Disposal practices for unused and expired medications: pilot data from three cities in three countries

Abstract: Objective: To collect pilot data on medication disposal practices of unused and expired medications from three cities in three countries. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Pittsburgh, United States (US); Turin, Italy; and Kobe, Japan. A convenience sampling was utilized through drug take-back programs in Pittsburgh, US; pharmacy customers in Turin, Italy; and pharmacy students and family members in Kobe, Japan. Descriptive analysis was conducted to assess medications disposal practices including attitudes and beliefs of respondents.Results: The sample included 342 respondents [99 (Pittsburgh, US); 168 (Turin, Italy); and 75 (Kobe, Japan)]. The mean unused and expired medications per patient for Pittsburgh, US was (1.60±2.30 and 0.51±1.54); Turin, Italy (1.69±1.86 and 0.49±1.22) and Kobe, Japan (6.69±8.78 and 0.84±2.26). The major reason for unused medications in Pittsburgh, US (31.3%) was "Medication was as needed"; in Turin, Italy (28.0%) "No longer suffer fr...

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Disposal practices for unused and expired medications: pilot data from three cities in three countries ; volume:16 ; day:07 ; month:03 ; year:2022 ; GMS health innovation and technologies ; 16 (07.03.2022)

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Medizin, Gesundheit

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Kamal, Kahild M ; Chiumente, Marco ; Nakagawa, Sari ; Giannetti, Vincent ; Marlin, Taylor

Further information

• DOI: 10.3205/hta000133
• URN: urn:nbn:de:0183-hta0001339
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:29 AM CEST