ArticlePharmacy world & science : PWS2009
Investigating unused medications in New Zealand.
Article in Pharmacy world & science : PWS, 2009. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Medicine storage, wastage, and associated determinants among urban households: a systematic review and meta-analysis of household surveys.BMC public health · 2021Pooled it
- A systematic review of the literature on 'medication wastage': an exploration of causative factors and effect of interventions.International journal of clinical pharmacy · 2014Pooled it
- UAE pharmacists' perceptions of the causes of unwanted or unused medications, their practices, and barriers to promoting safe medication disposal by the public.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Analysis of medicines returned to pharmacies for disposal and estimation of the cost due to medicine wasting.Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy · 2022Article
- Disposal practice and factors associated with unused medicines in Malaysia: a cross-sectional study.BMC public health · 2021Article
- Stocks of paracetamol products stored in urban New Zealand households: A cross-sectional study.PloS one · 2020Article
- The Prevalence of Unused Medications in Homes.Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland) · 2019Review
- Analysis of Disposed Unused Medications at a Village Community Pharmacy.Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland) · 2019Article
- Pharmacists' Activities to Reduce Medication Waste: An International Survey.Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland) · 2018Article
- Patient and medication factors associated with preventable medication waste and possibilities for redispensing.International journal of clinical pharmacy · 2018Article
- Redispensing of medicines unused by patients: a qualitative study among stakeholders.International journal of clinical pharmacy · 2017Article
- Medicines discarded in household garbage: analysis of a pharmaceutical waste sample in Vienna.Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice · 2014Article
- Medicines in Pharmacy Students' Residence and Self-medication Practices.Journal of young pharmacists : JYP · 2012Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveThe objectives of this study were to determine the reasons for returning medications unused and the types of unused medications returned based on therapeutic class.
settingThis study was conducted in a region of New Zealand covered by the Hutt Valley District Health Board. This region has approximately 51,000 households.
methodsA 'Disposal of Unwanted Medication Properly (DUMP)' campaign was conducted for a four week period in November 2007 in the Hutt Valley DHB region. A collection bag was delivered to every household for the collection and disposal of any unused medications. Participants were instructed to return the bags to a community pharmacy. Those returning medications were also asked to complete a questionnaire to determine why the medications were not used. A sample of the returned medications was identified and quantified and every completed questionnaire was analysed.
main outcome measuresThe main outcome measures included: types and quantities of medications returned, calculated costs of these medications and reasons for returns.
resultsOver the four week period, 1,605 bags were returned for disposal. A total of 329 bags (20%) containing a total of 1,253 items were fully analysed. Only 653 questionnaires were completed (41%) all of which were analysed. The most commonly reported reason for not using the medication was that it had passed the expiry date (26%), the second was treatment change (24%), followed by condition resolved (15%). 'Alimentary tract & metabolism' and 'respiratory systems & allergies' accounted for 21 and 20% of cost respectively.
conclusionsThis study found that main reasons identified for patients having unwanted medications were 'treatment changes' and 'expired'. Additionally respiratory medications contributed 20% of the costs associated with unused medications.
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