Investigating the Status and Causes of Storing Surplus Household Medicines in Tehran
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Abstract
Background: Surplus household medicines is a critical issue in public health. This study was investigated the status and reasons of the surplus household medicines in Tehran -Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive- analytical research was done in selected districts of Tehran. The questionnaire content validity was done by CVR and CVI indexes. The collected data were categorized using the ATC classification system. The sample size was 384 families, but 510 families were entered in research processes. Independent T tests and one-way ANOVA were used for data analysis. Results: The selected districts had 1990000 populations. The response rate for questionnaire was 85.7% so, the 437 household were included in the final analysis. The 67.2 % of surplus medicine have valid date and safe appearance. The mean weight of excess drugs were 243.528 ± 36.361 grams. Over than 30% of excess medicines were kept at home. Based on Pearson correlation coefficient, the participants age and surplus medicine have negative correlation (-0.053). Increasing of the family dimension has no effect on weighted average of surplus medicine (p- value >0.05). Cabinet is the most common place to store surplus medication in studied households. The location of medication storage is somewhat consistent with the age of the participants. Education levels has not effects on surplus medication weight (p>0.05). Employment types in participants has significant effects on surplus medication amount(p<0.05) and the weighted mean of surplus medication is higher in government employees and retired & unemployed. Dispose of in household trash was the highest choice (86%). Conclusions: Inappropriate storage of excess medicines can be dangerous in terms of public health. Inappropriate disposal can lead to emerging pollutants in environment. Due to economic value and elevation of public safety, management of surplus medication need for appropriate policy making with approaches to support the formulated policy.
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[15] Sorensen L SJ, Purdie DM, Woodward M, Roberts MS. Medication management at home: medication-related risk factors associated with poor health outcomes. Age Ageing 2005;34(6):626-32.
[16] Mitkidis P CP, Obolevich V, Mitkidis K. Mitkidis P, Chrysochou P, Obolevich V, Mitkidis K. Effectiveness of environmental health and loss framing on household pharmaceutical take-back schemes. Waste Manag. 2022; 143:61-8. Waste Manag. 2022; 143:61-8.
[17] Salgado MAR SM, Baldoni AO, Thomé RG, Santos HB. Evaluation of the potential environmental risk from the destination of medicines: an epidemiological and toxicological study. Daru. 2021;29(1):61-71.
[18] Fernandes MR FR, Silva L, Rocha RS, Baldoni AO. Storage and disposal of expired medicines in home pharmacies: emerging public health problems. Einstein (Sao Paulo). 2020;18: eAO5066.
[19] Alfian SD IW, Halimah E, Qonita NA, Jannah SS, Nuraliyah NM, et al. Lack of Awareness of the Impact of Improperly Disposed Of Medications and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Indonesian Households. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2021;12.
[20] Asgarirad H RZ. Elimination Methods of Pharmaceutical Waste in Pharmacies and Homes. Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. 2015 (25):149-52.
[21] Lee S SJ. Medication Use and Storage, and Their Potential Risks in US Households. Pharmacy (Basel). 2022;10(1).
[22] Shoaib M RA, Iqbal Q, Saleem F, Haider S, Ishaq R, et al. Disposal practices of unused and expired pharmaceuticals among the general public in Quetta city, Pakistan. PLoS One. 2022;17(5): e0268200.
[23] J H. Barcoding drug information to recycle unwanted household pharmaceuticals: a review. Environ Chem Lett. 2022;20(5):989-3003.
[24] Romanelli L LF. Analysis of medicines returned to pharmacies for disposal and estimation of the cost due to medicine wasting. Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2022 (5):100133.
[2] OECD. DIRECTORATE FOR EMPLOYMENT, LABOUR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS HEALTH COMMITTEE. 2022.
[3] Richardson Kojo Edeme CE, Mary Ogechi Omeje. Public Health Expenditure and Health Outcomes in Nigeria, American Journal of Biomedical and Life Sciences. American Journal of Biomedical and Life Sciences. 2017
[4] 5(5):96-102.
[5] Zarif-Yeganeh M KM, Rashidian A, Jafarzadeh Kohneloo A, Gholami K. Out of pocket payment and afordability of medication for geriatric patients in Tehran, Iran. Iran J Public Health. 2019; ;48(6):1124–32.
[6] AZAMI-AGHDASH S MM, ETEMADI M, ROYANI S, MOOSAVI A, NAKHAEE M. Prevalence and Cause of Self-Medication in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Article. Iran J Public Health. 2015;44(12):1580- 93.
[7] Rafati S BT, Dastyar N, Zoghi G, Ahmadidarrehsima S, Salari N, Rafati F. Prevalence of self-medication among the elderly: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Educ Health Promot. 2023;12(67).
[8] Constantino VM FB, Tonani KAA, Zagui GS, Toninato APC, Nonose ERDS, Fabriz LA, Segura-Muñoz SI. Storage and disposal of pharmaceuticals at home: a systematic review. Cien Saude Colet 2020 25(2):585-94.
[9] Shyrill Mae F. Mariano, Luisa F. Angeles, Diana S. Aga, Cesar L. Villanoy and Caroline Marie B. Jaraula. Emerging pharmaceutical contaminants in key aquatic environments of the Philippines. Front Earth Sci. 2023;11.
[10] Sanchez W, and Egea, E. Health and environmental risks associated with emerging pollutants and novel green processes. Environ Sci Pollut Res 2018; 25 (7): 6085–6.
[11] Peter RNOaE. Household Medicines Disposal Practices in Maiduguri, North-Eastern Nigeria. International Journal of Health and Life Sciences. 2020;6(1): e97085.
[12] Foroutan B FR. Household storage of medicines and self-medication practices in south-east Islamic Republic of Iran. East Mediterr Health J. 2014 20(9):547-53.
[13] Fitsum Sebsibe Teni1* ASS, Assefa Belay, Dawit Wondimsigegn, Dessalegn Asmelashe Gelayee, , Zewdneh Shewamene, , Befikadu Legesse and Eshetie Melese Birru. A household survey of medicine storage practices in Gondar town, northwestern Ethiopia. Public Health. 2017; 17: 238.
[14] Gorgani J NR, Gholami M, Pasalari H, Yegane Badi M, Farzadkia M, et al. Hospital wastes management in Mazandaran Province with emphasis on genotoxic waste management. Iranian Journal of Health and Environment. 2019;12(3):351-64.
[15] Sorensen L SJ, Purdie DM, Woodward M, Roberts MS. Medication management at home: medication-related risk factors associated with poor health outcomes. Age Ageing 2005;34(6):626-32.
[16] Mitkidis P CP, Obolevich V, Mitkidis K. Mitkidis P, Chrysochou P, Obolevich V, Mitkidis K. Effectiveness of environmental health and loss framing on household pharmaceutical take-back schemes. Waste Manag. 2022; 143:61-8. Waste Manag. 2022; 143:61-8.
[17] Salgado MAR SM, Baldoni AO, Thomé RG, Santos HB. Evaluation of the potential environmental risk from the destination of medicines: an epidemiological and toxicological study. Daru. 2021;29(1):61-71.
[18] Fernandes MR FR, Silva L, Rocha RS, Baldoni AO. Storage and disposal of expired medicines in home pharmacies: emerging public health problems. Einstein (Sao Paulo). 2020;18: eAO5066.
[19] Alfian SD IW, Halimah E, Qonita NA, Jannah SS, Nuraliyah NM, et al. Lack of Awareness of the Impact of Improperly Disposed Of Medications and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Indonesian Households. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2021;12.
[20] Asgarirad H RZ. Elimination Methods of Pharmaceutical Waste in Pharmacies and Homes. Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. 2015 (25):149-52.
[21] Lee S SJ. Medication Use and Storage, and Their Potential Risks in US Households. Pharmacy (Basel). 2022;10(1).
[22] Shoaib M RA, Iqbal Q, Saleem F, Haider S, Ishaq R, et al. Disposal practices of unused and expired pharmaceuticals among the general public in Quetta city, Pakistan. PLoS One. 2022;17(5): e0268200.
[23] J H. Barcoding drug information to recycle unwanted household pharmaceuticals: a review. Environ Chem Lett. 2022;20(5):989-3003.
[24] Romanelli L LF. Analysis of medicines returned to pharmacies for disposal and estimation of the cost due to medicine wasting. Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2022 (5):100133.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 11 No 2 (2025) | |
| Section | Original Article(s) | |
| Keywords | ||
| Surplus medicines, Tehran, Pharmaceutical waste, Pharmaceutical storing | ||
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How to Cite
1.
Masoombeygi H, Ghanizadeh G, Aghajani V. Investigating the Status and Causes of Storing Surplus Household Medicines in Tehran. JPPM. 2025;11(2):19-26.
