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Tegegne AA, Genet G, Workie Limenh L, Yohannes L, Mohammed Seid A, Alemayehu TT, Ayenew W, Simegn W. Public awareness, knowledge, and attitude regarding proper disposal of unused medicines and associated factors in Gondar city, northwest Ethiopia. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1372739. [PMID: 38932773 PMCID: PMC11204293 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1372739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Proper disposal of unwanted medicines, in addition to reducing wastage, has a positive impact on the environment and public health. Improper disposal of medications increases the risk of accidental poisonings, particularly among children. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and awareness regarding the proper disposal of unused medicines in Gondar city, northwest Ethiopia. Method From 30 July to 30 August 2023, a community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among the public in Gondar city. The data were gathered using the Kobo toolbox, exported into an Excel sheet, and then analyzed using SPSS version 27. Multivariate and bivariate binary logistic regressions were performed. A p-value of 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to determine statistical significance. Result From 786 study participants, the overall knowledge and attitude of the community toward the proper disposal of unused medicines were 42.6 and 42.9%, respectively. Factors identified in this study included ages between 19 and 25 [AOR = 6.91, 95% CI: (3.45, 13.84); education level: secondary [AOR = 11.82, 95% CI: (1.01, 3.29)] and college and above [AOR = 5.68, 95% CI: (2.25, 14.30)]; prior information [AOR = 6.41; 95% CI: (4.02, 10.22)]; and good attitudes [AOR = 2.11; 95% CI: (1.47, 3.02)]] as factors associated with good knowledge toward proper disposal of unused medicines. In addition, receiving information [AOR = 1.86 95% CI: (1.22, 2.86)], taking medication in the past 6 months [AOR = 1.61, 95% CI: (1.09, 2.38)], and being knowledgeable [AOR = 2.07 95% CI: (1.46, 2.94)] were factors contributing to positive attitudes toward the disposal of unused medicines among the general public. Furthermore, approximately 369 participants (46.9%) in our study lacked awareness about the harmful effects of disposing of unused medicine in regular waste. Conclusion A relatively low level of knowledge and attitudes about the proper disposal of unused medications is present in the community. In this regard, a well-coordinated and methodical public awareness campaign is recommended to disseminate information and promote the appropriate disposal of unused medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Addisu Afrassa Tegegne
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Gebremariam Genet
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Liknaw Workie Limenh
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Lamrot Yohannes
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Abdulwase Mohammed Seid
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Tekletsadik Tekleslassie Alemayehu
- Department of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Wondim Ayenew
- Department of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Wudneh Simegn
- Department of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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Köksoy S. Unused, expired pharmaceuticals and their disposal practices among the general public in Burdur-Türkiye: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1303. [PMID: 38741105 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18788-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unused pharmaceuticals are currently a public health problem. This study aimed to identify unused pharmaceuticals, research practices about the disposal methods, classify the medicines according to Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical codes (ATC) and, to determine the number of unused medicines. METHODS The study was designed as a cross-sectional study. Data were collected between April and August 2023 in Burdur-Türkiye by non-probability sampling technique (convenience method). Pharmaceuticals were classified according to ATC. Statistical Package for Social Science SPSS (V.24) package program was used for data analysis. RESULTS A total of 1120 people, 1005 in the first sample group and 115 in the second sample group, participated in the study. Findings of first sample group: A total of 4097 boxes of unused pharmaceuticals (4.7 ± 4.3 boxes/per capita) were detected. It was found that pharmaceuticals were stored in areas such as kitchens (59.1%) and refrigerators (38.6%), the reason for keeping them was reuse (41%), and the disposal practice was household garbage (81%). Paracetamol (648 boxes), Other cold preparation (303 boxes), Dexketoprofen (239 boxes), Diclofenac (218 boxes), Amoxicillin and beta-lactamase inhibitor (190 boxes) were found to be the most frequently unused pharmaceuticals. Using the unused medicines at home without consulting a physician was 94.1% (self-medication). Findings of second sample group: Of the 6189 dosage forms in 265 boxes pharmaceutical, 3132(50.6%) dosage forms were used and 3057(49.4%) were found to be unused. CONCLUSION There is a significant amount and number of unused medicines in households, and self-medication is common. Medicines are not properly disposed of and some of them expire. Public information is needed. A "drug take-back system" for unused medicines can be useful in solving this problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serkan Köksoy
- Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Health Science Faculty, Burdur, Türkiye.
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Dai Y, Peng Y, Hu W, Liu Y, Wang H. Prenatal amoxicillin exposure induces developmental toxicity in fetal mice and its characteristics. J Environ Sci (China) 2024; 137:287-301. [PMID: 37980015 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2023.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Amoxicillin, a widely used antibiotic in human and veterinary pharmaceuticals, is now considered as an "emerging contaminant" because it exists widespreadly in the environment and brings a series of adverse outcomes. Currently, systematic studies about the developmental toxicity of amoxicillin are still lacking. We explored the potential effects of amoxicillin exposure on pregnancy outcomes, maternal/fetal serum phenotypes, and fetal multiple organ development in mice, at different doses (75, 150, 300 mg/(kg·day)) during late-pregnancy, or at a dose of 300 mg/(kg·day) during different stages (mid-/late-pregnancy) and courses (single-/multi-course). Results showed that prenatal amoxicillin exposure (PAmE) had no significant influence on the body weights of dams, but it could inhibit the physical development and reduce the survival rate of fetuses, especially during the mid-pregnancy. Meanwhile, PAmE altered multiple maternal/fetal serum phenotypes, especially in fetuses. Fetal multi-organ function results showed that PAmE inhibited testicular/adrenal steroid synthesis, long bone/cartilage and hippocampal development, and enhanced ovarian steroid synthesis and hepatic glycogenesis/lipogenesis, and the order of severity might be gonad (testis, ovary) > liver > others. Further analysis found that PAmE-induced multi-organ developmental and functional alterations had differences in stages, courses and fetal gender, and the most obvious changes might be in high-dose, late-pregnancy and multi-course, but there was no typical rule of a dose-response relationship. In conclusion, this study confirmed that PAmE could cause abnormal development and multi-organ function alterations, which deepens our understanding of the risk of PAmE and provides an experimental basis for further exploration of the long-term harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongguo Dai
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yu Peng
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Wen Hu
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, China.
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Benítez-Rico A, Pérez-Martínez A, Muñóz-López BI, Martino-Roaro L, Alegría-Baños JA, Vergara-Castañeda A, Islas-García A. Medical Household Waste as a Potential Environmental Hazard: An Ecological and Epidemiological Approach. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5366. [PMID: 37047980 PMCID: PMC10094346 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, the contamination caused by emerging pollutants is a global concern due to the lack of scientific evidence to demonstrate the risk or toxicity to humans due to the presence of pharmaceutical residues in the environment. This study aimed to identify and describe the disposal practices of unused and unwanted medications, as well as to analyze and identify the most frequent drugs determined on water bodies adjacent to the biggest urban population in Mexico. A two-phase study with an epidemiological and an ecological assessment was performed. The epidemiological phase was carried out with a descriptive cross-sectional study among citizens from Mexico City and the metropolitan area using an electronic survey applied to 719 subjects aimed to assess practices in which pharmaceutical products are disposed. The ecological phase included a review of scientific reports. The results show that nearly 83.5% of those surveyed use inappropriate practices for disposal medicines, the main ones are through the municipal dump or directly in the drain. The ecological approach was carried out by a systematic literature review of original reports published between 2013 to 2023; information about the class of drugs, active substance, environmental compartments, location, and concentration was extracted and presented. Fifty-one different types of pharmaceutical residues were detected in wastewater in Mexico City in the last decade. The results of this study can contribute to the application of public policies for waste management authorities to mitigate the socio-environmental risks due to the inappropriate disposal of medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Benítez-Rico
- Grupo de Investigación Desarrollo e Innovación en Ingeniería de Procesos y Nuevos Materiales, Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Universidad La Salle México, Mexico City 06140, Mexico;
| | - Arizbeth Pérez-Martínez
- Grupo de Investigación Desarrollo e Innovación en Ciencia y Tecnología Ambiental Aplicada, Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Universidad La Salle México, Mexico City 06140, Mexico; (A.P.-M.); (A.I.-G.)
| | - Bryan Isaac Muñóz-López
- Programa de Maestría en Farmacología Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad La Salle México, Mexico City 06140, Mexico;
- Grupo de Investigación Desarrollo e Innovación en Promoción y Educación para la Salud y Alimentación, Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Universidad La Salle México, Mexico City 06140, Mexico;
| | - Laura Martino-Roaro
- Campus Ciudad de México, Centro Universitario Incarnate Word, Mexico City 03100, Mexico;
| | - Jorge Adan Alegría-Baños
- Grupo de Investigación Desarrollo e Innovación en Promoción y Educación para la Salud y Alimentación, Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Universidad La Salle México, Mexico City 06140, Mexico;
- Centro Oncológico Médica Sur, Mexico City 14050, Mexico
| | - Arely Vergara-Castañeda
- Grupo de Investigación Desarrollo e Innovación en Promoción y Educación para la Salud y Alimentación, Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Universidad La Salle México, Mexico City 06140, Mexico;
| | - Alejandro Islas-García
- Grupo de Investigación Desarrollo e Innovación en Ciencia y Tecnología Ambiental Aplicada, Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Universidad La Salle México, Mexico City 06140, Mexico; (A.P.-M.); (A.I.-G.)
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Mahnoora Z, Nandakumar UP, Joel JJ, Kolar R, Chand S. Impact of education on the knowledge, attitude and practice of disposal of expired and unused medications among pharmacy students. ANNALES PHARMACEUTIQUES FRANÇAISES 2022:S0003-4509(22)00180-8. [PMID: 36572275 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharma.2022.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of education among pharmacy students on their level of knowledge, attitude and practices in the disposal of expired and unused medications. MATERIALS AND METHODS A pre-test post-test study without control group was conducted in which a total of 573 students pursuing Bachelor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy programmes were enrolled. The impact of education provided was analysed with the aid of a previously validated KAP questionnaire. Data on KAP was analysed using SPSS software 24.0. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The knowledge, attitude and practice of the total students improved from 74.17±17.063 to 91.06±11.87, 75.92±19.26 to 91.73±12.318 and 43.11±22.77 to 82.06±16.149 respectively. The improvement with respect to knowledge and attitude was significantly high among Doctor of Pharmacy students when compared to Bachelor of Pharmacy, with P value<0.001 for both domains. CONCLUSION The present study concludes on the effectiveness of educational intervention in generating a positive impact on the student population with respective to adequate disposal practices to be followed for unused and expired medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Mahnoora
- Nitte (Deemed to be University), NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (NGSMIPS), Department of Pharmacy Practice, Mangaluru, Karnataka 575018, India
| | - U P Nandakumar
- Nitte (Deemed to be University), NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (NGSMIPS), Department of Pharmacy Practice, Mangaluru, Karnataka 575018, India.
| | - J J Joel
- Nitte (Deemed to be University), NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (NGSMIPS), Department of Pharmacy Practice, Mangaluru, Karnataka 575018, India.
| | - R Kolar
- Nitte (Deemed to be University), KS Hegde Medical Academy (KSHEMA), Department of Community Medicine, Mangaluru, Karnataka 575018, India.
| | - S Chand
- Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, Lucknow, India.
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Jha N, Kafle S, Bhandary S, Shankar PR. Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice of disposing and storing unused and expired medicines among the communities of Kathmandu, Nepal. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272635. [PMID: 35925995 PMCID: PMC9352092 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Unused medicines can be stored by many people at their places of residence and houses for later use. This study evaluated knowledge, and attitudes regarding unused and expired medicines and explored medicine storage and disposal practices among selected households in the Kathmandu valley, Nepal. Method A cross-sectional study with a two-stage cluster survey design was done using a semi-structured questionnaire from April to October 2021. The sample size (total number of households) after adjusting for design effect and non-response rate was 210 and the study population was the household heads. Simple random sampling was done to select clusters during the first stage and systematic random sampling to select households during the second stage. Descriptive statistics and t-test/one-way ANOVA were used to compare the respondents’ average knowledge scores. Practice variables were presented using frequency distribution. Results Around half the respondents were from the Kathmandu district, nearly 20% were from Bhaktapur and 30% were from Lalitpur. Nearly two-thirds were male and about 25% had a bachelor’s degree. Nearly 90% of respondents agreed that storage of excess medicines at home may promote self-medication. Similarly, 97.6% of respondents agreed there is a lack of adequate information on the safe disposal of unused medicines. The majority [125 (59.5%)] of participants always checked the expiry date of medicines. The safe methods of medicine disposal were not known by 137 (65.2%) participants. Throwing in a dustbin was the preferred method of expired medicine disposal. Conclusion The level of knowledge and practice of disposing of unused and expired medicines requires improvement. Educational interventions may help improve awareness further. Creating a chart summarizing disposal procedures of common medicines is important. Similar studies in other regions are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha Jha
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, KIST Medical College, Lalitpur, Nepal
- * E-mail:
| | - Sajala Kafle
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, KIST Medical College, Lalitpur, Nepal
| | - Shital Bhandary
- Department of Community Health Sciences and School of Public Health, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Patan, Lalitpur, Nepal
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Shoaib M, Raziq A, Iqbal Q, Saleem F, Haider S, Ishaq R, Iqbal Z, Bashaar M. Disposal practices of unused and expired pharmaceuticals among the general public in Quetta city, Pakistan. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0268200. [PMID: 35587932 PMCID: PMC9119513 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective
Although community practices towards disposal of expired and unused medications vary globally, the phenomenon is neglected specifically in developing countries. We, therefore, aimed to assess the disposal practices of unused and expired pharmaceuticals among the general public in Quetta city, Pakistan.
Methods
A questionnaire-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted among 830 respondents in Quetta city, Pakistan. A pre-validated, structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were coded and analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were sued and p<0.05 was taken as significant.
Results
Almost 87% of the respondents had unused medicines at their homes and reusing the medications was the purpose of medicine storage (50%). Medicines were mostly kept in refrigerators (36.0%) followed by bedrooms (28.8%). Fifty percent of the respondents never checked the expiry date before using the medications. The procedure to dispose of nearly expired or expired medicines was unknown to 88% of the respondents and for those reasons, medicines were disposed either in household trash or flushed in the toilet or sink. Interestingly, medicines were kept at home even after being expired by 27% of the respondents. Income was associated with reason of storing medicines (p = 0.004; φc = 0.402) while educational status had significant associations with storage of medications (p = 0.002; φc = 0.399), reading about storage instructions (p = 0.008; φc = 0.452) and checking expiry date before purchasing and using the medicines (p = 0.007; φc = 0.114 and p = 0.001; φc = 0.100) respectively.
Conclusion
Improper storage and disposal of unused and expired medications is a common practice among study respondents and raised serious concerns. Findings of the current study call upon immediate development and implementation of the strategies to promote awareness and strengthen the pharmaceutical waste management program at the societal level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Shoaib
- Faculty of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, University of Baluchistan, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Abdul Raziq
- Department of Statistics, University of Baluchistan, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Qaiser Iqbal
- Faculty of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, University of Baluchistan, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Fahad Saleem
- Faculty of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, University of Baluchistan, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Sajjad Haider
- Faculty of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, University of Baluchistan, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Rabia Ishaq
- Faculty of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, University of Baluchistan, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Zaffar Iqbal
- Health Department, Government of Baluchistan, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Mohammad Bashaar
- SMART Afghan International Trainings & Consultancy, Kabul, Afghanistan
- * E-mail:
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Hendaus MA, Darwish S, Saleh M, Mostafa O, Eltayeb A, Al-Amri M, Siddiqui FJ, Alhammadi A. Medication take-back programs in Qatar: Parental perceptions. J Family Med Prim Care 2021; 10:2697-2702. [PMID: 34568157 PMCID: PMC8415692 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1141_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: To identify parental perception of a take-back program for medications. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study using a questionnaire was conducted at Hamad Medical Corporation, the only tertiary pediatric hospital in the State of Qatar at the time of the study. Qatar is a rapidly developing country with limited national data on the awareness of medication misuse among adults living with children at home and on the safety practices regarding medication disposal. Results: 305 questionnaires were completed (response rate = 90%). More than 80% of parents were in between 20 and 39 years of age, 70% of them were females, and 80% were college graduates. Approximately 90% of participants have immediate relatives who were taking medications for chronic diseases. Almost 60% of parents stated that they keep unused medications at home, whereas 10% were not aware of the fate of the left over medications. Approximately 95% of the parents dispose the expired medications. In terms of the mode of disposing the medications, 66% of caregivers dispose the medication bottle or package in the trash can, whereas 14% remove the medications from the bottles or packages and throw them in the trash, and 15% put them through the drain. When asked if participants read disposal measures in the medication pamphlet, only 10% answered “always,” whereas 26% answered “sometimes.” Participants were asked if they have heard of any medications take-back programs, 75% answered no, whereas 14% were not sure. However, almost 60% of them will use the take-back program if available and 18% were not sure. Conclusion: Parents residing in the State of Qatar have deficiencies in knowledge about medication disposal. Parent's attitudes and perceptions are considered indispensable targets for community health intervention. Our next step is to share our data with the ministry of health to spread awareness about the proper disposal of medicines and take-back programs in Qatar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed A Hendaus
- Department of Pediatrics Section of Academic General Pediatrics, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.,Department of Pediatrics, Section of Academic General Pediatrics, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.,Department of Clinical Pediatrics, Weill-Cornell Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shereen Darwish
- Department of Medical Education, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Manar Saleh
- Department of Medical Education, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Omar Mostafa
- Department of Medical Education, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ahmed Eltayeb
- Department of Medical Education, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mohammed Al-Amri
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Academic General Pediatrics, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Faisal J Siddiqui
- Department of Medical Education, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ahmed Alhammadi
- Department of Pediatrics Section of Academic General Pediatrics, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.,Department of Pediatrics, Section of Academic General Pediatrics, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.,Department of Clinical Pediatrics, Weill-Cornell Medicine, Doha, Qatar
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Chand S, Shastry CS, Hiremath S, Joel JJ, Krishnabhat CH, Mateti UV. Updates on biomedical waste management during COVID-19: The Indian scenario. CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY AND GLOBAL HEALTH 2021; 11:100715. [PMID: 36032559 PMCID: PMC9393250 DOI: 10.1016/j.cegh.2021.100715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomedical waste poses various health and environmental hazards. Hence, it should be handled with the utmost care and disposed off safely. Several lacunas exist in the management of biomedical waste in India, and the pandemic posed by the coronavirus has made it even more challenging. The sudden outbreak of the virus led to an exponential rise in the quantity of biomedical waste. Furthermore, the poor infrastructure and lack of human resources have aggravated this situation. To combat this serious problem in a timely manner, the government has formulated various standard operating procedures and has amended the existing rules and guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharad Chand
- Nitte (Deemed to be University), NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Paneer, Deralakatte, Mangaluru, 575018, India
| | - C S Shastry
- Nitte (Deemed to be University), NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Paneer, Deralakatte, Mangaluru, 575018, India
| | - Shivakumar Hiremath
- Nitte (Deemed to be University), Justice K. S. Hegde Charitable Hospital, Deralakatte, Mangaluru, Karnataka, 575018, India
| | - Juno J Joel
- Nitte (Deemed to be University), NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Paneer, Deralakatte, Mangaluru, 575018, India
| | - C H Krishnabhat
- Nitte (Deemed to be University), NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Paneer, Deralakatte, Mangaluru, 575018, India
| | - Uday Venkat Mateti
- Nitte (Deemed to be University), NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Paneer, Deralakatte, Mangaluru, 575018, India
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Vatovec C, Kolodinsky J, Callas P, Hart C, Gallagher K. Pharmaceutical pollution sources and solutions: Survey of human and veterinary medication purchasing, use, and disposal. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 285:112106. [PMID: 33588165 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Human and veterinary pharmaceuticals offer many benefits, but they also pose risks to both the environment and public health. Life-cycle stewardship of medications offers multiple strategies for minimizing the risks posed by pharmaceuticals, and further insight is required for developing best practices for pharmaceutical management. The goal of this study was to clarify points of intervention for minimizing environmental and public health risks associated with pharmaceuticals. Specifically, our objectives were to provide insight on purchasing, use, and disposal behaviors associated with human and veterinary medications. This study used a state-wide representative sample of Vermont adults (n = 421) to survey both human and veterinary pharmaceuticals as potential sources of the unintended consequences of prescribed and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. The majority (93%) of respondents had purchased some form of medication within the past twelve months, including OTC (85%), prescription (74%), and veterinary (41%) drugs. Leftover drugs of any kind were reported by 59% of respondents. While 56% of people were aware of drug take-back programs, the majority reported never being told what to do with leftover medications by their physician (78%), pharmacist (76%), or veterinarian (53%). Among all respondents, take-back programs were the most common disposal method (22%), followed by trash (19%), and flushing (9%), while 26% of respondents reported keeping unused drugs. Awareness of pharmaceutical pollution in the environment and having received information about proper disposal were both significantly associated with participation in take-back programs. These findings indicate that a large volume of drugs are going unused annually, and that only a portion of leftover medications are returned to take-back programs where they can be appropriately disposed. Our results warrant further investigation of clinical interventions that support lower dose prescribing and dispensing practices in order to reduce the unintended environmental and public health consequences of pharmaceuticals within the consumer sphere. In addition, our findings suggest that directed efforts to raise awareness of proper disposal may be more effective than broad awareness campaigns, and we recommend research on the efficacy of providing disposal instructions on drug packaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Vatovec
- Gund Institute for Environment & Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
| | - Jane Kolodinsky
- Community Development and Applied Economics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Peter Callas
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Christine Hart
- Rubenstein School of Environment & Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Kati Gallagher
- Community Development and Applied Economics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
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