Disposal practices of unused and expired medications among healthcare practitioners in Ibadan, Nigeria: results from a cross-sectional survey

Abstract

The improper disposal of unused and expired medications (UEMs) poses significant public health and environmental risks. Healthcare practitioners are pivotal in promoting safe disposal practices, yet their behaviours and educational roles remain underexplored. This study assessed UEM disposal practices among healthcare practitioners in Ibadan, Nigeria, and their engagement in patient education on safe disposal methods. A cross-sectional survey using validated questionnaire was conducted from September 2023 to February 2024 among 255 healthcare practitioners (65 physicians, 64 hospital pharmacists, and 126 community pharmacists) in Ibadan, Nigeria. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 26.0, with associations tested via Pearson’s Chi-square (p < 0.05). Most practitioners reported possessing UEMs at home (81.5% physicians, 84.4% hospital pharmacists, 73.8% community pharmacists). Improper disposal was prevalent, with 92.3% of physicians, 76.6% of hospital pharmacists, and 78.6% of community pharmacists discarding UEMs in household waste. Years of experience significantly influenced positive disposal perceptions (χ² = 14.00, p = 0.003), with 87.5% of practitioners with over 30 years of experience exhibiting good perceptions compared to 45.5% with 0–10 years. Patient inquiries about disposal were rare (78.0% physicians, 71.8% hospital pharmacists, 69.8% community pharmacists reported “rarely” or “never”), and only 58.7% of community pharmacists had ever educated patients on disposal. Community pharmacists showed the strongest support for a medication retrieval strategy (96.0%), followed by hospital pharmacists (93.8%) and physicians (86.1%). Despite awareness of proper UEM disposal, healthcare practitioners frequently use improper methods, such as household waste disposal, and rarely educate patients. Policy interventions, including standardized disposal protocols and mandatory training, are essential to bridge this gap and enhance safe disposal practices.