Patient Centric Medicine Design to Improve Adherence in Older People
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Patient Centric Medicine Design: An Investigation into Understanding and Enhancing Older Peoples' Adherence to Oral Solid Dosage Forms
IRAS ID
250373
Contact name
Ian Maidment
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
AHRIC (Aston Health Research and Innovation Cluster)
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 30 days
Research summary
People are living longer following improvements in healthcare and lifestyle. Older people tend to take more medicines however we don't know much about the practical problems that older people face when taking their medicines.
Properties of a medicine such as the shape, colour and size can have a big impact on whether or not the person will take a medicine as recommended by the doctor. Designing a product that takes into account the views of the patient and their carer as well as the views of doctors, pharmacists, nurses and other staff can help to improve adherence in this population and reduce the harm caused by not taking medicines as recommended.
This study aims to improve the way older people are able to take their medication by improving the design of tablets and capsules. We will look at factors such as the shape, size and colour to help make these medicines as easy as possible to take.
The study will use semi structured interviews to collect data. Older people (over 65), their carers and health/social care professionals will be asked what properties will help make their medicines easier to take/administer. Any older person or their carer taking at least one oral solid medicine (such as a tablet) can take part. The interview will last between 30-45 minutes depending on the answers given. Participants will be able to use sugar tablets to help explain the answers that they give to questions; these will not be taken.
The answers from the interviews will be used to make tablet models. These models will be of the shape, colour, size and overall appearance that participants said they prefer. The models will be taken back to participants to confirm if they have been designed with the desired characteristics; again, they will not be taken.
REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
18/IEC08/0047
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jan 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion