title: The influence of consumers' preferences and perceptions of oral solid dosage forms on their treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Beyond the direct pharmacological effect of medicines, preferences and perceptions toward a particular oral solid dosage form (OSDF) play a crucial role in recovery and may reduce adherence to the prescribed treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study conducted to investigate the most preferred OSDF and the degree to which swallowing solid medication is an issue, to assess perceptions of the therapeutic benefits of the OSDF, and to find predictors of the most preferred OSDF.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study, through convenience sample method, was conducted to survey consumers visiting community pharmacies in Baghdad, Iraq. Data was collected by self-administered and pre-piloted questionnaires, and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science. Multiple logistic regression analysis and Chi-square tests were used at alpha level = 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1,000 questionnaire were included in the analysis. Of all respondents, 52.9 % preferred capsule among other OSDF and this preference varied significantly with a number of socio-demographic factors. Ease of swallowing solid medication was the main issue which resulted in preferences for a particular form. A negative perception of the therapeutic benefits of the OSDF was found among 89.1 % of the consumers. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that gender, ease of swallowing, and perceptions of the therapeutic benefits of the OSDF were significant predictors of capsule preferences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the fact that consumers are the end users of medicines and their preferences may influence response to the treatment, efforts are worthwhile by the prescribers and medicines' manufactures to understand consumers' preferences of a particular dosage form in order to achieve successful therapy outcomes.
authors: Discipline of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia. phm.enas@yahoo.com
authors: Inas Rifaat
authors: IR
authors: Ibrahim
authors: Mohamed Izham Mohamed
authors: MI
authors: Ibrahim
authors: Mahmoud Sa'di
authors: MS
authors: Al-Haddad
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002214:Capsules / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003679:Deglutition / Q000187:drug effects; D004304:Dosage Forms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013607:Tablets / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D004304:Dosage Forms; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D013607:Tablets