Awareness of the appropriate handling and disposal of unused medicines in Jordan: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to investigate public storage and disposal practices of unused medicine and their perception of the role of Jordanian authorities’ responsibility for disposing of unused medicines. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted over 3 weeks (February to March 2022). Data were collected online using a convenient sampling technique from 681 Jordanian population who agreed to participate. Key findings Around 73% (n = 495) of the participants reported storing unused medicines in the medicine cabinets at home, with 15.7% (n = 107) storing unused medicine in the kitchen and 15.3% (n = 104) in the bedroom. Findings showed that 28.0% (n = 191) disposed of unused medicines in the household rubbish, 22.6% (n = 154) shared them with anyone who needed them, or 19.8% (n = 135) with family and friends. Only a few participants return their unused medicine to the pharmacies 10% (n = 68), hospitals 6.3% (n = 43), and healthcare clinics 5.9% (n = 40). Conclusion The findings indicate that Jordanian participants have become more aware of proper practices for storing and disposing of unused medicines compared to the previous Jordan studies. However, factors influencing their behaviour regarding disposal practices of unused medicines are yet to be further studied. A Jordanian disposal scheme for unused medicines should be developed to help people return them to pharmacies, hospitals, and healthcare clinics.