Psychotropic medicine use without current or prior medical advice, storage at home and association with perceived stress in a primary health care setting in Greece / Uso de medicamentos psicotrópicos sin consejo médico actual o previo, almacenamiento en el hogar y asociación con estrés percibido en un entorno de atención primaria en Grecia

Objective: Psychotropic medicines use alters according to socio-economic factors and perceived stress. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of use of psychotropic medicines and supplements (PMS) without medical advice, including storage at home, and its relationship with socio-demographic characteristics and perceived stress in primary care patients. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional sample of adult attendees in an urban primary care unit in Crete, Greece, were surveyed during regularly scheduled appointments during a three-week period in October 2020. A questionnaire was distributed to investigate PMS use during the last 12 months. The validated Greek version of Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) was adopted to measure perceived stress. Results: Of 263 respondents (mean age 46.3±14.5 years; 66.5% females), 101 (38.4%; 95%CI 33.1–43.7%) recalled having psychotropic medicines stored at home cabinets and 72 (27.4%; 95%CI 22.4–32.3%) reported using PMS without medical advice in the last 12 months. Conclusions: This study revealed a high prevalence of PMS use without medical advice, including storage at home. People>59 years of age, experiencing irregular sleep and scoring high in PSS, displayed increased prevalence of storing PMS at home or using them without medical advice. The findings could potentially inform primary care providers to focus on patients most likely to be users of PMS without medical advice.(AU)

Objetivo: El uso de medicamentos psicotrópicos cambia según los factores socioeconómicos y el estrés percibido. El estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la prevalencia de uso de medicamentos y suplementos psicotrópicos (MSP) sin consejo médico, incluido el almacenamiento en el hogar y su relación con las características sociodemográficas y el estrés inferido en pacientes de atención primaria. Materiales y métodos: Se encuestó a una muestra transversal de asistentes adultos en una Unidad de Atención Primaria Urbana en Crete, Grecia, durante citas programadas regularmente durante un periodo de tres semanas en Octubre de 2020. Se distribuyó un cuestionario para investigar el uso de MSP durante los últimos 12 meses. Se adoptó la versión griega validada de la Escala de Estrés Percibido (Perceived Stress Scale 14, PSS-14) para medir el estrés percibido. Resultado: De 263 encuestados (edad media 46,3 ± 14,5 años; 66,5% mujeres), 101 (38,4%; IC 95%; 33,1-43,7%) recordaban tener medicamentos psicotrópicos almacenados en los armarios de sus casas y 72 (27,4%; IC 95%; 22,4-32,3%) informó haber usado MSP sin consejo médico en los últimos 12 meses. Conclusiones: Este estudio reveló una alta prevalencia de uso de MSP sin consejo médico, incluido el almacenamiento en el hogar. Las personas mayores de 59 años, que experimentaron sueño irregular y puntuaron alto en PSS, mostraron una mayor prevalencia de almacenar MSP en casa o usarlos sin consejo médico. Los hallazgos podrían informar potencialmente a los proveedores de atención primaria para que se centren en los pacientes con mayor probabilidad de usar MSP sin consejo médico.(AU)

Psychotropic medicine use without current or prior medical advice, storage at home and association with perceived stress in a primary health care setting in Greece.

OBJECTIVE: Psychotropic medicines use alters according to socio-economic factors and perceived stress. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of use of psychotropic medicines and supplements (PMS) without medical advice, including storage at home, and its relationship with socio-demographic characteristics and perceived stress in primary care patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional sample of adult attendees in an urban primary care unit in Crete, Greece, were surveyed during regularly scheduled appointments during a three-week period in October 2020. A questionnaire was distributed to investigate PMS use during the last 12 months. The validated Greek version of Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) was adopted to measure perceived stress. RESULTS: Of 263 respondents (mean age 46.3±14.5 years; 66.5% females), 101 (38.4%; 95%CI 33.1-43.7%) recalled having psychotropic medicines stored at home cabinets and 72 (27.4%; 95%CI 22.4-32.3%) reported using PMS without medical advice in the last 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed a high prevalence of PMS use without medical advice, including storage at home. People>59 years of age, experiencing irregular sleep and scoring high in PSS, displayed increased prevalence of storing PMS at home or using them without medical advice. The findings could potentially inform primary care providers to focus on patients most likely to be users of PMS without medical advice.

Medicamentos sobrantes y caducados en el hogar ¿su almacenaje y desecho representan un problema de salud pública? / Leftover and expired medicines in households: Is their storage and disposal a public health problem?

RESUMEN Los medicamentos sobrantes y caducados en el hogar deberían ser eliminados de una manera que garantice la seguridad de la población, y que tenga un impacto negativo mínimo en el medio ambiente. Desde esta perspectiva se desarrolló el presente estudio cuyo objetivo fue conocer las prácticas de desecho de medicamentos del botiquín familiar en estudiantes de medicina en Quito-Ecuador. Entre diciembre de 2018 y enero de 2019, se encuestaron 498 estudiantes de diferentes semestres, y se evidenció que hasta un 30,3% de estudiantes alguna vez desechó los medicamentos a través del inodoro, y un 7,2% reconoció que sacaba los medicamentos del empaque primario, para depositarlos en la basura común. Como objetivo secundario se analizaron los medicamentos caducados y sobrantes del botiquín familiar de los encuestados. Se encontró que los medicamentos más frecuentes fueron metformina, seguido por acetaminofén, espironolactona e ibuprofeno. El estudio muestra la necesidad de desarrollar estrategias multisectoriales para la implementación de políticas sobre el desecho doméstico, las cuales permitirán controlar, y en el mejor de los casos, disminuir el impacto negativo tanto ambiental como en salud pública.

ABSTRACT: Leftover and expired medicines in households must be disposed of in such a way as to ensure the population's safety, while generating the lowest possible negative impact on the environment. In this context, the aim of this study was to explore drug disposal practices related to home medicine cabinets among medical students in Quito, Ecuador. Between December 2018 and January 2019, 498 students from different semesters were surveyed. Data show that up to 30.3% of students had flushed their medicines down the toilet at least once, while 7.2% acknowledged that they had removed the medicines from their packaging to deposit them in a household garbage disposal. A secondary aim of the study was to analyze expired and leftover drugs in participants' medicine cabinets. Metformin was the most common medication found, followed by acetaminophen, spironolactone, and ibuprofen. This study shows the urgent need to develop multisectoral strategies for the implementation of policies on pharmaceutical domestic waste, which will make it possible to control and reduce the negative impact on both the environment and public health.

Estoque domiciliar de medicamentos de pessoas assistidas por uma equipe de profissionais da Estratégia de Saúde da Família / Medications stored at home by patients cared for by Family Health Strategy professionals / Almacenamiento medicamentos de los pacients atendidos por profesionales de atención primaria de la salud

O estoque domiciliar de medicamentos é uma prática comum a muitas famílias, mas pode representar um risco à saúde. Foi realizado um estudo transversal em 100 domicílios em uma área de abrangência da Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) em Blumenau, SC, entre fevereiro e março de 2012. Nos domicílios visitados, 91% tinham medicamentos, sendo encontrados 737 medicamentos (média de 7,6 por domicílio). O grupo terapêutico de medicamentos mais frequente foi o dos que atuam no sistema digestivo 148 (20,1%) e o medicamento mais encontrado foi o paracetamol (48,7%). Dentre os entrevistados, 29 (31,9%) relataram descartar medicamentos no lixo comum, 12 (13,2%) não observavam o aspecto físico antes de utilizar e 74 (81,3%) tiveram acesso a medicamentos em farmácias comunitárias e ESFs. Observou-se associação entre número de medicamentos e número de pessoas no domicílio (p<0,01) e com presença de doenças crônicas (p<0,05). Pessoas com mais escolaridade armazenam mais medicamentos (p<0,001). Contudo, pessoas com baixa escolaridade utilizam mais medicamentos prescritos por médicos (p<0,001).

Many families commonly store medications at home, a practice that may pose a health risk to these individuals. A cross-sectional study of 100 households in an area covered under the Family Health Strategy (FHS) was conducted in Blumenau, SC, between February and March 2012. Among the households visited, 91% had stored drugs; 737 different medications were found (with a mean of 7.6 medications per household). The most commonly stored drugs were the ones that act on the digestive system (148 drugs, or 20.1%), and the most commonly found medication was paracetamol (48.7%). Among the respondents, 29 (31.9%) reported often having disposed of medications in the trash; 12 (13.2%) did not particularly note the drug's appearance before ingesting it; and 74 (81.3%) had access to drugs in publicly funded (community) pharmacies and primary healthcare centers. The number of drugs was associated with the number of people in the household (p < 0.01) and the presence of chronic diseases (p < 0.05). People with higher levels of education stored more drugs (p < 0.001). However, people with lower levels of education used more drugs prescribed by doctors (p < 0.001).

El almacenamiento de los medicamentos en los hogares es una práctica común para muchas familias, pero puede representar un riesgo a la salud. Un estudio transversal se llevó a cabo en 100 hogares en un área de cobertura de la Estrategia de la Salud de la Familia (ESF) en Blumenau, SC, entre febrero y marzo del 2012. En el 91% de los hogares visitados había medicinas, donde fueron encontrados 737 medicamentos (promedio de 7,6 por hogar). Los medicamentos que actúan sobre el sistema digestivo fue el grupo terapéutico más frecuente 148 (20,1%) y la medicina más encontrada fue el Paracetamol (48,7%). Entre los encuestados, 29 (31,9 %) relataron que decartaan sus medicamentos en la basura comun, 12 (13,2 %) no observaban el aspecto físico antes del uso y 74 (81,3%) tuvieron acceso a los medicamentos en las farmacias comunitarias y en la ESF. Se observó una asociación entre el número de medicamentos y el número de personas en el hogar (p<0,01) y la presencia de enfermedades crónicas (p<0,05). Las personas con más educación almacenan más drogas (p<0,001). Sin embargo las personas con bajo nivel de estudios útilizan nás medicamentos prescritos por los médicos (p<0,001).