Unused and Expired Medications Disposal Practices among the General Public in Selangor, Malaysia
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 b...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Pharmacy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/8/4/196 |
| _version_ | 1797549996551176192 |
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| author | Mohamed Azmi Hassali Sadia Shakeel |
| author_facet | Mohamed Azmi Hassali Sadia Shakeel |
| author_sort | Mohamed Azmi Hassali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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; <i>p</i> < 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; <i>p</i> < 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:23:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e04f2cbf56074598be353176d345a513 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2226-4787 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:23:08Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmacy |
| spelling | doaj.art-e04f2cbf56074598be353176d345a5132023-11-20T18:19:40ZengMDPI AGPharmacy2226-47872020-10-018419610.3390/pharmacy8040196Unused and Expired Medications Disposal Practices among the General Public in Selangor, MalaysiaMohamed Azmi Hassali0Sadia Shakeel1Discipline of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia (USM), Minden 11800, MalaysiaDiscipline of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia (USM), Minden 11800, MalaysiaThe 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; <i>p</i> < 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; <i>p</i> < 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/8/4/196medication wastageawarenessattitudemedication disposal practicesMalaysia |
| spellingShingle | Mohamed Azmi Hassali Sadia Shakeel Unused and Expired Medications Disposal Practices among the General Public in Selangor, Malaysia Pharmacy medication wastage awareness attitude medication disposal practices Malaysia |
| title | Unused and Expired Medications Disposal Practices among the General Public in Selangor, Malaysia |
| title_full | Unused and Expired Medications Disposal Practices among the General Public in Selangor, Malaysia |
| title_fullStr | Unused and Expired Medications Disposal Practices among the General Public in Selangor, Malaysia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unused and Expired Medications Disposal Practices among the General Public in Selangor, Malaysia |
| title_short | Unused and Expired Medications Disposal Practices among the General Public in Selangor, Malaysia |
| title_sort | unused and expired medications disposal practices among the general public in selangor malaysia |
| topic | medication wastage awareness attitude medication disposal practices Malaysia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/8/4/196 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mohamedazmihassali unusedandexpiredmedicationsdisposalpracticesamongthegeneralpublicinselangormalaysia AT sadiashakeel unusedandexpiredmedicationsdisposalpracticesamongthegeneralpublicinselangormalaysia |