Public Perceptions about Drug Utilization and Storage Patterns – A Cross-sectional Survey

Background: Medicines play a crucial role in curing various diseases. However, overuse, underuse, or misuse of medicines can result in ineffective treatment and adverse drug reactions. Often, such medicines are kept at home and used inappropriately. They may remain unused, expire, or be used for self-medication. This survey aims to explore public perceptions about drug utilization and storage patterns among adults. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults in Tamil Nadu. The survey used a pretested and validated questionnaire to analyze opinions on drug utilization and storage patterns. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. They were given the option to fill in the questionnaire either online or offline at their convenience. The collected data were then analyzed. Results: A study revealed that 51.1% of the participants preferred using home remedies when they fell sick. Furthermore, not many of them stored medicines in bulk quantity (52.5%) unless they were needed for long-term illnesses such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension. In terms of storing medicines, less than half (45.6%) of the participants only were aware of the proper storage method. Only 50% of participants checked the manufacturing and expiry dates of their medicines. Moreover, 82.6% of the participants disposed of their expired medicines in dustbins. Conclusion: This study concluded that the public lack awareness regarding the proper storage, utilization, and disposal of expired medication. Therefore, it is imperative to educate and sensitize the public regarding drug storage and utilization patterns to promote pharmacovigilance.