PROSPECTIVE SURVEY STUDY ON ASSESSMENT AND EDUCATION OF HOME MEDICINE CABINET IN GENERAL POPULATION OF COMMUNITY

Objective: To assess and educate about home medicine cabinet among randomly selected houses of people in community of Greater Noida city & to carry out the survey of medicines proper storage, safe use, list of total and expired drugs, their disposal and maintenance of home medicine cabinets.

Method: This study was a simple randomised prospective survey study. This prospective study was carried out for a period of six months in selected areas of Greater Noida City. The study site was the homes sited in those areas by simple randomization.

Key findings: Randomly selected 102 houses were visited to educate and assess the people about Home Medicine Cabinet. A total of 392 people were surveyed in 92 houses with exception of 10 houses. During the period of the study, most of the expired drugs are in the category of analgesics and NSAID’s (23.93%) followed by nutritional supplements (22.56%), antibiotics (14.94%), expectorants and mucolytics (6.77%), bronchodilators (5.31%) and antacids (6.53%),Number of House members involved in self medication decreased from 72 houses (78.26%) to 25 houses (27.17%). Number of House members involved in self medication decreased from 72 houses (78.26%) to 25 houses (27.17%).  No. of people checking expiry dates increased from 58 (63.04%) to 84(91.30%). No. of expired medicines decreased from 297 (19.69%) to 72 (4.77%) and Cost of expired medicines decreased from 2034.39 (22.05%) to 545.7(4.98%) Which are statistically significant with P value<0.05.

Number of people made aware about the proper disposal methods for different categories of medicines increased from 58 houses (63.40%) to 79 houses (85.87%).

Conclusions: In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate the need for interventions in health education. This can promote rational use of medications, safe storage, and proper disposal of expired or unused medicines prevention of domestic accidents involving children by keeping medicines out of their reach. This study tried to cover these aspects by educating and which can be addressed by further intervention or education.