# Improving adherence to evidence-based practice using an innovative and easy-to-use health IT solution

> **NIH NIH R41** · ADHERE.LY, LLC · 2021 · $442,716

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Homework, or between-session practice of skills learned during therapy, is one of the most integral, yet
underutilized components of high-quality, evidence-based mental health treatments (EBTs) such as Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Many providers struggle to consistently develop, assign, and assess homework
exercises with their patients, and many patients have difficulty remembering to practice skills in a correct and
timely way that fosters adequate learning. Innovative health IT solutions are needed to overcome these
barriers to implementing this crucial component of high quality EBTs. To meet this need, our experienced team
at Adhere.ly, LLC, in partnership with the University of South Florida, the Medical University of South Carolina,
and Doxy.me, LLC developed Adhere.ly, an innovative, state-of-the art, and user-friendly web-based solution
to improve provider implementation and patient engagement in homework during EBTs. Adhere.ly includes
engaging therapeutic exercises for providers to introduce, practice, and assign as homework to patients, who
receive SMS/email reminders with links to practice those exercises during the week. Adhere.ly was initially
developed for providers treating children with PTSD and their caregivers. Broadening Adhere.ly’s features and
exercises will increase its clinical utility and ability to support NIMH priorities and PA-18-579 Specific Areas of
Research Interest in “Tools and Platforms to Improve the Dissemination and Implementation of EBTs.” The
objectives of this Phase I STTR proposal–guided by the Accelerated Creation to Sustainment model and
Modified Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research–are threefold. First, we will seek to
understand and prioritize key stakeholder goals, challenges, affordances, and constraints by conducting
individual, semi-structured qualitative interviews with adult mental health patients, providers, and
administrators (n≤20 each) and a quantitative survey of 100 providers. We will conduct a mixed methods
analysis to inform the design of new Adhere.ly features and exercises and an implementation/sustainment (I/S)
blueprint (Aim 1). Second, we will use participatory design methodologies (e.g., co-design workshops) with
adult mental health patients and providers to iteratively design, refine, and develop new Adhere.ly features and
therapeutic exercises that support a range of adult EBTs, and an I/S blueprint (Aim 2). Third, we will conduct a
feasibility Optimization, Effectiveness, and Implementation (OEI) Hybrid trial with 20 community mental health
providers randomized to CBT+Adhere.ly (n=10) vs. CBT alone (n=10), and 40 treatment seeking,
provider-referred adult patients with clinically elevated anxiety and/or depression (outcomes), which we will
assess at baseline and 3-months post-baseline. We will assess homework use by providers and adherence of
patients (targets) weekly via session audio recordings and patient-report. We will optimize ne...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10253990
- **Project number:** 1R41MH126734-01
- **Recipient organization:** ADHERE.LY, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Brian E. Bunnell
- **Activity code:** R41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $442,716
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10253990

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10253990, Improving adherence to evidence-based practice using an innovative and easy-to-use health IT solution (1R41MH126734-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10253990. Licensed CC0.

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