E-DRUG: Study about Medication Return Program, MOH, Malaysia
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Dear all,
Greetings from Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Community Medicine.
There is an interesting full research article from Clinical Research
Centre, Hospital Queen Elizabeth II, Sabah, MALAYSIA, on medication
return program (MRP) by MOH and disposal practice among patients visited
by community pharmacy. This study focuses on the use of unnecessary
medications in hospice patients, using standards of practice in
palliative care.
Published in Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Community Medicine on
'Utilization of Ministry of Health Medication Return Program,
Knowledge and Disposal Practice of Unused Medication in Malaysia'
which might be of interest to some of you.
Abstract:
Objective:
(1) To report the awareness on MRP and its utilization rate.
(2) To assess environment awareness with regards to improper disposal.
(3) To explore practices toward unused medication.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted in 33 out-patient pharmacies in
Sabah healthcare facilities. Quota sampling was used to recruit 244
subjects. Data collector from each facility was identified and trained
prior to data collection. Self-reporting questionnaire captured data
of socio-demographic, awareness on MRP and patient's knowledge and
practice towards unused medication.
Independent t-test and chi square test were performed to detect differences and association.
Result:
Subject mean (SD) age was 45.1(15.5) years and almost two-third (60%)
of the subjects were female. Majority (73%, 95%CI 67- 78%) knew that
inappropriate disposal of medication will cause environmental hazard.
Only 54% (95% CI 47-60%) had heard of MRP, 26% (95%CI 21-32%) had
utilized MRP to return unused medication.
Subject's awareness on environmental hazard and MRP were associated with their practice to return unused medication (p=0.001 and p<0.001 respectively).
Mean years of education and median family income were significantly
different between the aware and unaware group respectively [11.3(6.0)
vs 8.9(4.5) yrs, p=0.003; RM2000 vs RM1260, p<0.001]. The most common
unused medication were analgesics (27.1%), antihypertensive (24.4%),
antiglycemic (14.7%) and supplements (12%).
The two predominant methods to 'dispose' unused medication at home were through garbage (47.8%) and return to healthcare facilities (30.0%).
Conclusion:
This study has established the evidence for public awareness on MRP,
environment awareness and disposal practice of Malaysian citizen.
Creative and innovative recommendations have been made for MRP
promotion and to improve public knowledge on safety disposal of unused
medication.
Please see the link to the full paper: http://www.jppcm.org/article/153
Yang SL, Tan SL, Goh QL, Liau SY. Utilization of Ministry of Health
Medication Return Program, Knowledge and Disposal Practice of Unused
Medication in Malaysia. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Community
Medicine. 2018;4(1):7-11. doi:10.5530/jppcm.2018.1.3
Thanks,
Regards,
Founding Editor and Editor-in-Chief
Akram Ahmad
Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Community Medicine (www.jppcm.org)
Akram Ahmad <akrampharma67@gmail.com>