PATIENT HABITS, MEDICINE CHARACTERISTICS, AND DEMOGRAPHIC CORRELATIONS IN ORAL MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background

Commonly, medicine is taken orally, butconsumers’ habit and our body have a significant impact and actually heavy influence especially posture and vehicle with which administered. Oral table or capsule can get affected by uncomfortable position and inappropriate vehicle. 

Objective

To study patient habits, medicine characteristics, and demographic correlations in oral medication administration.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed using questionnaire in which using 663 participants who were at least of age ≥18 years old were participated. Along with medication characteristics and demographics, data collection included information on patient behaviours, such as body posture (standing, sitting, lying), kind of liquid used (water, milk, juice), volume of liquid administered, and ease of swallowing. The data was summarised using descriptive statistics and the relationships between swallowing ease and administration procedures were evaluated using chi-square tests.

Results

Our result showed that partisans’ average volume size to administered medicine (108 mL) was smaller than advised in regulation. Nearly all participants (97.7%) preferred water for taking their medication. Participant who sat or stood up straight swallowed their tablet or capsule with ease, while 81.6 percent swallowed it entire i.e. no splitting and 58.4 percent did so without any problems. Statistical analysis (P<0.05) confirmed that the good posture and adequate hydration are necessary for making tablets or capsules pleasant, easier to swallow and more comfortable.

Conclusion

Habits (body posture and liquid choice) are influence the efficiency and comfort of oral administration with a gap between volume recommended and real world practice, more interestingly vary from person to person. Providing education to improve administration techniques like posture and consuming enough fluid may ease swallowing and enhance overall therapeutic outcome.