# An mHealth Strategy to Improve Medication Adherence in Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease

> **NIH NIH K23** · LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO · 2024 · $168,480

## Abstract

Project Summary (Abstract)
Research: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common genetic disorder in the US, affecting about 100,000
Americans, and about 1 in 400 African American live births, incurring annual health care costs of $335 million.
SCD complications lead to significant declines in health-related quality of life (HRQOL), culminating in early
mortality, particularly among adolescents and young adults (AYA). Hydroxyurea (HU) reduces morbidity and
mortality, improves HRQOL and lowers healthcare utilization. Low HU adherence is common and has been
associated with worse health outcomes, poor HRQOL and increased healthcare utilization. Our preliminary
data suggested that low HU adherence was associated with worse HRQOL scores. However, the longitudinal
relationship between HU adherence and HRQOL remains unclear. Our pilot data also suggest that AYA with
SCD are interested in using a multi-function SCD-app to facilitate disease self-management and to improve HU
adherence, which we were able to develop a prototype for (HU-Go app). The specific aims for Dr. Badawy's
research project are to: (1) Determine the longitudinal relationship of HU adherence behavior to health-related
quality of life, barriers to adherence and habit formation among AYA with SCD; (2) Refine the design of HU-Go
using an iterative user-centered design approach and determine the usability and usefulness of the refined HU-
Go app; and (3) Test the feasibility and acceptability of the HU-Go app as an mHealth behavioral intervention
to improve HU adherence among AYA with SCD. Candidate: Dr. Badawy is a pediatric hematologist. The
support of this career development award will help Dr. Badawy become an independent physician-investigator
with the training and experience necessary to improve medication adherence behavior and HRQOL in
adolescents with SCD using mHealth behavioral interventions. Dr. Badawy will use this award to build on his
existing foundation in health services and outcomes research to develop expertise in: (1) mHealth behavioral
interventions research and the application of user-centered design principles; (2) developmental and behavior
change theory as it relates to medication adherence with particular focus on AYA; (3) use of mobile technologies
for clinical outcomes assessment, including, HRQOL; (4) advanced biostatistics; and (5) behavioral clinical
trials for mHealth-based interventions. These skills will enable Dr. Badawy to establish an independent,
programmatic line of research and build a transdisciplinary research team to integrate behavioral and
technological approaches to improve health outcomes and HRQOL in adolescents with SCD. Dr. Badawy will
achieve these career objectives through a 5-year career development plan that involves structured didactics,
patient-oriented experiential research, and intensive mentoring. Environment: The exceptional institutional
environment will be critical to support Dr. Badawy's career development, including the (1) D...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10799704
- **Project number:** 5K23HL150232-05
- **Recipient organization:** LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Sherif Mohamed Badawy
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $168,480
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-03-01 → 2026-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10799704

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10799704, An mHealth Strategy to Improve Medication Adherence in Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease (5K23HL150232-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10799704. Licensed CC0.

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