Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Med Princ Pract. 2010;19(5):355-8. doi: 10.1159/000316372. Epub 2010 Jul 14.
To investigate the habits of use and home storage of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs.
A pretested questionnaire was distributed to university students who represented 300 household units in different regions of the northern United Arab Emirates. Household chairs (parents) answered questions on various aspects of home use and storage of OTC and prescription medicines. The number of drugs stored at home was collapsed into 5 unequal groups (1-3, 4-6, 7-10, 11-15 and 16-20).
The response rate was 300 (100%). The average number of drugs per household unit was 6 items. Almost 40% of the participants stored between 16 and 20 drugs. More than half (56%) of the household units stored medicines in a home pharmacy kept either in the bedroom (n = 66; 39%) or in the kitchen (n = 71; 42%). No correlation was found between the level of education and the number of family members (r = 0.29) or drugs stored at home (r = -0.35). Only 2 (0.7%) of the participants did not keep drugs at home. There was a clear discrepancy in either OTC or prescription drugs stored, and the variation in the utilization and preference of drugs was obvious among the pooled sample.
Various problems related to the use and storage at home of OTC and prescription drugs were revealed. Discussing the results of this survey with students who participated as members of the household units that took part in the study may prove to be a helpful intervention. The need for public educational efforts on the rational use of medicines at home is urgent to foster awareness of the proper use of drugs.
调查非处方 (OTC) 和处方药物的使用习惯和家庭储存情况。
向代表阿联酋北部不同地区 300 个家庭单位的大学生发放了经过预测试的问卷。家庭中的父母回答了家庭使用和储存 OTC 和处方药物的各个方面的问题。家庭中储存的药物数量被分为 5 个不相等的组（1-3、4-6、7-10、11-15 和 16-20）。
应答率为 300（100%）。每个家庭单位的平均药物数量为 6 种。近 40%的参与者储存了 16 到 20 种药物。超过一半（56%）的家庭单位将药物储存在家庭药房中，要么放在卧室（n = 66；39%），要么放在厨房（n = 71；42%）。参与者的教育水平与家庭成员数量（r = 0.29）或家庭中储存的药物数量（r = -0.35）之间没有相关性。只有 2（0.7%）名参与者没有在家中储存药物。在家中储存的 OTC 或处方药物存在明显差异，而且在 pooled 样本中，药物的使用和偏好存在明显差异。
揭示了与 OTC 和处方药物在家中使用和储存相关的各种问题。与作为参与研究的家庭单位成员的学生讨论这项调查的结果可能是一种有益的干预措施。迫切需要开展公众教育活动，提高家庭合理用药意识，促进正确用药。
