Overcoming Pill Swallowing Difficulties in Adults With Pill Aversion

McCloskey, Alice ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3014-1624, Nesbit, Johanne, Rathbone, Adam, Vasey, Nicola, Tse, Yincent and Lim, Emma (2025) Overcoming Pill Swallowing Difficulties in Adults With Pill Aversion. [Data Collection]

Abstract

The work included in this dataset builds on that of the KidzMed team at Great North Children’s Hospital Newcastle-upon-Tyne who have developed a programme to teach children how to swallow solid oral dosage forms (pills) . This includes an e-learning for healthcare professionals, podcasts from those involved in the process, a parents/carers leaflet, and a support leaflet produced in several languages. The materials have proven effective at training paediatrics to swallow pills in several clinical settings in the United Kingdom.

The research team published a review paper exploring pill swallowing difficulties in healthy adults (those without any underlying psychological difficulties affecting swallowing). This work highlighted that a proportion (10-40%) of seemingly healthy adults may have difficulties taking their pills resulting in potential modification of dosage forms, skipping doses, and subsequent poor therapeutic outcomes. To date only one other study in the UK has explored pill swallowing difficulties in adults, and this was conducted by Liu et al in 2016 in adults aged over 65 years.
This work builds upon the existing evidence and KidzMed work focusing on exploring and addressing pill aversion in adults. An adult version of the KidzMed leaflet was prepared by the team and piloted in community pharmacies in the Liverpool region. The screening questionnaires drew on those previously published by other research groups and were deemed fit for purpose as they identified those warranting intervention. This was achieved through inclusion of PILL-5 a validated tool developed by Nativ-Zeltzer et al. Identified individuals were provided with the adult leaflet and the steps involved discussed with a member of the research team. Follow-up phone calls two weeks later confirmed that the leaflet was effective and had helped patients overcome their pill swallowing difficulties, with many having shared this learning with others.

Additional Information:	Depositing user's licence comment:
Creators:	McCloskey, Alice ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3014-1624, Nesbit, Johanne, Rathbone, Adam, Vasey, Nicola, Tse, Yincent and Lim, Emma
Uncontrolled Keywords:	pill aversion; solid oral dosage forms; pill swallowing; medication adherence; medication use; 321403 Clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.24377/LJMU.d.00000234
Division:	Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences
Field of Research:	Biomedical and clinical sciences > Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences > Clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice
Date Deposited:	09 Jun 2025 08:47
Last Modified:	09 Jun 2025 08:47
URI:	https://opendata.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/234
Data collection method:	• Screening and follow-up questionnaire were prepared by the research team and piloted by three pharmacists not related to the project to ensure fitness for purpose • The adult leaflet was prepared and designed to capture the key elements of the KidzMed leaflet in a more suitable manner for the target adult population. • Community pharmacies were selected as study sites based on convenience (known to the research team) • Inclusion criteria: Adults 18 years or older who presented to community pharmacy either to purchase something or collect a prescription were asked if they would like to participate. • Exclusion criteria: any adult aged 18 years or older with a history of head/ neck/ throat cancer or diagnosis of dysphagia or a condition that can precipitate swallowing difficulties such as Parkinson's’ disease or Alzheimer’s disease were excluded from the study. • Willing participants were provided with a participant information sheet outlining the key details of the study, and completed a paper questionnaire in a private area of the pharmacy • The researcher calculated their PILL-5 Score and those scoring six or more out of 20 were provided with the adult leaflet • The key steps of the leaflet were outlined by the researcher and contact details taken to allow for a follow-up phone call two weeks later • The researchers telephoned those provided with the leaflet and used the follow-up questionnaire to capture their views on the leaflet and its impact on their pill swallowing ability
Geographic coverage:	Liverpool
Resource language:	English
Metadata language:	English
Statement on legal, ethical and access issues:	University ethical screening deemed the study minimal risk and ethics was granted (PBS/2023-24/01)
Collection period:	From To 1 October 2023 1 June 2025