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 Aims: Cleaning products are used to achieve cleaner homes. However, they have been responsible for a considerable number of poisoning cases. The aims of this study were to investigate the storage and utilization patterns of cleaning products in the home, as well as the risk of adverse and toxic effects produced by them.
Methods: This study has been performed using a questionnaire that was developed by the Poison Control and Drug Information Center (PCDIC). The questionnaire was distributed randomly in northern Palestine. The questionnaire included questions regarding storage, utilization habits, and the adverse effects experienced by respondents upon handling the cleaning products.
Results: All respondents utilized and stored cleaning products in their homes. Chlorine bleach and acidic cleaning products were the most common. Respondents stored cleaning products at different places in their homes, but most of those storage places were suboptimal and were within the reach of children. The daily utilization rate of cleaning products was 1.6+/-0.8 with chlorine bleach being the most commonly used. Of the respondents, 27% reported experiencing a wide range of acute adverse and toxic effects resulting from cleaning product use and that exposure occurred mainly via inhalation. Caustic substances, bleach, and kerosene were the agents mainly involved in producing these adverse and toxic effects. About half of those who experienced adverse and toxic effects sought medical help, and 22% of them were children younger than 6 years of age. Finally, most respondents reported mixing and discarding cleaning product leftovers and their containers improperly.
Conclusion And Recommendations: Correct utilization and safer storage of cleaning products is encouraged. Several preventive strategies should be implemented in order to decrease the incidence of accidental harmful exposure that is due to cleaning agents. The role of the PCDIC is very important in the education, prevention, and management of cleaning product-induced adverse effects.

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.