Farmakološki aspekti upotrebe lekova u domaćinstvima na teritoriji opštine Novi Sad

Abstract

Studies researching drugs in households are relatively rare, both internationally and in Serbia, even though giving insight into the habits of the population in terms of selfmedication, compliance and proper storage and disposal of drugs. This kind of research can also give insight into the financial burden of expired drugs. The aims of this study were to: I) Analyze the volume and structure of drugs in households (Rp /OTC); 2) Determine whether the drugs are in accordance with the health needs of household members or drugs that can be used in self-medication; 3) Analyze the content of antibiotics in the household and the reasons for their presence in households; 4) Assess the pharmacoeconomic consequences of keeping drugs in households; 5) Assess the way of storing and disposing of drugs in terms of safety and environmental impact. The study was prospective, comparative and randomized. Data were collected from households in the municipality of Novi Sad in the period of 8 months (December 201 I-July 2012). In order to obtain a sample of 383 households, which was calculated on the basis of a pilot study conducted in the municipality of Novi Sad in 20 I 0, 1008 households were contacted (response rate 38.0 percents). The survey consisted of four parts. The first part of the survey was collecting data when the researcher conducted a review and analysis of all drugs in the household and the respondents completed the questionnaire. In the second part drugs were classified according to the A TC classification and then analyzed wheater they were OTC or POM and wheater they were obtained on prescription or bought without prescription. Households with and without children younger than 12 and elderly households were analyzed separately. The third part of the research is the financial analysis of the existing drugs in the households. The fourth part of the research involves the processing of data from the questionnaires, and refers to the analysis of the storage and disposal of medicines in the households. The average number of drug packages per household was 11.5 ± 5.8. The highest percentage of prescription only medications was in elderly households, while the highest percentage of OTC drugs was in households with children. The most common groups of drugs were: analgesics, anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic products and systemic antiinfectives. In households with and without children, the most common prescription only medications were anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory products and antibiotics for systemic use, while in elderly households the most common drugs were agents acting on the renin-angiotensin system and psycholeptics. The most common OTC drugs in all three types of households were analgesics. More than half of the drugs in the household were purchased on patients' own initiative. The highest percentage of drugs purchased without prescription was in households with children, while the lowest percentage was in elderly households. The most common purchased groups of GTC medicines were analgesics and nasal preparations, while the most often bought prescription only medications were antirheumatic and anti-inflammatory products and systemic antibiotics. The average cost of expired drugs per household was 271.3 dinars and these drugs were mostly paid by the patient. The medications were mostly maintained in a specific place, while in about a third of households with children, drugs were kept within their reach. Although the majority of respondents considered throwing drugs in the garbage and toilet to have a detrimental effect on the environment, the highest percentage used this method. The amount, structure and content of drugs are in many households in accordance to the health needs of family members. Drugs used for self-medication are mainly OTC products, with the exception of POM in the group of antirheumatic products and antibiotics for systemic use. Drugs in households, especially with expired shelf life, mainly represent a financial burden on citizens. In many households medicines are kept in places accessible to young children. Most of the population usually throw drugs into the waste, which is not in accordance with the regulations.