Analysis of factors affecting difficulty in handling oral medicine using electronic medication notebook-based personal health records.

ABSTRACT: Tablets and capsules are widely used forms of oral medication, but some patients experience difficulty handling them, which can reduce medication adherence and affect health outcomes. This study aimed to identify factors contributing to perceived handling difficulty, using data from harmo^®, a nationwide electronic medication notebook system. A questionnaire was distributed to adult users who had been prescribed oral medications, and the responses were linked with personal health records to analyze medication characteristics and patient backgrounds. Among the 1,230 respondents, 24% reported difficulty with small tablets or capsules. A size threshold was identified: a combined long and short diameter of 13.3 mm or less was most associated with handling problems (ROC-AUC = 0.834).

SUBMITTER: Shimizu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12287323 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature