Drug information resources at private community pharmacies in Kuwait

To investigate the drug information resources available in private community pharmacies in Kuwait. Pharmacists at a sample of 20 private community [retail] pharmacies completed a self-administered questionnaire of available information resources and perceived appropriate information resources to answer five drug information questions. All pharmacies had at least one reference book but they were outdated. The Middle East Medical Index was most commonly found and three pharmacies had internet access. Half of the respondents reported getting medicines information directly from the pharmaceutical companies, usually through pharmaceutical representatives. Most pharmacists could identify appropriate information resources for drug dosing and drug interactions but did not fare well for medicine identification and primary research evidence. The poor quality and outdated drug information resources in private community pharmacies will affect the quality of information provided to clients and prescribers and have an adverse effect on the role pharmacists can play in the health system in Kuwait

Practice and opinion towards disposal of unused medication in Kuwait

The aim of this study was to measure the attitude and practice of Kuwaiti patients in Kuwait with regard to safe disposal of unwanted medicines. Three-hundred patients or their family members waiting for prescriptions at public general hospitals in Kuwait completed a questionnaire soliciting their practice with regard to medication use and disposal, and their opinion of the best way to dispose of unwanted medicines. Almost half of the respondents [45.4%] obtained medicines on prescription more than 3 times a year and almost all had unwanted medicines in the home. Reasons for possessing unused medication were mostly due to a change of medication by the doctor [48.9%], or self-discontinuation [25.8%]. Their most common method of disposal was to throw unwanted medicines in the trash [76.5%] or flush them down the drain [11.2%]. Half [54.0%] thought that a system of taking medicines to pharmacies for safe disposal would be favorable. The study indicates that the need for an appropriate method for disposal of unwanted medication exists in Kuwait. Hence, guidelines on safe disposal of unwanted medicines are required and an organized method of collecting unused medication needs to be introduced