Azmi Hassali Mohamed, Shakeel Sadia
Discipline of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia (USM), Minden 11800, Malaysia.
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi 74200, Pakistan.
Pharmacy (Basel). 2020 Oct 23;8(4):196. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy8040196.
The appropriate disposal practice of unused and expired medications has become a global challenge that has caught the attention of health policymakers, pharmaceutical organizations, healthcare professionals, and the wider community. The current study aimed to evaluate the awareness, attitudes, and behaviors relating to the disposal practice of unused and expired medications and medication wastage issues among the general public in Selangor, Malaysia. The quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted using a pre-validated structured survey form. Among the approached individuals, 426 showed their willingness to participate in the study. More than 80% of the study population reported being aware of the medication wastage issue and its impact on patients and the economy. The respondents with a higher level of education (OR = 1.85; 95% CI = 1.18-2.52; < 0.003) were more likely to be cognizant of the detrimental consequences of inappropriate waste disposal. The female respondents were more likely to report comprehending that the availability of free healthcare resources is contributing to medication waste (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.015-2.34; < 0.005). The majority of respondents reported throwing away unused medications (202; 47.4%) and expired medications (362; 84.9%) in the garbage. The respondents believed that the provision of appropriate directions by healthcare professionals (312; 73.2%) and prescribing/dispensing medications in quantities for the duration that ensures patient adherence (114; 26.7%) could minimize medication wastage. The Ministry of Health (258; 60.5%), pharmaceutical organizations (212; 49.7%), and pharmacists (193; 45.3%) were the respondents' perceived responsible sources of information. The current findings reported that respondents were familiar that inappropriate practices of medication wastage might have harmful consequences. However, a gap exists between their awareness and practice, and the disposal approaches practiced by the respondents were generally not appropriate.
未使用和过期药物的妥善处置做法已成为一项全球性挑战，引起了卫生政策制定者、制药组织、医疗保健专业人员及更广泛社区的关注。本研究旨在评估马来西亚雪兰莪州公众对未使用和过期药物处置做法及药物浪费问题的认知、态度和行为。该定量横断面研究采用了预先验证的结构化调查问卷。在接触的个体中，426人表示愿意参与研究。超过80%的研究人群报告知晓药物浪费问题及其对患者和经济的影响。受教育程度较高的受访者（比值比=1.85；95%置信区间=1.18 - 2.52；P<0.003）更有可能认识到不当废物处置的有害后果。女性受访者更有可能报告理解免费医疗资源的可获得性导致了药物浪费（比值比=1.33，95%置信区间=1.015 - 2.34；P<0.005）。大多数受访者报告将未使用的药物（202例；47.4%）和过期药物（362例；84.9%）扔到垃圾桶里。受访者认为，医疗保健专业人员提供适当的指导（312例；73.2%）以及按确保患者依从性的疗程开具/配发药物数量（114例；26.7%）可将药物浪费降至最低。卫生部（258例；60.5%）、制药组织（212例；49.7%）和药剂师（193例；45.3%）是受访者认为的负责信息来源。当前研究结果表明，受访者知晓药物浪费的不当做法可能会产生有害后果。然而，他们的认知与行为之间存在差距，且受访者采用的处置方法通常并不恰当。
