PROBLEMS OF MEDICINES STORAGE IN HOME FIRST AID KITS OF GERIATRIC PATIENTS

Abstract

The polymorbidity of geriatric patients and the associated polypharmacy necessitate “first-aid kits”, which raises the problem of uncontrolled storage of medicines. Aim: to analyze the home kits of elderly patients in terms of composition and storage. Methods. The author’s questionnaire containing 11 questions was compiled. A survey was conducted on 106 patients older than 65 years; the questionnaire was filled by respondents with a help of researchers during personal visit with an examination of “first-aid kits”. Results. First-aid kits contained on average 16 types of drugs; Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs prevailed (76.50%) in solid dosage forms, mainly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics and antispasmodics, antihypertensive drugs, etc. Elderly patients most often used home medicine kits in responsible self-medication with high blood pressure, headache, and cardiac disorders, joint pain, digestive disorders. Expired medicines found in 30.2% of respondents accounted for 7.20% of the total number of medicines in first-aid kits, of which 83.44% were OTC drugs and 16.56% were prescription drugs. 58.57% of disposable syringes were expired. Violation of storage conditions was found in first-aid kits in 32.08% of respondents in 4.82% of drugs, of which 78.87% in non- prescription drugs. Conclusion. Violations of the shelf life and storage conditions of medicines and syringes in home first-aid kits were revealed. It is necessary to improve the skills of pharmacy employees in relation to pharmaceutical counseling of geriatric patients to ensure proper practice of storing and disposing of medicines. It is recommended to reduce the number of tablets and capsules of OTC drugs in the package. It is advisable to apply warning labels on the packaging of disposable syringes «before use, check the integrity of the package» and «after the expiration date, use is not allowed». Increasing the knowledge of geriatric patients about the proper practice of storing home first aid kits will help to improve the effectiveness and safety of pharmacotherapy.