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Emollient product design: objective measurements of formulation structure, texture and performance, and subjective assessments of user acceptability
Author(s) -
Antonijević M. D.,
OwusuWare S.,
SanchonLopez B.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1365-2230
pISSN - 0307-6938
DOI - 10.1111/ced.13364
Subject(s) - product (mathematics) , affect (linguistics) , quality (philosophy) , computer science , preference , product design , selection (genetic algorithm) , appeal , cosmetics , medicine , psychology , mathematics , artificial intelligence , statistics , philosophy , geometry , communication , epistemology , pathology , political science , law
Background The choice of prescribed emollients is usually based on cost and patient preference. Differences in formulations can affect user acceptability. Aim To compare the physical performance, user acceptability and various product design features of two emollient gels that are prescribed in the UK and alleged to be therapeutically interchangeable because their formulations are described as having the same contents of oily ingredients. Results We found that here are in fact significant measurable differences between the structure and performance of the two formulations, which materially affect their user acceptability. These differences are attributed to the use of different types of gelling agents and other ingredients of differing grades/quality and concentrations, and probably due to the formulations being made by different manufacturing processes. We also identified other product design features that are important to user appeal, including the type of container in which the formulations are presented, the type of dispensing devices provided, and the nature and form of the supplied user instructions. Conclusion Patients and prescribers should be aware that there can be important differences in performance and user appeal between emollients, even between products that, superficially, may appear to be very similar. These important performance aspects should be characterized for new emollient introductions to encourage better informed product selection.