title: Effectiveness and infant acceptance of the Rx medibottle versus the oral syringe.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness and infant acceptance of drug delivery of the Rx medibottle with the standard oral syringe.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective open-label, randomized, crossover clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  General pediatric outpatient clinic at an urban university.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty healthy, bottle-fed infants, aged 2-14 months, receiving routine vaccinations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each infant received a single dose of acetaminophen (Tempra syrup), with one-half delivered by the Rx medibottle and one-half delivered with an oral syringe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three raters independently evaluated effectiveness and infant acceptance of each drug-delivery device. Effectiveness was based on the percentage of infants receiving 100% of the intended dose. Infant acceptance was scored using a validated infant medication acceptance scale (MAS, 10 = highest level). Significantly more infants received 100% of the intended dose with the Rx medibottle (93.3%) than with the oral syringe (56.7%, p=0.0074). Infants had a significantly higher mean MAS score when using the Rx medibottle (8.3+/-1.8 vs 7.3+/-1.7, p=0.002). In addition, a significantly higher percentage had ideal MAS scores of 9 or above with the Rx medibottle (73%) compared with the oral syringe (17%, p=0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Rx medibottle was more effective and had a higher level of infant acceptance than the oral syringe. Although further studies are necessary, this suggests that the Rx medibottle may be a better method of delivering liquid drug and may increase infant adherence.
authors: Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 60612, USA.
authors: D M
authors: DM
authors: Kraus
authors: L A
authors: LA
authors: Stohlmeyer
authors: P R
authors: PR
authors: Hannon
authors: S A
authors: SA
authors: Freels
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015370:Infant Equipment; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013594:Syringes
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000082:Acetaminophen