In a study conducted by the Department of Pediatrics and Office of Medical Research, Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix Arizona, parents of infants were given a prescription and verbal instructions for medication. Among the parents, 53% chose dosing spoons, 20% teaspoons, 17% oral syringes and 10% droppers. The outcome for these devices was that correct doses were only given 56%, 0%, 40% and 0% of the time. The combined success rate was a failing 36.48%. Medication compliance simply cannot be met under these circumstances. Why are we willing to spend whatever is necessary on the medicine - and then fall so short in it's delivery?
medibottle vs. Other Methods of Medicine Delivery
The following chart lists methods of medicine delivery available to your infant, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each. Because of its unique design, no other method or device can approach medibottle's Effectiveness or Infant Acceptance ratings. The medibottle is the safest and most accurate method of pediatric medication delivery available anywhere.
- medibottle
- Accurate
- Eliminates or reduces upset & trauma
- Easy to use
- Utilizes infant's natural suck reflex
- Drug is delivered to the correct position of the mouth for swallowing
- Does not require restraint
- Acceptance greatly improved since drug is delivered while drinking familiar fluid and there is not enough time to taste the medicine
- Teaspoon or Tablespoon
- Not accurate
- Great variability in volume delivered can lead to significant dosing errors
- Potential for spillage
- Not recommended by United States Pharmacopeia or the American Academy of Pediatrics
- May require physical restraint of infant
- Medicine Cup
- Not accurate for small volumes under 15mL
- Incomplete delivery of viscous liquids
- Potential of spillage
- May require physical restraint of infant
- Graduated Medicine Spoon
- Not very accurate, especially for small volumes
- Potential for spillage
- Incomplete delivery of viscous liquids
- May require physical restraint of infant
- Oral Medicine Dropper
- Not very accurate
- Potential for spillage
- Incomplete delivery of viscous liquids
- Requires correct placement of the liquid in the mouth
- Leaks may occur
- Dropper tip may become obstructed or
- May require physical restraint of the baby
- Oral Medicine Dispenser
- Low spillage potential
- Accurate
- Requires correct placement of the medication in mouth
- Correct administration rate to avoid loss of medication, gagging and choking
- May require physical restraint
- Injectable Syringe
- Choking and acute life threatening events may occur if cap is not removed
- Low spillage potential
- Accurate
- Requires correct placement of the medication in mouth
- Correct administration rate to avoid loss of medication, gagging and choking
- May require physical restraint
- Administer through a nipple from a baby bottle
- Utilizes a natural response, the infant's suck reflex
- Infant may refuse if taste is unacceptable
- May lessen required restraint
- Mix the medication into a small amount of fluid or formula and then administer the mixture via a baby bottle
- Infant must ingest the full amount of mixture in order to ensure delivery of the complete dose
- Mixing may improve the taste and acceptance
- If patient refuses to ingest the total amount of the mixture, an unknown amount of the dose is not delivered and patient is under-dosed.
- May lessen required restraint