Knowledge and practices on the storage and disposal of expired medicines among patients at a public hospital in South Africa

Abstract

The incorrect storage and disposal of medicines is a public health concern, as storage of medicines under undesirable conditions reduces their shelf life while improper disposal may lead to accidental poisoning. With the proliferation of pharmaceuticals and the inherent risks associated with improper handling of expired medications, understanding patient behaviors and awareness is critical for enhancing healthcare outcomes and minimizing environmental hazards.Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the knowledge and practices of outpatients collecting medications at Mamelodi Hospital in South Africa. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 370 participants using self-administered questionnaire. Regarding storage of medicine, about a third of the participants thought it was okay to store drugs at home for later use, and 18% thought unlocked cupboards were fine for storing drugs. Most participants recognised how to store drugs properly and believed that improper storage can harm people and the environment. With regards to disposal of medicine, significant no of participants indicated that medicines can be disposed of in a similar way that other household wastes are disposed e.g. in the trash bin or municipal waste tins (42%), flushing medicines in the toilet cannot result to harm to other people (68%), and disposing of medicines in the rubbish bin cannot result in harm to other people (46%). Most participants had medicines at home, and still used them. A shocking 39.2% were not informed on how to preserve dispensary drugs. Men were almost twice likely to throw medicine into the dustbin than their female counterparts, and the older group displayed better medicine disposal practices when compared to the younger group (p<0.05). The study emphasises the need for patient-specific education and governmental actions to promote correct storage and disposal. Healthcare systems can reduce expired pharmaceutical hazards and improve patient care and environmental stewardship by addressing these knowledge gaps and encouraging appropriate medication management.