An-Najah Staff

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Appropriate storage and use of medications in households may decrease drug wastage and unnecessary hazard. The objective of this study was to investigate storage, utilization habits and cost of medications in households in Palestine.
METHODS:  This is a cross sectional, anonymous, questionnaire-based study of 465 households in northern Palestine. The drug product inventory in the surveyed households was investigated and family members were interviewed.
RESULTS:  A total of 465 households were assessed, 50 were excluded. The total number of drug products in the 415 households was 5,505; the mean + or - SD was 13.3 + or - 7.8. Level of father's education, presence of chronic disease and insurance coverage were the variables that showed a significant relationship with the amount of drug products found in the households. Most of the drug products (43.4%) were stored in relatively unsafe places in the house within the reach of children. Approximately one third (32.5%) of the drug products were not in their original container. The percentages of unused drug products, expired, or those with no clear expiry date were 32.7%, 17.7% and 11% respectively. Estimated drug wastage in the 415 households and nationwide would be 16,100 and 19 million USD respectively. The most common drug categories encountered in households were alimentary, musculoskeletal and anti-infective agents. The most common individual drugs encountered were: paracetamol (8.5%), ibuprofen (4.9%) and diclofenac (3.7%).
CONCLUSION:  Medications were stored in large quantities in Palestinian households, and a large percentage was being wasted. Drug-use assessments and a comprehensive evaluation of the current national drug policies are warranted to curtail this problem.

Objective Inappropriate use of antibacterial agents may lead to drug wastage and potential therapeutic failures in the future. The objective of this study was to investigate the extent of storage, and wastage of antibacterial agents in households in Palestine. Method This was a cross sectional, questionnaire-based study of households in northern Palestine. Any antibacterial agents present in the surveyed households were investigated and family members were interviewed. Main outcome measure Number and type of antibacterial agents stored in each household. Results The total number of antibacterial agents in the 465 surveyed households was 641, constituting 11.3% of the total stored medications. The average number of antibacterial agents was 1.4 ± 1.74 per household. The most common antibacterial agents encountered were amoxicillin (29.5%) and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (11.6%). Family size (P < 0.001), total number of stored medications (P < 0.001), and presence of elderly residents (>65 years) (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with the presence of antibacterial agents. Furthermore, the level of parental education was significantly and positively (P = 0.009, r = 0.128; P = 0.013, r = 0.122 for father and mother respectively) correlated with the number of antibacterial agents found in the households. More than one-third (37.4%) of antibacterial agents were stored within the reach of children. Wasted antibacterial agents, defined as those which had expired or those with no clear expiry date were 16.4 and 10.1%, respectively. The percentage of antibacterial agents that were not currently in use was 69.3%. Estimated total value of antibacterial agents found in the study was 4,769, approximately4769approximately 11.5 per household. The total wastage of antibacterial agents was valued at 2,790, approximately2790approximately 6.7 per household. Conclusion Antibacterial agents were commonly encountered in Palestinian households, and a relatively large percentage was being wasted.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Appropriate storage and use of medications in households may decrease drug wastage and unnecessary hazard. The objective of this study was to investigate storage, utilization habits and cost of medications in households in Palestine.
METHODS: This is a cross sectional, anonymous, questionnaire-based study of 465 households in northern Palestine. The drug product inventory in the surveyed households was investigated and family members were interviewed.
RESULTS:  A total of 465 households were assessed, 50 were excluded. The total number of drug products in the 415 households was 5,505; the mean + or - SD was 13.3 + or - 7.8. Level of father's education, presence of chronic disease and insurance coverage were the variables that showed a significant relationship with the amount of drug products found in the households. Most of the drug products (43.4%) were stored in relatively unsafe places in the house within the reach of children. Approximately one third (32.5%) of the drug products were not in their original container. The percentages of unused drug products, expired, or those with no clear expiry date were 32.7%, 17.7% and 11% respectively. Estimated drug wastage in the 415 households and nationwide would be 16,100 and 19 million USD respectively. The most common drug categories encountered in households were alimentary, musculoskeletal and anti-infective agents. The most common individual drugs encountered were: paracetamol (8.5%), ibuprofen (4.9%) and diclofenac (3.7%).
CONCLUSION:  Medications were stored in large quantities in Palestinian households, and a large percentage was being wasted. Drug-use assessments and a comprehensive evaluation of the current national drug policies are warranted to curtail this problem.