Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF SUDANESE COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS IN KHARTOUM STATE ON THE SAFE DISPOSAL OF LEVFTOVER MEDICATIONS

Kamal Addin Mohammad Ahmad Idris* and Rabab Abdo Mohammed Fadl Elmula

Abstract

Background: Leftover medications include unwanted, expired, unused, damaged, and contaminated substances from households and healthcare activities. Inappropriate disposal of leftover medication medications was recognized as a threat to environmental safety. Main study objective: Assessment of the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Sudanese Community Pharmacists in Khartoum State on the safe disposal of leftover medications. Materials and Methods: An open to answer, self-administered, pre-piloted questionnaire of (23) questions was used to address 320 community pharmacists from Khartoum State. Results: Majority of participants were young 74.1%, females 64.1%, majority 59.15% had in –job experience of 1-5 years. Majority 277(86.9%) of participants' premises generate leftover medications. Minority 139(43.4%) of participant dispose medication waste by handing to services provider. Majority didn't know about take-back programs of leftover medication, but majority 236(73.7%) asserted that they accept to have their premises as sites for it. Correlation between participants‟ acceptance and their in- job experience is significant (P=00.000). From an attitude perspective, majority 176(55%) of participants preferred to dispose their leftover medications by incineration. Correlation between *community pharmacists‟ in-job experience and *their opinion that their disposal methods might pose threat to humans, animals, aquatic life or environment proved significant (p=0.000). Conclusion and recommendations: participants‟ premises generate a substantial amount of leftover medications which have multiple sources. Studied community pharmacists share in the safe disposal of leftover medication is poor. Health authorities in Sudan should enact guidelines of the safe disposal of pharmaceutical waste strictly. Community Pharmacist play an active role in this concern.

Keywords: Sudanese, community, pharmacist, safe disposal, leftover, medications.