Abstract

A STUDY TO ASSESS KNOWLEDGE ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS DISPOSAL OF UNSUED AND EXPIRED MEDICATIONS AMONG COMMUNITY

Satish S.*, Athulya K., Fathima Sahadiya, Fathima Zulfa, Fathimathil Asila, Geethu Nath A. V. and A. R. Shabaraya

ABSTRACT

The present study gained a general understanding on practice, knowledge and attitude towards medicine disposal among community, 700 participants participated as per inclusion criteria, gender equality was maintained and with questionnaire it was assessed. Participants had the practice of throwing in the garbage (58.7%)/flush in the toilets or sinks (15.1%). People were not aware about medication waste (55.0%) and 63.4% know improper disposal of medicine can affect the environment and heath. According to the study, majority (70.7%) of respondents didn’t read medication disposal instructions and were not heard about drug take back system (79.9%) which plays a major role in minimizing drug mishandling and storage. Even 53.6% didn’t had information about antibiotic resistance. While disposing 62.6% participants are not separating unused medication and 10% given them to friends or relatives was also observed. The participants practiced unscientifical way of discarding them viz garbage or sinks has serious effect on environment and health and never received any information or advice from healthcare providers (68.2%). The study participants had positive attitude for receiving the information on the safe disposal of unused/expired medications if the respective authority is providing (57.1%). The study concludes that majority of disposal methods mentioned by the participants were not recommended methods. It is necessary to raise public awareness, standard laws and policies about the correct disposal of unused and expired drugs. It is necessary to create a procedure for collecting unused and expired medication.

Keywords: Community, Unused medicine, Disposal, Expiry medicine.