Assessment of Storage of Medicines at Home using Home Medication Review in Pediatric Population - A Community Based Study

Abstract

People take medicines and vitamins to feel well and to stay well. However, any medicine, including those we buy without a prescription, can cause harm if taken in the wrong way or by the wrong person. That too in case of pediatric population it has to be considered very much.Medicines stored incorrectly at home can pose a health risk. Adult cold medications and antibiotics were the most commonly stored drugs at home, followed by analgesics. The most popular location for storing drugs was the refrigerator (50.6 percent). The majority of people did not read the packaging inserts. Self-medication was reported by a large percentage of homeowners (53.6%), and antibiotics recommended by doctors were frequently reused. There was a link between self-medication and educational attainment, but not with age, sex, marital status, occupation, or insurance type. There is a need for more public awareness and information about the storage and risks of reusing prescription drugs. The study conducted here is a community based prospective study where the paediatric storage of medicines was obtained through home medication review. Out of 150 pediatric participants, it was found that 20.66% of them stored in box or drawer or bag with lock and 79.33% without lock. The checking of expiry date was also enquired and in that those who checked expiry date never was 28%, timely 25% and before administration 47%.Therefore awareness of storage of medicines and looking into the expiry date of medicines is a less focused area among people.Consumers who use medications in the community should be urged to keep them in a way that preserves the medicine's quality while also protecting the consumer, their family, and visitors to their house. Keywords: Pediatric storage of medicines, Home medication review, Expiry date of medicines.