Emollients should match patients’ needs and preferences
From Miss C. M. Clark, FRPharmS
I read with interest Paul Jerram’s article on pump dispensers for proprietary emollients (PJ, 27 September 2008, p369) and wish to sound a note of caution.
Mr Jerram suggests that pump packs are a wasteful method of delivery. The priority with emollients is finding the products that work for individual patients and ensuring that they are able to use them effectively and safely.
An emollient is “worn” like a cosmetic product and so factors, such as texture and smell, weigh heavily with patients. I suspect that pump performance in relation to wastage is of less interest to patients finding emollients they like.
There are problems with the simple cost analysis given:
- There is an implicit assumption that there is little or no wastage with tubes of cream but an apparently empty tube can still hold a usable quantity of cream
- Mr Jerram says that considerable cost savings can be achieved by switching to the most cost-effective emollient. As he does not present a cost-effectiveness analysis I presume that he means the cheapest emollient
It would be unfortunate if enthusiasms for modest cost savings cause pharmacists to lose sight of the real benefits that accrue from helping patients choose emollient products that match their needs and preferences.
There is nothing cost-effective about a cheap product that remains unused.
Christine Clark
Rossendale, Lancashire
Residual volume in pump dispensers
From Mr J. A. Breslaw, MRPharmS
I was interested in the article (PJ, 27 September 2008, p369) on proprietary emollients in pump dispeners.
I use Doublebase emollient. I do not have any wastage in my use of it. I open the pump pack and squeeze the residual volume into an empty jar. It is so easy to do.
Jeffrey Breslaw
London
Residual volume in pump dispensers
You must have very small hands Jeffrey - it's all I can do to get my hands inside a Diprobase container, but the residual volume is I find, substantial, equal to a couple of all body applicatons. Perhaps Schering Plough (Manufacturers of Diprobase) should be encouraged to go to the squatter 500ml Securitainer instead of the long tall one!!
I find that co-ercing my young son to get the Diprobase out works wonders.
Reagrds
Bob Dunkley