Conhecimento e prática acerca do descarte e destinação de medicamentos pelos discente da Faculdade Cidade de Coromandel

Abstract

Disposal of drugs, when done improperly, can impact the environment and human health. The manner considered correct for the destination of these materials is to return them to traders, distributors, manufacturers or importers, that is, through reverse logistics for their environmentally appropriate final destination. There are a lot of studies that show that in several countries, the main ways of disposing of expired or useless drugs are in toilets, sinks and along with general waste, being this the inappropriate way. Spread information related to the correct disposal of this waste is becoming increasingly necessary, besides to facilitating and encouraging the participation of consumers. For this, it is essential to identify the habits, knowledge and practices of consumers related to the disposal of medicines. Therefore, students from a Higher Education Institution were chosen as the object of study, since they are consumers of medicines and have easy access to information. Whereupon, the present study identified the knowledge and practice regarding the disposal and destination of medicines by students of the City of Coromandel College. Questionnaires were applied to 200 students of the Institution and after obtaining the answers, the data were worked out statistically. The result obtained was the little knowledge is obtained from the students in relation to the National Solid Waste Policy and also inappropriate practices of this public when disposal expired or useless drugs. With this study, the obtained data can collaborate with the drug reverse logistics initiatives, with knowledge from the point of view of consumers. Another advantage is to draw the attention of the interviewees to the topic, which can lead to an increase in the interest in participating in the correct destination of medicines and also in the dissemination of this knowledge to other people.