Potential of Aluminum Drug Packages with Press-Through Packaging Considering Usability for a Wide Range of Users.

IF 1.3 Q4 ENGINEERING, BIOMEDICAL Medical Devices-Evidence and Research Pub Date : 2024-11-09 eCollection Date: 2024-01-01 DOI:10.2147/MDER.S482277

Kiyoshi Kubota, Morio Shimada, Hiroyuki Ura, Kiyomi Sadamoto

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Abstract

Purpose: Press-through packages (PTPs) are frequently used for the packaging of prescription drugs in Japan. However, tablets or capsules packaged in PTPs may become unstable and difficult to store. Therefore, aluminum pouches (pillow packages) are applied as an additional packaging option. Especially for 10-sheet tablet (capsule) PTPs, there are many opportunities for health-care professionals (mainly pharmacists) to open pillow packages during the dispensing process. However, aluminum pouches (pillow packages) that are easy to open and store appropriately by not only pharmacists, but also patients, are needed.

Methods: A 100-unit PTP (pillow package) with conventional specifications ① and two other products (②: open vertically by a wavy processed half-cut and ③: pinch the backlining open) were developed with the aim of improving the ease of opening. The study participants, consisting of pharmacists and patients, performed tasks such as opening and taking drugs out of the PTP for each sample, and evaluated the differences in usability.

Results: The results of a sensory test revealed that pharmacists rated products ② and ③ higher than product ①. On the other hand, patients, including those with weak grip and pinching strengths, rated ③ highly, confirming the superiority of usability in the order of ③, ②, and ①. In addition, item ③ was successfully opened by all patients.

Conclusion: The present results indicated the superiority of the developed pillow packaging, which enables pharmacists to save time in the dispensing process. In addition, product ③ was evaluated highly by patients, especially those with disabilities, for its ease of use not only in terms of opening, but also storage. Sensory testing by actual users applying ergonomic methods enabled a multifaceted evaluation of the products and provided insights into the actual status of pharmacists' dispensing work (product issues) and patients' daily medication use.

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考虑到广泛用户的可用性，铝制药品压穿包装的潜力。

目的：在日本，压穿包装（PTP）经常用于处方药的包装。然而，用 PTP 包装的药片或胶囊可能会变得不稳定，难以储存。因此，铝袋（枕式包装）被用作一种额外的包装选择。特别是对于 10 片装的片剂（胶囊）PTP，医护人员（主要是药剂师）在配药过程中有很多机会打开枕式包装。然而，不仅药剂师，而且患者都需要易于打开和适当储存的铝制小袋（枕式包装）：方法：开发了一种 100 单位的 PTP（枕式包装），其常规规格为①和另外两种产品（②：通过波浪形加工的半切垂直打开和③：捏住背衬打开），目的是提高打开的便利性。由药剂师和患者组成的研究参与者对每个样本进行了打开和从 PTP 中取出药物等任务，并对可用性的差异进行了评估：感官测试结果显示，药剂师对产品②和③的评价高于产品①。另一方面，患者（包括握力和掐力较弱的患者）对③的评价较高，这证实了按照③、②、①的顺序排列的可用性的优越性。此外，③项被所有患者成功打开：本研究结果表明，所开发的枕式包装具有优越性，可使药剂师在配药过程中节省时间。此外，患者（尤其是残疾患者）对产品③的易用性给予了高度评价，不仅在打开方面，在储存方面也是如此。实际使用者采用人体工程学方法进行的感官测试对产品进行了多方面的评估，并对药剂师配药工作的实际状况（产品问题）和患者的日常用药情况进行了深入了解。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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