Pharmacy Technicians’ Attention to Problems With Opening Medicine Packaging

Abstract

Background: Pharmacy technicians seem to be well equipped to engage in conversations with patients about their experiences and problems with medication, but it is unclear whether or not they systematically explain or demonstrate to patients how to use medication packaging. Objective: To explore to what extent pharmacy technicians identify problems with opening medicine packaging and how they assist patients in solving these problems. Methods: We conducted a crosssectional study that comprised semistructured interviews, with 31 pharmacy technicians in 31 pharmacies, to assess the occurrence and type of difficulties with packagings and to suggest solutions. Results: All pharmacy technicians recognize the occurrence of packaging problems, though patients rarely report them at the pharmacy counter. Not all pharmacy technicians are familiar with opening all packaging forms, but they all describe ways to find out how to open them, which usually only happens after patients bring up problems. Solutions suggested by the pharmacy technicians include informing and counseling, changing or manipulating the packaging, and providing assisting tools. Conclusions: This study shows that although pharmacy technicians are aware that medication packaging can cause problems and are able to name or find out solutions to all these problems, there is no systematic attention for packaging at drug dispensation in most pharmacies. Discussing the handling of medication packaging should become a fixed part of drug dispensation counseling. Pharmacists should draw up working procedures to support pharmacy technicians in their counseling activities.

What Happens after Hospital Discharge? Deficiencies in Medication Management Encountered by Geriatric Patients with Polypharmacy

“…If patients appear to be unable to obtain their medicines themselves, several possibilities should be considered in consultation with the patient such as delivery of medicines by a pharmacy, an informal carer or home care nurse who picks up prescriptions/medicines or a regular home visit by the general practitioner to provide the patient with the necessary prescriptions. Prior to discharge, opportunities to address medication-taking ability deficiencies should be explored as well, such as supplying tools designed to help open specific packaging forms [ 54 ].…”

Practical Problems with Medication Use that Older People Experience: A Qualitative Study

“…Eleven participants reported difficulties identifying medicines after removal of their packaging. Reading and understanding instructions for use (53 total reported by 37 participants) Text too small (12) No solution or do not read package insert (regularly) (6), use magnifying glass (5), use extra light (1) Information too difficult (5) No solution or do not read package insert (regularly) (4), read information on packaging (1) Information too extensive (12) No solution or do not read package insert (regularly) (12) Information on adverse events distressing (24) Do not read package insert (regularly) (19), no solution (3), use no or lower dose (3) Handling of outer packaging (19 total reported by 17 participants) Identification of product (3) Write on packaging (2), no solution (1) Opening packaging…”

“…Because people rarely report practical problems spontaneously to physicians or pharmacists, pharmacists should proactively inquire about practical problems. 24 They can select a medicine with the most-appropriate presentation and formulation for the individual, such as a dosage that does not need to be divided, a form that causes fewer swallowing difficulties, or use of more user-friendly packaging.…”

State of the art of user packaging interaction (UPI)

“…This aspect has attracted many researchers with the aim to make package opening a difficulty‐free task. For example, the effectiveness of explanations given by pharmacy technicians was investigated, and if they help patients to overcome medicine packages' opening problems . The study constituted an assessment tool showing problems associated with opening medication packages and proposing solutions for such problems.…”