Practice and opinion towards disposal of unused medication in Kuwait.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to measure the attitude and practice of Kuwaiti patients in Kuwait with regard to safe disposal of unwanted medicines.


METHODS
Three-hundred patients or their family members waiting for prescriptions at public general hospitals in Kuwait completed a questionnaire soliciting their practice with regard to medication use and disposal, and their opinion of the best way to dispose of unwanted medicines.


RESULTS
Almost half of the respondents (45.4%) obtained medicines on prescription more than 3 times a year and almost all had unwanted medicines in the home. Reasons for possessing unused medication were mostly due to a change of medication by the doctor (48.9%), or self-discontinuation (25.8%). Their most common method of disposal was to throw unwanted medicines in the trash (76.5%) or flush them down the drain (11.2%). Half (54.0%) thought that a system of taking medicines to pharmacies for safe disposal would be favorable.


CONCLUSIONS
The study indicates that the need for an appropriate method for disposal of unwanted medication exists in Kuwait. Hence, guidelines on safe disposal of unwanted medicines are required and an organized method of collecting unused medication needs to be introduced.
Abahussain
Eman A
EA
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Health Sciences Center, Kuwait University, Kuwait. eman_abahussain@yahoo.com
Ball
Douglas E
DE
Matowe
Wandikayi C
WC
D000328:Adult; D004356:Drug Storage; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait; D008297:Male; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D008875:Middle Aged; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations