Table 5 Reasons for crushing medications (n = 200)
The reason | Never | Rarely | Sometimes | Often | Very often |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The tablet or capsule is too large to be given to the patient as a whole | 43 (21.5) | 25 (12.5) | 83 (41.5) | 25 (12.5) | 24 (12) |
To disguise from the patient the sour or bitter taste of the medicine | 42 (21) | 46 (23) | 53 (26.5) | 33 (16.5) | 27 (13.5) |
The patient will not accept the medicine as a whole tablet/capsule | 33 (16.5) | 24 (12) | 78 (39) | 38 (19) | 27 (13.5) |
To disguise or conceal the medicine from the patient | 72 (36) | 26 (13) | 49 (24.5) | 35 (17.5) | 18 (9) |
To give medicine to the patient on NGT | 12 (6) | 18 (9) | 38 (19) | 49 (24) | 83 (41.5) |