Study on Outpatients' Liking for Oral Preparations

Patients' compliance is indispensable for a successful. drug therapy. In this study, we made inquiries about the present condition of patients' compliance and liking for drugs and dosage forms. Questionnaires were sent to 624 outpatients at 9 hospitals in 4 regions, Hokkaido, Iwate, Hiroshima and Fukuoka. 59.1% of the patients took drugs in accordance with physicians' instructions. Easiness of drug taking by dosage form decreased in the order as follows: tablets>capsules>syrups>powders, indicating that tablets are the most desirable and powders the most undesirable. Easiness of swallowing proved to be an important factor in easiness of taking. As for tablets, patients had preference for small-sized, white or light colored tablets. Ordinary round tablets were preferred to peculiarly shaped ones. As for frequency of taking, many outpatients favored fewer times.