Knowledge and awareness of disposal of unused and expired medications among medical undergraduates of a tertiary care teaching hospital at B G Nagar: A cross-sectional observational study

Padmanabha Thiruganahalli Shivaraju; Manu Gangadhar

doi:10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0727006072017

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Original Research
Online Published: 13 Aug 2017

Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2017; 7(11): 1268-1273

doi: 10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0727006072017

Knowledge and awareness of disposal of unused and expired medications among medical undergraduates of a tertiary care teaching hospital at B G Nagar: A cross-sectional observational study

Padmanabha Thiruganahalli Shivaraju, Manu Gangadhar.

Cited By:24

Abstract
Background: Majority of the consumers remain unaware about the disposal of unused or expired medicines. The misuse and improper disposal of medications are a major safety and environmental concern, and therefore the proper disposal of these medications is critically important.

Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to know the behavior of individuals disposal practices of unused and expired medicines among the medical undergraduate in B G Nagar.

Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional questionnaire based study done on 2nd year medical students of Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, B G Nagar. Returned questionnaires were double-checked for accuracy. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and Microsoft excel was used for statistical analysis.

Results: Total of 128 valid questionnaires were returned with 38.28% male and 61.72% female student participation. About half of the respondents (50%) stored more than 5 medicines followed by 46.88% stored 1-5 medications at home. Majority of them disposed unused/expired drugs in municipality garbage. Majority of respondents held government responsible for creation of awareness for proper medicine disposal. 71.43% felt that drug leftover at home was in tablet form. 74.22% of them were aware of the environmental damage due to unscientific way of drug disposal methods.

Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the awareness of proper and safe drug disposal among the medical students is quite fair. To make it more effective, the concerned authorities need to implement educational programs regularly.

Key words: Unused Medicine; Drug Disposal; Expired Drugs; Medical Undergraduates

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Pubmed Style

Shivaraju PT, Gangadhar M. Knowledge and awareness of disposal of unused and expired medications among medical undergraduates of a tertiary care teaching hospital at B G Nagar: A cross-sectional observational study. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2017; 7(11): 1268-1273. doi:10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0727006072017

Web Style

Shivaraju PT, Gangadhar M. Knowledge and awareness of disposal of unused and expired medications among medical undergraduates of a tertiary care teaching hospital at B G Nagar: A cross-sectional observational study. https://www.njppp.com/?mno=273042 [Access: June 27, 2026]. doi:10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0727006072017

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Shivaraju PT, Gangadhar M. Knowledge and awareness of disposal of unused and expired medications among medical undergraduates of a tertiary care teaching hospital at B G Nagar: A cross-sectional observational study. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2017; 7(11): 1268-1273. doi:10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0727006072017

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Shivaraju PT, Gangadhar M. Knowledge and awareness of disposal of unused and expired medications among medical undergraduates of a tertiary care teaching hospital at B G Nagar: A cross-sectional observational study. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. (2017), [cited June 27, 2026]; 7(11): 1268-1273. doi:10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0727006072017

Harvard Style

Shivaraju, P. T. & Gangadhar, . M. (2017) Knowledge and awareness of disposal of unused and expired medications among medical undergraduates of a tertiary care teaching hospital at B G Nagar: A cross-sectional observational study. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol, 7 (11), 1268-1273. doi:10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0727006072017

Turabian Style

Shivaraju, Padmanabha Thiruganahalli, and Manu Gangadhar. 2017. Knowledge and awareness of disposal of unused and expired medications among medical undergraduates of a tertiary care teaching hospital at B G Nagar: A cross-sectional observational study. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 7 (11), 1268-1273. doi:10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0727006072017

Chicago Style

Shivaraju, Padmanabha Thiruganahalli, and Manu Gangadhar. "Knowledge and awareness of disposal of unused and expired medications among medical undergraduates of a tertiary care teaching hospital at B G Nagar: A cross-sectional observational study." National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 7 (2017), 1268-1273. doi:10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0727006072017

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Shivaraju, Padmanabha Thiruganahalli, and Manu Gangadhar. "Knowledge and awareness of disposal of unused and expired medications among medical undergraduates of a tertiary care teaching hospital at B G Nagar: A cross-sectional observational study." National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 7.11 (2017), 1268-1273. Print. doi:10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0727006072017

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Shivaraju, P. T. & Gangadhar, . M. (2017) Knowledge and awareness of disposal of unused and expired medications among medical undergraduates of a tertiary care teaching hospital at B G Nagar: A cross-sectional observational study. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 7 (11), 1268-1273. doi:10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0727006072017

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