An outbreak of blisters: exploring the increased promotion of monitored dosage systems for older people

Monitored dosage systems (MDSs), also known as multi-compartment compliance aids, are medicine storage devices with compartments divided into days of the week and times of the day. Over the years, various terms have developed to describe these, such as ‘blister packs’, ‘monthly trays’, ‘medibox’ or ‘dosette boxes’. They come in many forms, including blister pack trays and rolls of pouches or sachets, and are intended to make it easier for patients to take their medicines and/or for carers to administer medicines.