Rating Accessibility of Packaging: A Medical Packaging Example

Abstract

Few previous work has been undertaken in understanding issues surrounding dexterity and access to packaging. Researchers had access to users who had known dexterity issues and had been advised by their doctor to decant their medication into bottles rather than use unit-dose blister packaging. Hence, it was decided to use a range of techniques to understand this problem. It was further proposed to develop a methodology by which the relative performance of packaging could be assessed with respect to dexterity issues.In this study, there were three objectives to carry out: motion-capture analysis, grip analysis and dexterity analysis when opening the blister packs. Motion capture was carried out on eight people aged 55 years and older, a classification of the grips used when opening blister packs was performed on 57 people aged 18 years and older, and a Purdue Pegboard test was administered to 54 people aged 18 years and older.It was found out that there were four common types of grips used, out of which two of the grips were used by more than 88% of participants. With the motion capture, it was found that each grip and their various associated techniques were compared with each other. Grip 2 utilized the least finger movement. Using the dexterity test results, it was corroborated that dexterity decreases with age, and an accessibility score was developed that can be used by pack designers and manufacturers to assess pack performance. Future work is proposed to develop this methodology further.

State of the art of user packaging interaction (UPI)

“…Other major factors affecting the opening process include the physical capabilities of users since these capabilities can determine their ability to open packages. Understanding users' capabilities and characteristics will help in designing a user‐friendly package . Packaging characteristics and the choice of opening technique can also affect the opening process.…”

“…These categorizations were further reviewed simultaneously to explore the potential links between them. The review has revealed that the group of seniors was considered as the main group of users tested on medicine packages . This could be explained by the problems they face when using their medications and the importance of providing them with user‐friendly medications packages.…”

“…Berns, 144 Carse et al, 145 Nicolay and Walker, 146 Rahman et al, 147 Marks et al, 148 and Rowson et al 149 Physical capabilities of users such as grip strength, torque, squeeze, and compressive forces can determine the ability to access their packages.…”

Towards patient‐centered packaging design: An industry perspective on processes, functions, and constraints

“…Unlike other types of products where the packaging has an active marketing function to influence consumers' decision, medication packaging (in particular, prescription medication) gives the end user limited choice. For many years, the role of medication packaging has been strictly related to safeguarding the contents, with a narrow focus on user needs and packaging design that facilitates human interaction . However, greater attention is being paid to medication packaging today because of its potential to respond to societal challenges and to support patients in their treatment .…”

Seal Strength Evaluation of Flexible Plastic Films by Machine Testing and Human Peeling

“…These studies have used specially designed force measurement devices for evaluating the opening forces or optical camera techniques to measure grip motions. Rowson et al [14] undertook one of the earliest studies on medical blister packaging using motion-capture, grip and dexterity analysis. The results identified the four common types of grips used, and that participants generally had a preferred grip style.…”