Injections, acceptance/compliance

Injections are unpleasant and patient acceptance and compliance via this route are low. Intravenous injections may only be given by qualified medical professionals, making this route expensive and inconvenient. Intramuscular and subcutaneous preparations are self-injectable however, patients dislike them. In addition, elderly, infirm and pediatric patients cannot administer their own injections and require assistance, thereby increasing inconvenience to these patients and the cost of their therapy. Increased medical complications can result from the poor compliance associated with the parenteral route. 

Although there are numerous reasons for lack of compliance (e.g. lack of perceived benefit of treatment, few disease symptoms), the sponsor may be able to improve compliance by developing formulations that are more acceptable to the patient (e.g. once-daily rather than q.i.d. regimen, oral rather than injectable form). Dosage forms can also influence overall patient satisfaction, which can be useful in achieving market expansion or patient product switches. 

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