Abstract

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TOWARDS THE SAFE DISPOSAL OF UNUSED MEDICATIONS IN SOUTH INDIA

Swaroop HS*, Ananya Chakraborty and Akash Virupakshaiah

ABSTRACT

Environmental contamination of medications is a serious threat that has attained attention in recent years. The most environmental unfriendly means of disposition of leftover medication are reported to be disposition of drugs into the sink, toilet, or into the dust bin. With this background, the present study was conducted to assess the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) of medical professionals towards the safe disposal of medication. Twenty-eight percent of the participants were aware of the fact that medications excreted by human appear in sewage system and are detectable in the ecosystem. All the participants agreed that the government should make strict policies regarding the drug disposal and 77% agreed that pharmaceutical companies should take back the expired drugs. Also, 65% respondents agreed that they dispose unused medication in the garbage, and 9% disposes unused medication in the toilet or sink. There is a strong requirement for increasing awareness about safe disposition of medications.

Keywords: Ecopharmacovigilance, disposal of medication, ecosystem.