Increasing Awareness of Proper Disposal of Unused and Expired Medication Using a Knowledge‐Based Disposal Management System

Abstract

Medicines are used daily in Saudi Arabian homes. However, when these medicines are no longer needed, most people dispose of them incorrectly, forgetting the harmful impact of improper disposal. Inadequate awareness and knowledge are major reasons for improper disposal. In this study, we create a broad inclusive knowledge base that includes many types of medications available in Saudi homes and provides guidance on how to dispose of them as a means of raising awareness on correct disposal methods and preventing harmful impacts on both the environment and society. The study primarily aims to understand societal behaviour regarding the disposal of unused and expired medications and develop a prototype of a knowledge-based system that helps raise awareness of correct disposal methods for unused and expired medications. The data in the knowledge base are presented in tables that are easy to understand and comprehend, and the recommendations are also easy to apply and practice in everyday life. The results from the survey show that 66.8% of the 310 participants had unneeded medications in their homes, and only 14.9% knew how to dispose of unusable medications, while only 6.5% knew how to dispose of expired medications. Overall, the research studied Saudi society’s behaviour regarding unused and expired medications, and we created a prototype of a knowledge-based system designed to increase awareness of proper disposal and management of unused and expired medications.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding the disposal of expired and unused medications among the Lebanese population

“…Our results highlighted poor knowledge of the general population of medication disposal (only 24.5% had good knowledge according to our score calculations). Most participants admitted having a lack of adequate information and clear instructions regarding the best disposal method, similar to previous findings in several other countries, such as Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Malta, and Ireland [ 12 , 22 , 41 ].…”

“…Educational campaigns offered by different parties, including media, schools, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals, can raise awareness about the environmental problems stemming from pharmaceutical residues and the proper measures and disposal standards to reduce medication waste. [ 12 , 49 , 50 ]…”

“…A Saudi Arabian study found that 48.1% of participants discarded expired medications in household garbage [ 11 ]. In 2022, only 6.5% of Saudis had proper knowledge of expired medication disposal [ 12 ]. Other studies from around the world, including developed countries with guidelines and regulations, have revealed that disposal via the solid waste garbage stream, sink, and toilet is common practice [ 13 – 22 ].…”

Reverse Logistics: an approach to raising awareness of the risks caused by the incorrect disposal of expired drugs

“…Inadequate awareness and knowledge are the main reasons for the improper disposal of medicines (Alshehri & Banjar, 2022). Thus, there should be a joint effort of authorities, consumers, and the population and increased awareness of environmental contaminants to avoid pollution and achieve a sustainable environment and society (Freitas & Radis-Baptista, 2021).…”

“…This can be done by identifying the level of public awareness of the environmental and health effects of the inadequate disposal of medicines (Rogowska et al, 2019). For Campanher (2016), Most consumers dispose of medicines inappropriately, as they do not know how to dispose of them correctly, and there is a need for environmental education (Alshehri & Banjar, 2022). Althagafi et al (2022) found that only a small proportion of consumers received education regarding the correct disposal of medicines.…”