Document Detail


Reasons why medicines are returned to Swedish pharmacies unused.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17221141     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To identify the reasons and their relative importance why medicines are returned to Swedish pharmacies unused. SETTING: A random sample of the pharmacies in Sweden. METHOD: Interviews using a semi-structured interview form with pharmacy customers returning unused medicines to the pharmacy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Reasons given by patients/relatives/carers for returning unused medicines to the pharmacy. RESULTS: The four main reasons for returning unused medicines to the pharmacy were: (1) the medicines were too old, (2) the user had died, (3) there was no need for the medicine anymore, and (4) therapy changes. These reasons made up 75% of all reported reasons. CONCLUSION: Hoarding or over-supply of prescribed medicines may explain a large part of the volume of medicines that remain unused. Actions aiming to reduce waste of prescribed medicines ought to focus on those patients who contribute to a substantial part of all unused medicines.
Authors:
Anders B E Ekedahl
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2007-01-13
Journal Detail:
Title:  Pharmacy world & science : PWS     Volume:  28     ISSN:  0928-1231     ISO Abbreviation:  Pharm World Sci     Publication Date:  2006 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2007-01-31     Completed Date:  2007-04-03     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9307352     Medline TA:  Pharm World Sci     Country:  Netherlands    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  352-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
R&D Department, The National Corporation of Swedish Pharmacies, Medical Research Centre (MRC) Ing 59, University Hospital MAS, SE-205 02, Malmö, Sweden. anders.ekedahl@med.lu.se
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Child
Child, Preschool
Community Pharmacy Services
Death
Drug Costs
Drug Stability*
Drug Utilization / statistics & numerical data*
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Medical Waste Disposal*
Middle Aged
Motivation
Pharmaceutical Preparations / supply & distribution*
Sweden
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Medical Waste Disposal; 0/Pharmaceutical Preparations

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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