Attitudes towards different drug formulations in patients and staff members of a psychiatric hospital

It is proposed that new drug preparations (e.g. fast-dissolving drug formulations [FDDF], liquids, new depots) can improve the low compliance of psychiatric patients.

The acceptance of several possible drug formulations (tablet, capsule, FDDF, unflavored and flavored liquid, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous injection, intramuscular depot injection, infusion, etc.) was studied anonymously in 62 inpatients and 96 staff members of a psychiatric hospital. A questionnaire with 6-point scales was used to assess individual acceptance ratings (1=very high, 6=very low) for different drug formulations. Additionally, a question on the most preferred drug formulation was included.

No substantial differences emerged between staff members and psychiatric inpatients regarding the acceptance of any single drug formulation. In patients and staff members, conventional tablets received highest acceptance (patients 2.1±1.2, staff 2.2±1.1) and infusion therapy lowest acceptance ratings (patients 4.1±1.6, staff 4.5±1.3). The most preferred drug formulations in both groups were tablets (37%), capsules (22%), and FDDF (11%).

We would like to thank all participating patients and colleagues