An exploratory study on medications in Qatar homes.
An exploratory study on medications in Qatar homes.
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DOI：
10.2147/dhps.s25372
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发表时间：
2011
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Yousif A
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Kheir N;Hajj ME;Wilbur K;Kaissi R;Yousif A
药物治疗是治疗和预防疾病最常用的干预措施。然而，如果使用不当，药物可能弊大于利。药品储存和处置不当会对公共安全、环境和医疗保健服务产生直接影响。这项研究的目的是描述储存在卡塔尔家庭的药物，并探讨其储存和处置方法，并确定公众的信息来源有关的药物。为进行这一跨部门探索性研究，采用系统抽样方法，从卡塔尔电话簿中编制了一份电话号码清单。同意参加的个人进行了采访，使用多部分预先测试的调查工具。共收集了49个家庭的数据。大多数受访者没有专门用于存放药物的指定隔间或盒子。大多数毒品（48%）被放在卧室里，一些受访者把毒品放在冰箱和厨房里。最常储存的药物类别是止痛药、抗组胺药、营养补充剂和用于呼吸系统的药物。大多数被调查者把不需要的药品扔进垃圾桶。在大约15%的情况下，服用的药物剂量与标签上的说明不同。共用处方药的情况并不少见。大多数受访者向医生寻求与药物有关的信息。这些发现引起了人们对药物在社区中如何储存和处置的关注。没有一个家庭定期将不需要的药物送回药房进行适当处理，这一事实使环境处于危险之中。有必要提高社会对在家安全处理和储存药物以及药剂师的专业作用的认识。
Drug therapy is the most often used intervention for treatment and prevention of disease. However, if used inappropriately, drugs can cause more harm than good. Improper drug storage and disposal can have a direct impact on public safety, the environment, and the health care services. The purpose of this study was to characterize medications stored in Qatar homes and to explore their methods of storage and disposal, and to identify the public’s source of information related to medicines. For the purpose of this cross-sectional exploratory study, a list of telephone numbers was generated from Qatar’s telephone directory using a systematic sampling method. Individuals consenting to participate were interviewed using a multipart pretested survey instrument. Data were collected from a total of 49 homes. Most respondents did not have a designated compartment or box specifically for storing medications. The majority of drugs (48%) were kept in bedrooms and a number of respondents were keeping their drugs in the fridge and in the kitchen. The most often stored classes of medicines were analgesics, antihistamines, nutritional supplements, and medications used for the respiratory system. Most respondents disposed of unwanted medicines by throwing them in the trash. In about 15% of cases, the dosage of drug taken was different from the instructions on the label. Sharing of prescription medicines was not uncommon. The majority of respondents sought information related to drugs from doctors. These findings raise concerns about how medications are stored and disposed of in the community. The fact that no household routinely returned unwanted medications to a pharmacy for proper disposal places the environment at risk. There is a need for more societal awareness about the safe handling and storage of drugs in the home, and about the professional role of the pharmacist.