Difficulties in the use of medicine packaging

Abstract

Abstract A postal questionnaire sent to a large group of the general public asked about difficulties encountered in the use of liquid medicine bottles, eye-drop containers, ointment/cream tubes and inhalers. Liquid medicine bottles and ointment/cream tubes were the most widely used, with eye-drop bottles having been used by approximately half of the respondents. Only 16 per cent had used inhalers. The use of eye-drop bottles and ointment/cream tubes caused the greatest number of difficulties for the majority of users. Other than with inhalers, those aged under 40 years reported the greatest number of difficulties with medicine containers. It is suggested that new medicine containers be designed to overcome the large number of difficulties reported by the general public.