Relation of Capsule Color and Perceived Potency

Abstract

Perceptual properties of medications can elicit specific expectancies and may have implications for patients' compliance. To explore the relationship between capsules' color and perceived potency, 20 participants rank-ordered seven capsules of saturated hue. 10 men showed more agreement than 10 women in ranking strength; red and black capsules were ranked as 'strongest' and white as 'weakest.'

Patient compliance and medication perception

“…Fink, Braden, and Qualls (1982) suggested that inquiry into patients' early subjective response to prescribed chemotherapy can help to identify ultimate drug refusal and clinical unresponsiveness. Related empirical support is provided in recent findings that size and form of a medication are consequential to perceptions of strength and that many capsule colors elicit expectations of particular drug action (Buckalew & Coffield, 1982a, 1982bJacobs & Nordan, 1979;Sallis & Buckalew, 1984). As summarized by Buckalew (1982), differences between patient subjective expectations and prescribed or pharmacological intent of a drug preparation may produce cognitive dissonance that can lead to illogical behavior such as noncompliance.…”

Medication property effects on expectations of action

“…There was confirmation [Buckalew and Coffield, 1982b] that capsules were perceived as "stronger" than tablets and the larger the capsule, the greater the perceived strength. Sallis and Buckalew [1984] found red and black capsules perceived as strong, white as weak, and other colors as nondescript in rankings of perceived strength. Integrated findings warrant conclusion that capsules are the preferred form of oral medication and some colors are related to indications (expectations) of drug action.…”

“…This finding supported contentions [Buckalew and Coffield, 1982b1 that white was seen as of analgesic action. Jacobs and Nordan [1979] and Sallis and Buckalew [1984] noted it a weak and indistinct preparation color. Tan, beige, and burnt orange capsules were predominantly placed in the "Skin" indication, a performance possibly invoking a relationship to skin colors.…”

A miliőtan története

“…Viszonylag korán kiderült azonban, hogy a betegeknek valóban vannak elvárásaik a színekkel kapcsolatban Blackwell et al, 1972, Buckalew and Ross, 1991, Schapira et al, 1970 . A színeken kívül, illetve azzal együtt a méretek és formák is fontosak Sallis and Buckalew 1984 . Régebbi amerikai felmérések szerint például a kapszulák valamivel hatásosabbak, mint a tabletták Coffield 1982a, 1982b , és az injekció hatásosabb, mint az orális bevitel Moerman, 2002 .…”