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Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and ResearchNOW IN
Article

Knowledge and Practices Related to Unused Medications in Households in Serbia

Zorica Terzic-Supic1, Dragica Bukumiric2, Milena Santric-Milicevic1, Aleksandar Corac3, Milica Paut Kusturica4, Momcilo Mirkovic3, Zoran Bukumiric5, Jovana Todorovic1★, Biljana Ristic5, Goran Trajkovic5★ Corresponding author

  1. 1Institute of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 15, Belgrade, SERBIA.
  2. 2Department of Planning, Analysing and Statistics, Primary health care centre, Miloša Obrenovica 2-4, 26000, Pancevo, SERBIA.
  3. 3Department for Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pristina – Kosovska Mitrovica, Anri Dinan bb, 38220 Kosovska.
  4. 4Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Hajduk Veljkova 3, 21000 Novi Sad.
  5. 5Institute of Medical Statistics and Informatics, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 15, 11000 Belgrade, SERBIA.

CORRESPONDENCE

Jovana Todorovic

Institute of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 15, Belgrade, SERBIA.

jovana.todorovic@mfub.bg.ac.rs

Received: 24-10-2018; Revised: 23-11-2018; Accepted: 18-01-2019.

Volume 53, Issue 2 · pp. 334–342 · PUBLISHED 2019 · DOI: 10.5530/ijper.53.2.43

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ABSTRACT

Background: The objective of this study was to examine the knowledge and practices regarding expired medications and to identify their potential predictors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, between August and November of 2014 in Regional Community Primary Health Care centre in Serbia on 609 patients. The research instrument was the questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied. Results: The lack of knowledge about the treatment of expired medications had 67.5% respondents, while 87.3% of the respondents had inappropriate practice. In the model of multivariate logistic regression with lack of knowledge as dependent variable, statistically significant predictors were: unemployment (OR=2.21; 95%CI: 1.35-3.59), lower economic status (OR=1.67; 95% CI: 1.01-2.58), unread instructions for use (OR=3.26; 95% CI: 1.51-7.02), unchecked medications’ expiration date (OR=3.30; 95% CI: 1.22-8.92). In the second model of multivariate logistic regression with inappropriate practice as dependant variable, statistically significant predictors were: the lower education level (OR=1.75; 95% CI: 1.09-2.80), unemployment (OR=2.66; 95% CI: 1.17-6.05), families with members incapable of taking care of their medicines independently (OR=0.27; 95% CI: 0.12-0.61) and lack of knowledge (OR=4.09; 95% CI: 2.31-7.23). Conclusion: Our study shows that there is a need for stronger control of the implementation of legally defined procedures for disposal of medications, as well as a proactive education of population about proper disposal of medications.

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    Terzic-Supic, Z., Bukumiric, D., Santric-Milicevic, M., Corac, A., Kusturica, M. P., Mirkovic, M., Bukumiric, Z., Todorovic, J., Ristic, B., & Trajkovic, G. (2019). Knowledge and Practices Related to Unused Medications in Households in Serbia. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, 53(2), 334–342. https://doi.org/10.5530/ijper.53.2.43