Patients' knowledge and practice on disposal of medicines kept in households in South Africa : findings and implications

Mahlaba, Kesentseng Jackson and Helberg, Elvera Anna and Godman, Brian and Kurdi, Amanj and Meyer, Johanna Catharina (2022) Patients' knowledge and practice on disposal of medicines kept in households in South Africa : findings and implications. Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice, 11 (1). pp. 13-18. ISSN 2279-042X (https://doi.org/10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_85_21)

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Abstract

Objectives: The disposal of unwanted, unused or expired medicines is a concern. Currently, there is little knowledge regarding their disposal among patients in South Africa. Consequently, a need to address this. Methods: Descriptive and quantitative study with patients conducted among 16 primary healthcare clinics (PHC) in South Africa. A structured questionnaire was administered to 171 conveniently selected patients. Data on ideal disposal methods was collected and compared to actual disposal practices. Findings: 74.9% of patients reported having unused medicines at home, of whom 34.4% wanted these medicines disposed of. However, 64.9% did not know how to dispose of them while 95.3% reported having never been informed by healthcare professionals on how to dispose of them. Whilst patients prefer to return medicines to their PHC, only 7.0% actually did so. Ideal disposal practices proposed by patients included designated collection task teams (25.1%) and dissolving medicines in water (38.6%). However, current practices indicated patients flushed medicines down the sewer (31.6%) or disposed of them in municipal-bins (23.9%). Conclusion: Patients disposed of their unwanted medicines using incorrect disposal techniques which they thought correct. This urgently needs to be addressed.

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