title: Acceptability of different oral formulations in infants and preschool children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Liquid medicines are easy to swallow. However, they may have disadvantages, such as a bad taste or refrigerated storage conditions. These disadvantages may be avoided by the use of oral solid medicines, such as powders or tablets. The aim of this study was to investigate the acceptability of and preference among four oral formulations in domiciliary infants and preschool children in The Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents administered four oral placebo dosage forms that were aimed at a neutral taste, at home, to their child (1-4 years of age) twice on one day following a randomised cross-over design: small (4 mm) tablet, powder, suspension and syrup. They were asked to report the child's acceptability by a score on a 10 cm visual analogue scale (VAS score) and by the result of the intake. At the end of the study, they were asked to report the preference of the child and themselves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  183 children were included and 148 children were evaluated. The data revealed a period/cross-over effect. The estimate of the mean VAS score was significantly higher for the tablet than for the suspension (tablet 9.39/9.01; powder 8.84/8.20, suspension 8.26/7.90, syrup 8.35/8.19; data day 1/all days). The estimate of the mean number of intakes fully swallowed was significantly higher for the tablet than for the other formulations (all p values <0.05). Children and parents preferred the tablet and syrup over the suspension and the suspension over the powder (all p values <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All formulations were well accepted. The tablets were the best accepted formulation; the tablets and syrup the most preferred.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN63138435.
authors.affiliation: Medicines Evaluation Board in the Netherlands, Department of Chemical Pharmaceutical Assessment, Utrecht, The Netherlands. da.v.riet@cbg-meb.nl
authors.forename: Diana A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: van Riet-Nales
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: de Neef
authors.forename: Alfred F A M
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Schobben
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Toine C G
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Egberts
authors.forename: Catharine M A
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rademaker
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D057240:Patient Preference; D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011208:Powders / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013535:Suspensions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013607:Tablets / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions; D011208:Powders; D013535:Suspensions; D013607:Tablets
keywords: Child; Dosage Form; Medicine; Parent; Patient Acceptance