Opening instruction strongly influences efficiency, user satisfaction to open drug package

The type of opening instruction has a robust impact on the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction to open a package of medication, a recent study has shown.

“Adequate user access to drug therapy can only be ensured when the drug can be removed from its package,” the investigators said.

This experiment was conducted according to CEN/TS 15945 to examine the influence of a variety of opening instructions on the ease of opening a user package and user satisfaction. Ease of opening was defined as the ability to open a package within a defined time frame (effectiveness) and the learning effect by repeated opening (efficiency).

(Dis)satisfaction ranged from –2 to 2. The investigators analysed empty bottles with left threat screw caps (rather than the standard right) following four different types of instructions: none, arrow in the screw cap, package leaflet, video. Each instruction was studied in a group of 20 different healthy older adult volunteers aged 65–80 years. No opening aid was allowed. Forms and video recording were used to capture the data.

Of the participants, nine (45 percent) could open the package without any instruction, 19 (95 percent) with an arrow marked bottle, and 20 (100 percent) with a package leaflet or video. No significant differences were noted in median times for first and repeated opening. In addition, participants were most often (n=11) dissatisfied (score, 2) without any instruction and were neutral to most satisfied (score, 0–2) with a video (n=17).

“This conclusion requires further consideration in drug product packaging and labelling,” the investigators said.