Abbas Maram O, Beshir Semira, Kamal AlKhalidi Doaa, Shamseldin Al Gailani Ali Eiman, Lozon Yosra, Assadi Rizah Anwar, Ghdaiba Hana, Adnan Al-Zeer Rahaf
Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.
Dubai Pharmacy College for Girls, Dubai Medical University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
BMC Public Health. 2025 Jan 20;25(1):236. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-21332-3.
The improper disposal of unwanted or unused medications is a pressing issue that can lead to drug misuse and environmental contamination. Pharmacists play a crucial role in promoting safe drug disposal by the public. This study explores pharmacists' perceptions of the causes of unwanted and unused medications, their practices, and the barriers to promoting safe medication disposal among the public in the United Arab Emirates.
This cross-sectional study included pharmacists working in the UAE's community and hospital settings with direct patient contact. A convenience sampling approach was used, where pharmacists who were available during the data collection period were invited to participate. Printed copies or a survey link to the questionnaire were provided to pharmacists to complete independently during in-person visits. Participants were categorised into three levels: extensive, adequate, or minimal involvement, based on their engagement in activities such as reviewing patients' medications, educating them on proper storage and disposal, and participating in drug take-back programmes. Chi-square test was used to assesses the association between categorical variables and pharmacists practice levels. The data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 29.
A total of 370 pharmacists participated in this survey, most of whom were between 18 and 34 years old (69.2%). The top three perceived causes of unwanted or unused medications include changes in prescriptions due to patients' poor clinical outcomes (83.8%), inappropriate storage conditions (79.7%), and expiration of medications (78.6%). Moreover, factors such as pharmacist age, type of pharmacy, country of education, pharmacy location, employment status, and years of experience were significantly associated with pharmacists' level of involvement in promoting safe medication disposal practices. The most cited barriers were a lack of public awareness about the risks of improper medication disposal (88.9%), lack of time due to workload (82.4%), and lack of training and education (78.1%). Most pharmacists believed in collaborating with public health agencies to promote medication disposal awareness (97.6%) and developing national guidelines (97.6%).
This study's findings have significant implications for public health, highlighting the necessity of essential groundwork for developing targeted interventions and policies to enhance public awareness and identify specific areas where pharmacists can actively encourage safe medication disposal practices in the UAE.
不当处理不需要或未使用的药物是一个紧迫的问题，可能导致药物滥用和环境污染。药剂师在促进公众安全处理药物方面发挥着关键作用。本研究探讨了阿联酋药剂师对不需要和未使用药物的原因、他们的做法以及在公众中促进安全药物处理的障碍的看法。
这项横断面研究包括在阿联酋社区和医院环境中与患者有直接接触的药剂师。采用便利抽样方法，邀请在数据收集期间有空的药剂师参与。在亲自拜访期间，向药剂师提供问卷的打印副本或调查链接，让他们独立完成。根据参与者在审查患者药物、对其进行正确储存和处理教育以及参与药物回收计划等活动中的参与程度，将他们分为三个级别：广泛参与、充分参与或极少参与。卡方检验用于评估分类变量与药剂师实践水平之间的关联。使用社会科学统计软件包（SPSS）29版对数据进行分析。
共有370名药剂师参与了这项调查，其中大多数年龄在18至34岁之间（69.2%）。不需要或未使用药物的前三大感知原因包括由于患者临床结果不佳导致的处方变化（83.8%）、储存条件不当（79.7%）和药物过期（78.6%）。此外，药剂师的年龄、药房类型、教育国家、药房位置、就业状况和工作经验等因素与药剂师参与促进安全药物处理实践的程度显著相关。最常提到的障碍是公众对不当药物处理风险缺乏认识（88.9%）、由于工作量大而缺乏时间（82.4%）以及缺乏培训和教育（78.1%）。大多数药剂师认为应与公共卫生机构合作以提高药物处理意识（97.6%）并制定国家指南（97.6%）。
本研究的结果对公共卫生具有重要意义，突出了开展有针对性的干预措施和政策以提高公众意识并确定药剂师可在阿联酋积极鼓励安全药物处理实践的具体领域的必要基础工作。
