A pilot study on rational drug use and drug usage habits

Purpose: Irrational drug use and unused drug waste are considerable problems in the modern world. In this study, the main aim was to assess the rational drug use habits and awareness of unused drug wastage among university associates.Materials & Method: The study began with an Unused Drug Gathering Campaign on the campus of Yeditepe University in Istanbul, Turkey. The participants in the campaign were asked to complete a questionnaire about drug use habits and awareness of unused drug waste. 65 participants out of a total of 107 people who were involved in the campaign agreed to complete the questionnaire. The survey questions were formulated based on a literature review, and a score system that measured rational drug use habits was also constructed in the light of the literature. Higher score meant more rational drug use. The results were compared to find any correlation or differences.Result and Conclusion: The mean rational drug use score was 7.14, a relatively high figure. There were no statistically significant differences between rational drug use and socio-demographic parameters. Behavioral patterns related to rational drug use and awareness of unused drug wastage among members of the faculty of pharmacy was generally different from that of other participants. Most of the irrational use problems may be able to be solved by appropriate education. To improve rational drug use, doctors and pharmacists should be competent to educate the public properly. Pharmacists are the most accessible health care professionals for the patient, and have an important role in enhancing rational drug use, and warning about the negative effects of unused drug waste. The need for public health education should be emphasized. Further studies should be conducted to assess the drug use habits of the public; in addition, health care professionals and particularly community pharmacists should encourage the public to correct any harmful drug use behavior.