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Caregiver preference for rivastigmine patches versus capsules for the treatment of Alzheimer disease
Blesa R, Ballard C, Orgogozo JM, Lane R, Thomas SK.. Neurology, 2007-07-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Alzheimer disease (AD) has a significant impact on caregivers. Administering and managing medications is one of their many daily tasks. More effective modes of drug administration may benefit patient and caregiver, and may improve compliance. A prospective outcome of the IDEAL (Investigation of TransDermal Exelon in ALzheimer's disease) trial was to evaluate caregiver preference for rivastigmine patches compared with capsules. The 24-week, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo- and active-controlled IDEAL trial investigated once-daily rivastigmine patches vs twice-daily capsules in moderate AD patients. Caregivers rated patch adhesion throughout. The AD Caregiver Preference Questionnaire (ADCPQ) assessed patch vs capsule from caregivers' perspective, based on expectations, preferences, and satisfaction with treatment. A total of 1,059 caregivers completed the ADCPQ while their respective patients were on study drug. More than 70% of caregivers preferred the patch to capsules overall. The patch was preferred to capsules with respect to ease of use (p < 0.0001) and ease of following the schedule (p < 0.0001). Caregivers indicated greater satisfaction overall (p < 0.0001) and less interference with daily life (p < 0.01) with the patch vs capsules. The preference substudy of the IDEAL trial demonstrated that caregivers of AD patients preferred patches to capsules for drug delivery. Preference for the patch may indicate reduced caregiver stress, substantiated by greater satisfaction and less interference with daily life. These benefits may lead to improved compliance.
Key findings
- Alzheimer disease (AD) has a significant impact on caregivers.
- A prospective outcome of the IDEAL (Investigation of TransDermal Exelon in ALzheimer's disease) trial was to evaluate caregiver preference for rivastigmine patches compared with capsules.
- More than 70% of caregivers preferred the patch to capsules overall.
- Caregivers indicated greater satisfaction overall (p < 0.0001) and less interference with daily life (p < 0.01) with the patch vs capsules.
- The preference substudy of the IDEAL trial demonstrated that caregivers of AD patients preferred patches to capsules for drug delivery.
Why it matters
In this substudy of the IDEAL trial, more than 70% of 1059 caregivers preferred rivastigmine patches over capsules for ease of use and satisfaction. It addresses caregiver preference for a delivery method and does not show that the drug treats, cures, or prevents Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Participants1,059
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 66/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized Controlled Trial”) |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2007 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,059 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 2 / 2 | Randomised and blinded or placebo-controlled (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 75 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 3.6 citations a year over 21 year(s) since 2007 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 6 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Simu K. Thomas: h-index 24 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | King's College London: institution h-index 1,348 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | PubMed indexes it as a multicentre study |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 17646620) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 66 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
May need a subscription Unpaywall, Europe PMC and OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 10 Oct 2026), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Blesa, R., Ballard, C., Orgogozo, J. M., Lane, R., & Thomas, S. K. (2007). Caregiver preference for rivastigmine patches versus capsules for the treatment of Alzheimer disease. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000281848.25142.11
Vancouver
Blesa R, Ballard C, Orgogozo JM, Lane R, Thomas SK. Caregiver preference for rivastigmine patches versus capsules for the treatment of Alzheimer disease. Neurology. 2007. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000281848.25142.11. PMID: 17646620.
BibTeX
@article{blesa2007-17646620,
author = {Blesa, R. and Ballard, C. and Orgogozo, J. M. and Lane, R. and Thomas, S. K.},
title = {{Caregiver preference for rivastigmine patches versus capsules for the treatment of Alzheimer disease}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2007},
doi = {10.1212/01.wnl.0000281848.25142.11},
pmid = {17646620},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000281848.25142.11}
}
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