%0 Journal Article
%T Pharmacists¡¯ Knowledge Regarding Drug Disposal in Karbala
%A Khansaa A. Ibrahim Albaroodi
%J Archive of "Pharmacy: Journal of Pharmacy Education and Practice".
%D 2019
%R 10.3390/pharmacy7020057
%X Background: Consumers and caregivers should remove expired, or unwanted, medications to minimize the chance for misuse or accidentally using those medicines. This study investigated pharmacists¡¯ knowledge regarding drug disposal in Karbala, Iraq. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey among pharmacists in Karbala. It was performed from December 2018 until January 2019. A standardized, 12-item, self-administered questionnaire was designed, developed and validated to assess pharmacists¡¯ knowledge when generating pharmaceutical waste in pharmacies. Results: One hundred twenty-nine participants enrolled in the study. The mean age of participants was 33 ¡À 9.3 years¡ªmore than two-thirds (65.9%)¡ªagreed that the return of medications to the source would be appropriate drug disposal. A good proportion of participants agreed with disposing of drugs in the trash. Further, 63.6% believe that education is the main barrier opposing the implementation of a medicine¨Ctake¨Cback program in Iraq. Conclusion: Pharmacists had relatively poor knowledge regarding drug disposal methods. Health care providers (not only pharmacists) need educational courses and workshops to improve their knowledge regarding medication disposal in Iraq
%K drug disposal
%K pharmacist knowledge
%K take back program
%U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6630420/