RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Two Techniques to Make Swallowing Pills Easier JF The Annals of Family Medicine JO Ann Fam Med FD American Academy of Family Physicians SP 550 OP 552 DO 10.1370/afm.1693 VO 12 IS 6 A1 Julia T. Schiele A1 Hendrik Schneider A1 Renate Quinzler A1 Gabriele Reich A1 Walter E. Haefeli YR 2014 UL http://www.annfammed.org/content/12/6/550.abstract AB To evaluate whether 2 techniques (the pop-bottle method for tablets and the lean-forward technique for capsules) ease swallowing of tablets and capsules, we conducted a cross-sectional study including 151 adults of the general German population. Participants swallowed 16 differently shaped placebos, rated their ease of swallowing on an 8-point Likert scale, and swallowed the 2 dosage forms that they had rated most difficult again using the appropriate technique. The pop-bottle method substantially improved swallowing of tablets in 59.7% (169/283) and the lean-forward technique for capsules in 88.6% (31/35). Both techniques were remarkably effective in participants with and without reported difficulties swallowing pills and should be recommended regularly.