15 March 2002 News Update

PILLMINDER AND PUFFMINDER

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is using technology to remind patients when to take their medicine.

The "Pillminder" and "Puffminder" initiatives remind people using smoking cessation medicine Zyban, and asthma control medicine Flixotide, when to take the correct dosage by sending them a text message or email.

Patients choose how they want to receive the reminder notices. Currently there is a 50% split between text message and email reminder recipients.

This service not only ensures the medicine is taken, it also reminds people when they're due to collect a new prescription.

The concept was developed in New Zealand, and successfully trialed both here and overseas.

GSK also offers patients the option of involving a "support buddy" in the Zyban smoking cessation plan. The buddy receives information about the person's plan, important milestones, and helps motivate them to quit.

The Zyban and Flixotide e-newsletters are an added service available to patients covering news and innovations.

"Many patients have an established history of not following their prescribing instructions. These innovations allow us to remind patients of their GP's instructions, and for GSK to take ownership and responsibility for managing their successful treatment," says GSK's managing director, Peter Schweikert.

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