Table 1.

Problems With Opening Medicine Packaging Reported by the Pharmacy Technicians.

Packaging	n (%), N = 31	Most Reported Problems
Push-through blister	28 (90.3)	Foil too rigid to push the tablet or capsule through, which causes tablets to break, capsules to indent, or small tablets to fly out; tablets too close to each other or too tight in package
Pill bottle	24 (77.4)	Problems opening the child-resistant closure and security seals (the first time); the pull tab on the seal is too small
Peel-off blister	22 (71.0)	Unclear how to open the package; patients try to push the medicine through the foil, which breaks the tablets; tab too small, difficulties peeling the tab, patients tear more than one cavity
Dropper container	19 (61.3)	Container too rigid or too small to squeeze or get a good grip (sometimes causing more than a few drops to come out); problems with opening the dropper the first time (pull tab or sealing too tight)
Tube	18 (58.1)	Plastic tube too rigid, or substance too rigid; opening tube the first time (not knowing (how) to puncture the protective foil); squeezing out the last portion of the substance from a plastic tube
Suppository strip	14 (45.2)	Plastic too rigid to tear; packaging too greasy and slick (to get a grip); when opening this strip, the suppository flies into the air, more than one cavity is opened or the suppository breaks
Other packaging forms	16 (72.7)	Opening child-resistant closure or tearing foil of bottles with liquid medication; powders are difficult to get into glass or out of the sachet; containers with special/rare mechanisms