To educate the community for proper storage and disposal of prescribed medication: The need of today

Abstract

Objectives: To study the attitude and educate the community about proper storage and disposal of prescribed medicine and hazards due to improper storage and disposal of medicines. Background: Millions of prescriptions are written every day. Many patients do not finish these medications as prescribed by physician, leaving problem of these unneeded, unwanted or expired medications Methods: Study conduct by II year MBBS students in department of pharmacology. The study period was of two months. Each student asked to visit 10 Houses. During visit student gave questionnaire prepared to the head of the family. Lastly students educated the family for proper storage and disposal of prescribed medicines and hazards due to improper storage and disposal of medicines. Result: 48% families do not take medicine as per doctors instruction.45% were not properly instructed for how to store the medicines. 75% self medicated themselves and the family members by stored drugs. 40% did not see for expiry medicines. They store the medicines in drovers, freeze, plastic bags, plastic containers etc. They disposed the unwanted drugs in dustbins, burn them and liquid form disposed in basin. Conclusion: Thus this study will help to bring awareness and educate the community for important but neglected aspect of storage and disposal of prescribed medication. Thus if we include this activity in our Pharmacology curriculum and involve each batch of II year MBBS to do above activity every year, within short period we can educate the larger area of population.

Keywords

• Prescribed drugs
• Storage/Disposal
• Community education