2023 Volume 18 Pages 1-8
Our survey recommended that pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors of ethical ophthalmic solutions dispense information in Braille to improve the visibility of promotional items in order for visually impaired patients to understand the appropriate usage methods of eye drops and maintain medication adherence. In this study, an awareness survey was conducted among 44 pharmaceutical manufacturing companies (29 respondents; 15 non-response bias) on the implementation of market research on medication adherence support for visually impaired patients to properly use eye drops, and the development status of products such as promotional items. Our data showed the questionnaire response rate of 65.9% (29/44 companies). Additionally, there were 12 pharmaceutical manufacturers (41.3%) that conducted user awareness surveys, which was intended to gain feedbacks on convenience from use of the eye drops being developed, on not only medical personnel such as doctors and pharmacists, but also patients and their families. Moreover, 14 companies (48.3%) produced promotional items such as Braille labels to be attached to eye-drop containers, to indicate the correct administration technique. Notably, more appropriate promotional items had been created by significantly higher number of pharmaceutical marketing authorization holders who conducted awareness surveys compared to those who did not.
