Responsible management of medications for their rational use: the profile of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto-SP

Abstract

The proper disposal of expired medications and their rational use contribute to the relationship between sustainability and public health. The study was conducted at the School Pharmacy of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto – USP, and the data was collected over the course of one year using a questionnaire form, wich allowed for an understanding of the population’s disposal profile and sociodemographic characteristics, and in parallel, promote Health Education strategies. Of an exploratory and cross-sectional design, it can be seen a high rate of incorrect disposal (71,3%), a mostly female audience (75%), who despite the high level of education (64,7%) still need information about the correct disposal of medications. The data were analyzed using logistic regression, making it possible to associate variables and conclude that proper disposal significantly increases when there is information available (p-value 0.02), reinforcing the importance of Health Education measures.