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HTML forms are one way a user can send data to Web sites. They are essential in almost every interaction one can have with a site, such as:

Queries on search engines
Providing information (tags, comments, personal data, logins/registering, etc)
Finding/purchasing certain objects from e-catalogs

In most cases, for

According to USFDA, a combination product is one composed of any combination of a drug and device; biological product and device; drug and biological product

ms usability will improve the usability of the entire site. The primary goal of form usability is making sure that the intended users are able to interact properly with the Web site while having a positive and convenient experience.

Tips for Achieving An Accessible HTML Form

1. Helping users understand the form will save them t

; or drug, device, and biological product and fixed dose combination would include two or more combinations of drug.

Examples of combination products may in

ime and ensure that they provide correct input. On the other hand, instructions should be as concise as possible. Always take into account potential users and that your forms address to both new and experienced visitors.

2. All forms should always contain this essential information:

Title - what the form is for
Contact d

lude drug-coated devices, drugs packaged with delivery devices in medical kits, and drugs and devices packaged separately but intended to be used together.

tails to provide help with filling in the form

Send or Submit button at the end, optionally Cancel button

3. Avoid using forms with a large number of fields to be completed.

4. Never ask for duplicate information (when the form has more than one page, this is a common mistake).

5. It helps to run a u

here is enormous increase in the number of combination products entering the market in the recent years. Combination products have proven advantages but fixe

se-of-information audit a while after the release of the form to see if the information collected was actually ever used. If it wasn't, it shouldn't be collected any more.

6. Split your forms - long forms are confusing.

If your form is too long, try dividing it into several pages, each fulfilling a different task (ex.: one for

d dose combinations are still in the process of convincing regulatory authority on their advantages over the single ingredient formulations.

Combination pro

product details, one for personal data and one for payment and delivery details).

Each page is individually validated, so it is easier to signal and fix mistakes.

Ask questions in a logical order. This way, necessary data can be taken automatically from previous pages.

If an e-form requires navigation through several pag

ucts have become life saving products for the pharmaceutical companies who doesn’t have many innovative molecules in their product pipeline and have been inc

es, it should be easy to return to a previous step. This helps in case the user made a mistake or just changed his mind and shouldn't have to start again, but just go back and modify the input.

Conservation of filled data is very important. When going back to fix a problem, the user should find his form as filled in before. For example,

easingly used in the product life cycle management. Even the companies having product patents are trying to extend their product life cycle through the combi

there's no reason why one should have to re-accept the terms of agreement because of a wrong area code.

7. Forms that look neat are easier to fill in. This requires:

Examination of the layout of the form, including:
- Text
- Localization and accessibility
- Have consistency in capitalization and punc

nation products and maximize the revenues. But the companies involved in this practice are overlooking that they are burdening the patients both economically

tuation marks. (Avoid ALL UPPER CASE sentences. Try to use sentence case or Title Case.)

Boxes should be aligned, both horizontally and vertically, along with the labels.

Try to structure your form within one single column, it is easier to read. In the case of two columns, users often just fail to notice the right-hand

and physically. They need to rightly judge the benefits of the combination products and they have to even look at the risks involved when combining the produ

column. Two columns are recommended only in the case of a big amount of data being constantly referred to.

Always use a polite tone and run a spell checker and a grammar checker on your forms.

8. Take into account the three possible validation levels:

Strict - user will not be allowed to proceed until entering

ts. Some of the combination products were well accepted by physicians while others suffered. Companies involved in development of combination products are fi

proper information

Soft - user can proceed, but receives a warning that the data is either missing or incorrect

None - any input is accepted without warning.

Make your choice in correlation with how important is receiving valid data for your database. Usually, Strict and None levels are mixed in the same e-form.

9.<

ding difficulty in defining their combination products and facing various challenges from selecting a combination to marketing it.

Following aspects would a

/b> Make sure that mandatory fields are clearly marked.
You may:
Use an asterisk and the word "required" in parentheses following the field (optionally, the reason why it is required).
Color the input area differently (don't use red - it is usually reserved for error messages and might confuse the user).
Divide

dd to the challenges in developing combination products:

Which markets to tap where the combination products can do fairly well?
Which combination prod

he form in two - mandatory and optional parts.
Use bold or italic text to signal required fields.
Either way you choose, always provide a legend (easy to find and understand) with the symbol's meaning.
Don't put in too many mandatory fields without explanation, this will lose customer's trust ("Why do they nee

cts are meaningful and rational?
Which therapeutic categories to select?
Which Combinations can address unmet needs of the patients?
Do combin

d my home number too?").

10. Return relevant error messages.

Replace cryptic messages with straightforward error messages that are easier to understand. Error messages should tell users what went wrong and offer a possible solution. This can be easily handled now with CSS.

11. Be especially careful with input fields

tions increase the patient compliance?
What would be the developing cost?
How to tackle the risks encountered during combination product developmen

and drop-down menus.
All input fields should be clearly labeled. This won't bother experienced users, but it will be helpful for rookies. Users expect input field labels to be just above the input box, to the left.
Try to replace all drop-down list boxes with text fields. Drop-downs are harder to use when providing a larger numbe

t?

As combination products don't fit into the traditional categories of drugs, medical devices, or biological products, the USFDA is in the process of devel

r of options. Try to use them only for important data or to position them below more important input fields.
Give the user room to type - at least 20 characters for first and last name fields, minimum 50 characters wide by 10 lines tall for text fields.
Provide default answers where possible, letting your customer over-ride your

ping new procedures for reviewing their safety, efficacy and quality.

Professional from academic institutions, pharmaceutical industries, health care indust

choices of answer

12. Have your form tested out by real users before releasing it.

Ask some real target-users to fill in your form. Analyze feedback, adapt to their needs. On top of all the tips above stands the rule of common sense: do your users understand what you ask from them? You can judge the accessibility of your htm

y and representatives from various regulatory agencies are working out to design the regulatory requirements for manufacture and sale of combination products

l form by how many filled in forms contain mistaken information. Also find out more about how can you gain website accessibility.

Should we consider usability of forms?

Nobody likes filling in forms, but they are always the only means to a purpose, what stands between you and getting what you need (may that be logging into your e-mail,

.

As there is an increasing trend of the combination products companies manufacturing such products should be able to tackle the problems involved in the de

ordering a software product or just searching for some information). Even though users know forms are necessary, they still just won't enjoy filling them in.

A simple lesson of economics goes like this. We are given two manufacturers, who both make the same alarm clock, with the exact same functions. One of them adds the possibility to choose

elopment. They need to be wiser in analyzing the market trends and the regulatory requirements.

Companies that provide selfless information through particip

the alarm sound. His clocks will be more successful. With a small price, he obtains a greater profit.

The Internet provides endless possibilities. In most cases the user can abandon your form and try a different Web site. What can make the difference between your company and the competitors? Might be your to-the-point, easier to use html forms

tion in industry events and feedback to regulatory authorities would be able to face the challenges and will be successful in developing combination products

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