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. 2021 Apr 28:15:863-870.
doi: 10.2147/PPA.S306582. eCollection 2021.

Experimental Study on Patient Preferences Regarding the Shape and Size of Medical Tablets and Capsules Using Three-Dimensionally Printed Plastic Model Formulations

Kenji Kabeya  1 , Hiroki Satoh  2   3 , Satoko Hori  4 , Yasufumi Sawada  2
Affiliations

Experimental Study on Patient Preferences Regarding the Shape and Size of Medical Tablets and Capsules Using Three-Dimensionally Printed Plastic Model Formulations

Kenji Kabeya et al. Patient Prefer Adherence. .

Abstract

Background: Tablets and capsules are the most common dosage forms. However, ease of use and/or swallowing influences patients' compliance.

Objective: To identify patients' preferences regarding the three-dimensional size of medical tablets/capsules.

Methods: Eighteen cylindrical-, oblong-, and oval-shaped model formulations having different sizes were prepared by three-dimensional printing using polylactic acid. Participants (40 patients visiting a pharmacy in Japan) evaluated the difficulty of picking up and swallowing these model formulations by touching/observing them, and completed a questionnaire. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate each sample, and the relationship of VAS scores to the major axis, thickness, I2 (the sum of major/minor axes) and I3 (the sum of major/minor axes and thickness) of the model formulations was evaluated by ANOVA followed by Tukey's test.

Results: Female participants showed lower VAS scores (less difficult) for picking difficulty compared with male participants, and those taking many drugs showed higher VAS scores (more difficult) for swallowing difficulty compared with those taking fewer drugs. Otherwise, age, gender, disease status, number of drugs usually taken, and ingestion problems did not greatly influence the evaluation. Overall, larger model formulations showed less picking difficulty, but greater swallowing difficulty. Model formulations 2 mm thick or less were harder to pick up, whereas those 6 mm thick or more were harder to swallow. I3 values greater than 20-22 mm were associated with a negative evaluation by participants.

Conclusion: Participants in this study preferred model formulations with an I3 value below 22 mm and a thickness of 2-6 mm.

Keywords: capsule; patient preference; shape; size; tablet.

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Conflict of interest statement

Hiroki Satoh, Satoko Hori (until March 2018), and Yasufumi Sawada are members of a laboratory funded by 11 companies including Toho Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. Hiroki Satoh reports personal fees from Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Neopharma Japan Co., Ltd., Yoshida Pharmaceutical Company Limited, outside the submitted work. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
VAS format in answer sheets. English explanations are shown in addition to the original Japanese format.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Model formulations used in this study.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effect of participants’ gender on VAS score. Mean + SD, 23 females and 17 males. Student’s t-test.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effect of the Number of Drugs that Participants Usually Take on VAS Score. Mean + SD, *Significantly different from the others. 0–2 Drugs: n=10. 3–4 and 5–6 Drugs: n=11 each. 7 Drugs or above: n=8.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Effect of thickness on VAS score. Mean + SD, *Significantly different from the other groups.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Relationship of I2 score to swallowing score. Mean + SD, *p<0.05, I2: the sum of major axis and minor axis.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Relationship of I3 score to swallowing score. Mean + SD, *p<0.01, I3: the sum of major axis, minor axis and thickness.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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