Patient-Centric Medicine Design: Key Characteristics of Oral Solid Dosage Forms that Improve Adherence and Acceptance in Older People

Abstract

Older people represent a very heterogeneous patient population and are the major user group of medication. Age-related changes mean that this population can encounter barriers towards taking medicines orally. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of oral solid dosage forms that contribute to an age appropriate dosage design, with an aim to improve overall medication adherence and acceptance in older people. Fifty-two semistructured interviews were conducted with older people, informal (family) carers, and health and social care professionals. Formulation characteristics impacted three stages of the medication taking process: (1) medication identification and memorability, (2) medication handling and (3) swallowability. Small round tablets (≤7 mm) are least accepted amongst older people and their carers and had a negative impact on all stages. The use of bright, two-coloured preparations and interesting shapes improves identification and further aids memorability of indications and the timing of tablets. Palatability, while useful to enhance swallowability, also has an impact on the visual appeal and memorability of medication. Environmental, patient, medication and disease characteristics also determine preferences for formulation. Developing an age appropriate dosage design for older people, therefore, requires a holistic, patient-centric approach to improve adherence and acceptance.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics12100905
Divisions: College of Health & Life Sciences > Aston Pharmacy School
College of Health & Life Sciences > Chronic and Communicable Conditions
College of Health & Life Sciences
Additional Information: © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Funding: This research was supported by funding from Colorcon® and Aston University.
Uncontrolled Keywords: Acceptance,Adherence,Older people,Oral solid,Patient centric,Pharmaceutical Science
Publication ISSN: 1999-4923
Last Modified: 26 Mar 2024 08:16
Date Deposited: 30 Sep 2020 09:46
Full Text Link:
Related URLs: https://www.mdp ... -4923/12/10/905 (Publisher URL)
http://www.scop ... tnerID=8YFLogxK (Scopus URL)
PURE Output Type: Article
Published Date: 2020-09-23
Accepted Date: 2020-09-21
Authors: Shariff, Zakia
Kirby, Daniel (ORCID Profile 0000-0002-0878-2620)
Missaghi, Shahrzad
Rajabi-Siahboomi, Ali
Maidment, Ian (ORCID Profile 0000-0003-4152-9704)

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