Abstract
Background: Consumers and caregivers should remove expired, or unwanted, medications to minimize the chance for misuse or accidentally using those medicines. This study investigated pharmacists’ knowledge regarding drug disposal in Karbala, Iraq. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey among pharmacists in Karbala. It was performed from December 2018 until January 2019. A standardized, 12-item, self-administered questionnaire was designed, developed and validated to assess pharmacists’ knowledge when generating pharmaceutical waste in pharmacies. Results: One hundred twenty-nine participants enrolled in the study. The mean age of participants was 33 ± 9.3 years—more than two-thirds (65.9%)—agreed that the return of medications to the source would be appropriate drug disposal. A good proportion of participants agreed with disposing of drugs in the trash. Further, 63.6% believe that education is the main barrier opposing the implementation of a medicine–take–back program in Iraq. Conclusion: Pharmacists had relatively poor knowledge regarding drug disposal methods. Health care providers (not only pharmacists) need educational courses and workshops to improve their knowledge regarding medication disposal in Iraq.
Highlights
During natural disasters, large amounts of medications are often donated
This study aimed to investigate pharmacists’ knowledge regarding drug disposal in Karbala, Iraq, and to determine what barriers oppose implementation of take-back programs in Iraq from their point of view
The questionnaire was developed depending on information drawn from the literature, and a number of questions were adapted and modified from other studies regarding pharmacist knowledge on drug disposal and its effect on health and environment [1,12,13,14,15,16,17,18]
Summary
Large amounts of medications are often donated Lots of these pharmaceuticals save lives [1]. Smaller quantities of medication waste can be increased due to inadequacies in drug management and distribution, as well as lacking a routine system for drug disposal Unsafe disposal of these unused or expired medications represent a serious problem [1]. If a take-back or returning-back program is not available, most unused or expired medicines can be disposed of by mixing them with an in active substance like dirt, cat litter, or used coffee grounds. Place it in a good sealable plastic bag to be thrown in the trash [2]. A standardized, 12-item, self-administered questionnaire was designed, developed and validated to assess pharmacists’ knowledge when generating pharmaceutical waste in pharmacies
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