Minitablets: New Modality to Deliver Medicines to Preschool-Aged Children

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to assess the acceptability and suitability of placebo minitablets for preschool-aged children. METHODS: One hundred children 2 to 6 years of age were recruited from a major London hospital. How to swallow the minitablet was discussed with the child, and chewing was discouraged. The parents were asked to administer 1 minitablet (placebo, 3-mm diameter) to the child. The outcomes were recorded as (1) swallowed, (2) chewed, (3) spat out, or (4) refused to take. RESULTS: Of the youngest children (2 years of age), almost one half (46%) swallowed the minitablet. The proportion increased to 53% for children 3 years of age. Children > or =4 years of age were more likely to swallow the minitablet than not to swallow the minitablet, with 85% of 5-year-old children swallowing the minitablet. The ability to swallow the minitablet was not affected by gender. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the potential to use minitablets for the treatment of preschool-aged children and suggests that minitablets can be used as a potential new formulation for children in this age range.