ArticleInternational journal of clinical pharmacy2016
A cross-sectional survey of the Maltese general public on medication wastage.
Article in International journal of clinical pharmacy, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline 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
- Disposal of unnecessary and expired medicines in households: Practices and factors associated with proper medicine disposal using the extended Theory of Planned Behavior.Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy · 2026Article
- Global patterns and determinants of household medicine storage and disposal: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice · 2026Review
- Medication waste and disposal behaviors among Iranian households: A Cross-sectional study.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Medication Disposal Practices, Awareness, and Medication Adherence Among Patients with Chronic Conditions: Implications for Public Health.Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare · 2025Article
- Patients' knowledge, attitude, and practices toward unused medications in Qatar: A cross-sectional survey.Heliyon · 2024Article
- Lack of Awareness of the Impact of Improperly Disposed Of Medications and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Indonesian Households.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2021Article
- Adherence to oral anticancer chemotherapies and estimation of the economic burden associated with unused medicines.International journal of clinical pharmacy · 2020Article
- Analysis of Disposed Unused Medications at a Village Community Pharmacy.Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland) · 2019Article
- Medication and Medication Wastage: Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of an Educational Intervention Among School Children.Global pediatric health · 2019Article
- Disposal practices of unused and expired pharmaceuticals among general public in Kabul.BMC public health · 2017Article
- A focus group based study of the perspectives of the Maltese population and healthcare professionals on medication wastage.International journal of clinical pharmacy · 2016Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMedication wastage is a global issue, with key public health implications in terms of safety, the environment and the economy. A recently conducted systematic review of the published literature identified a lack of focus on the views of healthcare professionals and the general public.
objectiveTo explore awareness, attitudes and behaviours relating to medication wastage amongst the general public in Malta.
settingMalta.
methodSurvey methodology employing a pre-piloted questionnaire was developed from theoretical frameworks of behaviour. Questionnaire items comprised open, closed and 5-point Likert scales. Medication adherence as a possible factor associated with wastage was measured using the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. Random sample of 1920 was obtained from the Maltese electoral register 2013. Ethical approval was obtained.
main outcome measuresAwareness, attitudes and behaviours relating to medication wastage amongst the general public in Malta.
resultsResponse rate was 20.4 %. The majority (70.6 %) agreed that they were fully aware of the issue of wastage and 71.9 % disagreed that they had no interest in wastage. The following were significantly related to increased awareness of wastage: older age (p = 0.003), pensioners (p = 0.011), on regular medication (p = 0.021) and obtaining free medication (p = 0.026). Lack of interest in wastage was significantly related to obtaining free medication by government (p = 0.022), with those purchasing medication being significantly more interested (p = 0.028). While 75.1 % of respondents on regular medication self-reported not being fully adherent, there were no associations with awareness (p = 0.100) and interest in wastage (p = 0.385). Unemployed were more likely to report contribution towards wastage (p = 0.010) and the presence of a healthcare professional as family member was significantly related to confidence in ability to reduce wastage (p = 0.009). 46.2 % claimed to have unused medication at home and improvement in patient's medical condition was the main reason for this.
conclusionMore effort is warranted to raise awareness of the public as an initial step in promoting behavioural change in relation to medication wastage.
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Registered trials
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