronic conditions. Res J Pharm Technol [Internet]. 2024; 2146–54. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.52711/0974-360x.2024.00339
36. Paoletti RD, Suess TM, Lesko MG, Feroli AA, Kennel JA, Mahler JM, et al. Using bar-code technology and medication observation methodology for safer medication administration. Am J Heal Pharm [Internet]. 2007; 64(5): 536–43. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.2146/ajhp060140
37. Brock AM, Jouffrais C. Accessible data visualization for visually impaired users: A systematic review. ACM Comput Surv. 2020; 53(6): 1–36.