We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Storage practice and wastage of pharmaceuticals in Chinese urban‐dwelling households: Description of urban‐dwelling households.
- Authors
Yang, Zhao; Han, Xiao; Yang, Chao; Zhao, Yue; Li, Chengyu; Zhu, Qiyun; Xue, Qingyuan; Zhang, Yaoguang; Li, Guohong; Jiang, Bin
- Abstract
At‐home storage of medications could pose a threat to public health and the environment if not handled appropriately. Excessive storage also creates health care and economic burdens. This study investigated storage practices, waste, and their determinants in China. Data were collected by pharmacy staff of urban‐dwelling households via online questionnaires. Descriptions at the household and medicine levels were conducted in Stata 16. Individual and family characteristics were associated with the presence of household medicine storage (84.6%, n = 5290), but storage location was poor. Expiration was the primary reason for discarding medicines. Respondents were inclined to buy medicines in pharmacies without prescription for storage purposes at out‐of‐pocket expenses, and 60.7% of medicines were purchased at out‐of‐pocket expenses, despite medical insurance coverage. Regarding wastage, 11.2% of medicines had expired and 38.2% were no longer needed. Purchasing for storage purposes was related to less waste due to expiration, while purchasing for treating acute diseases rather than chronic diseases was related to more waste, due to less for use. Accounting for 12.2% of all medications, antibiotics were associated with expiration and no further need for use. Source‐control measures targeting health facilities, pharmacies, and residents are needed under the combined efforts of all relevant departments.
- Subjects
WASTE management; ANTIBIOTICS; SOCIAL determinants of health; INSURANCE; HEALTH insurance reimbursement; RESEARCH funding; DRUG storage; QUESTIONNAIRES; FAMILIES; CHI-squared test; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; CITY dwellers; DRUGS; DATA analysis software; PSYCHOSOCIAL factors; MEDICAL care costs
- Publication
Public Health Nursing, 2025, Vol 42, Issue 1, p179
- ISSN
0737-1209
- Publication type
Academic Journal
- DOI
10.1111/phn.13401