Evaluation of Usability and Proposals for Pediatric Oral Liquid Containers

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K02339
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 09030:Childhood and nursery/pre-school education-related
• Research Institution: Yokohama College of Pharmacy
• Principal Investigator: Murata Mikio 横浜薬科大学, 薬学部, 教授 (80723478)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 医薬品容器 / 液剤 / 小児 / CR / 使用性 / 官能評価 / 液剤容器

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the ease of use of several kinds of liquid medication containers and measuring devices during experimental measuring of phantom drug solution. Based on these results, we developed a prototype container. The study was additionally designed to evaluate the extent of knowledge about the Child Resistance (CR) caps, and the ease or difficulty in removing such a cap. The collaborators to this study attached importance to the accuracy in measuring the liquid, the ease of reading the graduations and the design allowing hygienic handling as the factors determining the most easily usable liquid medication containers. In a comparison between the prototype and existing containers, the results suggested the potential utility of the prototype container, which allows liquid to be measured by pressing the main body with a finger. The results additionally show that the recognition of the CR cap among people is not high at present.

Free Research Field

医療薬学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

小児への医薬品投与は、保護者が安全・確実に必要量を秤り取ることが出来ることが最も重要である。小児に用いられる液剤容器について、その有用性と安全性を評価した研究はほとんどない。特に処方箋医薬品によって薬局より交付される、「小児処方における液剤容器」の使用性を検討し、使用時に秤量しやすい液剤容器を提案する本研究は、小児における医薬品の適正服用という観点から大きな意義がある。本研究は、液剤を秤り取るうえでの問題点を洗い出し、また、はかり取る行為に際しての、秤り取りやすさを検証するための調査、CRキャップに対する認識調査、秤り取りやすい液剤容器の提案、既存製品にはない新たな形状の容器の提案を行った。