We are pleased to inform you that the article “Children’s Preferences for Oral Dosage Forms and Their Involvement in Formulation Research via EPTRI (European Paediatric Translational Research Infrastructure)” has been published in Pharmaceutics as part of the Special Issue Scientific Highlights in the First European Paediatric Translational Research Infrastructure Open Meeting.
The paucity of evidence-based data on formulation characteristics preferred by the children is known to limit the design of tailored paediatric dosage forms. The European Paediatric Translational Research Infrastructure (EPTRI) commissioned a study to evaluate children’s dosage forms perceived preferences in some European countries and explore the feasibility of using the Young Person’s Advisory Groups (YPAGs) to involve children in formulation research.
An online, age-adapted survey was developed and translated into six languages. The survey link was disseminated across seven European countries: Albania, Italy, the Netherlands, and Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Results highlighted that children’s attitudes for a dosage form are influenced by factors such as age, experience with certain dosage forms, health status, and the frequency of medicine use, whereas sex did not influence preferences. Taste and swallowability emerged to be important attributes for the selection of their most and least favourite medicine. Liquid was the most used and favourite dosage form overall. This was widely selected by children less than 12 years old and by those without any chronic condition that in this study represented the majority of participants.
Read the entire article here.