Global patterns and determinants of household medicine storage and disposal: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background
Improper storage and disposal of unused and expired medicines at home have become a global challenge, creating significant hazards to public health and the environment. This systematic review aimed to explore the prevalence of proper storage and disposal of medicines and to examine factors influencing these proper behaviours.
Method
We searched PubMed, Scopus, Springer Link, Science Direct, and EBSCO for articles published between 1 January 1990, and 31 May 2023. Inclusion criteria included studies conducted about medicines in a household setting, articles written in the English language, and full text that could be retrieved. Exclusion criteria included pilot studies, editorials, or opinions. The QualSyst assessment tool was applied to evaluate the quality of the included studies. This systematic review was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The prevalence of proper storage and disposal, determinants of proper and improper storage, and proper disposal of medicines were elaborated using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
Results
The search found 822 articles and included 61 eligible studies from 27 countries. The overall prevalence of proper medicine storage was only 45%. The proper disposal rates were only 13% for unused medicines and 8% for expired medicines. Proper storage was positively associated with knowledge, education, storage counselling, presence of chronic illness, household size, and the number of children in the household; and negatively associated with age and male gender. Proper disposal was positively associated with awareness, peer influence, knowledge, education, and having family members who are incapable of independently managing their medicine.
Conclusion
Proper storage guidance should be included on a medicine label for every medicine dispensed by pharmacists. The take-back programmes campaign and public education related to proper disposal of medicine were recommended to save the environment and public health.

Keywords: Unused medicines, expired medicines, drug storage, drug disposal

รศ.ดร. ฐณัฎฐา กิตติโสภี – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tanattha Kittisopee. 2568 (2025). Global patterns and determinants of household medicine storage and disposal: a systematic review and meta-analysis . บทความ (Paper). วิทยาศาสตร์สุขภาพ|Health Science. เภสัชศาสตร์ (Pharmacy). เภสัชศาสตรบัณฑิต ภ.บ. (การบริบาลทางเภสัชกรรม) – Pharm.D. (Pharm.Care). หลักสูตรเภสัชศาสตรบัณฑิต สาขาวิชาการบริบาลทางเภสัชกรรม – Doctor of Pharmacy Program in Pharmaceutical Care. Bangkok: Siam University