In search of disambiguation: development of eye drop bottle sleeves to aid in identification and survey among possible users. A cross-sectional study.

Ana Luiza Fontes De Azevedo Costa,Vagner Rogério Dos Santos,Paulo Schor,Thiago Gonçalves Dos Santos Martins

doi:10.1590/1516-3180.2020.0687.r1.27042021

Abstract

Considerable numbers of individuals present low vision, blindness, illiteracy and other conditions that could possibly impair their identification of medications, such as eye drops. Through helping these individuals to identify their eye drops, they can achieve greater autonomy. Misidentification can be avoided through use of multisensory sleeves that can be adapted to most eye drop bottles. Correct use of eye drops is important for preventing progression of diseases like glaucoma that could potentially lead to blindness. To develop bottle sleeves to aid in identification of eye drops and then interview a group of possible users to evaluate the acceptance of the solution. Cross-sectional survey performed at an ophthalmological clinic in São Paulo (SP), Brazil. We describe the development of multisensory sleeves to assist in identification of eye drops. To assess the acceptance of this solution, we interviewed 18 patients who were currently using three or more types of eye drops. We developed four prototypes for eye drop bottle sleeves and conducted an acceptance test on them. Most of the patients who answered the survey about the sleeves were elderly. Most (95%) reported believing that the sleeves would help reduce the risk of mixing up eye drops with other medications that also dispense drops. They also believed that these would increase their autonomy in using eye drops. The solution presented was well accepted and may help increase safety in using eye drops through preventing misidentification.

Highlights

Correct use of eye medications is very important for ensuring effective treatment of eye diseases
Study setting and design We describe the idealization and development of four multisensory bottle sleeve prototypes containing different textures and odors, using low-cost flexible materials that are adaptable to most eye drop bottles commercially available in Brazil
In search of disambiguation: development of eye drop bottle sleeves to aid in identification In search of disambiguation: development of eye drop bottle sleeves atondaisduirnveidyeanmtifoicnagtipoonsasnibdlesursveersy. aAmcoronsgs-pseocstsiobnlealussteurds.yA| cOroRsIGs-IsNecAtLioAnaRlTsItCuLdEy before performing the test, to ensure that the odor would not dissipate before the test

Summary

Introduction

Correct use of eye medications is very important for ensuring effective treatment of eye diseases. Occurrences of mix-ups of ocular medications with each other or with substances not suitable for ocular use can be very harmful In such situations, individual end up using a substance that, in addition to not treating their eye problems, can worsen their clinical condition through causing several side effects both locally and systemically.[6,7,8,9,10] The similarities between bottles of eye medications and general substances can lead to an inadvertent misuse. Considerable numbers of individuals present low vision, blindness, illiteracy and other conditions that could possibly impair their identification of medications, such as eye drops Through helping these individuals to identify their eye drops, they can achieve greater autonomy. CONCLUSION: The solution presented was well accepted and may help increase safety in using eye drops through preventing misidentification

Methods

Results

Conclusion