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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2014 Nov-Dec;12(6):550-2.
doi: 10.1370/afm.1693.

Two techniques to make swallowing pills easier

Julia T Schiele  1 , Hendrik Schneider  2 , Renate Quinzler  1 , Gabriele Reich  2 , Walter E Haefeli  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Two techniques to make swallowing pills easier

Julia T Schiele et al. Ann Fam Med. 2014 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

To evaluate whether 2 techniques (the pop-bottle method for tablets and the lean-forward technique for capsules) ease swallowing of tablets and capsules, we conducted a cross-sectional study including 151 adults of the general German population. Participants swallowed 16 differently shaped placebos, rated their ease of swallowing on an 8-point Likert scale, and swallowed the 2 dosage forms that they had rated most difficult again using the appropriate technique. The pop-bottle method substantially improved swallowing of tablets in 59.7% (169/283) and the lean-forward technique for capsules in 88.6% (31/35). Both techniques were remarkably effective in participants with and without reported difficulties swallowing pills and should be recommended regularly.

Keywords: capsules; deglutition disorders; lean-forward technique; pop-bottle method; tablets.

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