Survay on the Use of Suppositories in Patients and Analysis of Problems Concerning their Use: Actual Conditions of Suppository Discharge from the Rectum.

In an attempt to facilitate the counselling for patients on the rational use of suppositories, we surveyed through questionnaire how University of Tokyo Hospital outpatients (range 20-70 years) use suppositories. The collection ratio of the questionnaire was 52%(67 of 146). The suppositories exhibiting a systemic action such as analgesic and antipyretic were used in 60% of patients. The directions for use of suppositories were not well appreciated in 10% of patients. Forty percent of patients experienced trouble when inserting the suppositories. Details of the trouble included “discharge immediately after insertion of the suppository” and “the bowels were evacuated after insertion of suppository” . It was found that patients coped with the trouble in various way such as “suspended the use of the suppository”, “inserted the discharged suppository again” and “inserted a new one” . From these results, further investigationconcerning the problem of the loss of the suppositry from the rectum should be requiredfor to ensure the patients of proper therapy.