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Public habits and attitudes toward disposal of unused medications and views on advanced medication take-back programs in UAE: A cross sectional study

Nadia Al Mazrouei1, Nour Kousa2, Malak Mohammed Al Baldawi2, Aisha A. A. Alsaeed2, Rana Ibrahim1, Karem H. Alzoubi1,3, Mohamed H Ahmed4,5,6, Safaa Badi7★★ Corresponding author

  1. 1Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
  2. 2B. Pharm Graduate, University of Sharjah.
  3. 3Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates.
  4. 4Department of Medicine and HIV Metabolic Clinic, Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Eaglestone, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK.
  5. 5Department of Geriatric Medicine, Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Eaglestone, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK.
  6. 6Honorary Senior Lecturer of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Buckingham, UK.
  7. 7Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Omdurman Islamic University, Khartoum, Sudan.

CORRESPONDENCE

Safaa Badi

(PhD), Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Omdurman Islamic University, Khartoum, Sudan.

Safaabadi30@gmail.com

Received: 22-02-2025; Accepted: 08-05-2025.

Volume 23, Issue 4 · pp. 3303 · PUBLISHED Oct-Dec 2025 · DOI: 10.18549/PharmPract.2025.4.3303

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ABSTRACT

Objective: This study aimed to assess the general population’s habits and attitudes toward disposing of expired and unused medications and evaluate their awareness of advanced medication take-back programs using an application system in the UAE. Methods: Over three months, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample size of 411 participants from the seven emirates of the UAE. Data were collected via an online questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS (version 28.0). Results: Half of the participants were aged 18–24, and 58% were university graduates. A total of 78.4% reported having unused medications at home. While 69.6% were unaware of pharmacists’ roles in pharmaceutical waste disposal, only 25% had received advice from healthcare professionals. The most common disposal method was throwing medications in the garbage (74%), while only 5.9% returned them to pharmacies. Notably, 77.6% expressed willingness to participate in a mail-back program for expired and unused medications. Conclusion: Implementing an online mail-back program could enhance community awareness of proper medication disposal, reduce risks associated with improper practices, and improve pharmaceutical waste management in the UAE, contributing to a healthier environment.

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    Mazrouei, N. A., Kousa, N., Baldawi, M. M. A., Alsaeed, A. A. A., Ibrahim, R., Alzoubi, K. H., Ahmed, M. H., & Badi, S. (2025). Public habits and attitudes toward disposal of unused medications and views on advanced medication take-back programs in UAE: A cross sectional study. Pharmacy Practice, 23(4), 3303. https://doi.org/10.18549/PharmPract.2025.4.3303