%0 Journal Article
%T PharmacistsĄŻ Activities to Reduce Medication Waste: An International Survey
%A Antoine C. G. Egberts
%A Bart J. F. van den Bemt
%A Charlotte L. Bekker
%A Helga Gardarsdottir
%A Marcel L. Bouvy
%J Archive of "Pharmacy: Journal of Pharmacy Education and Practice".
%D 2018
%R 10.3390/pharmacy6030094
%X Aim: To identify activities that pharmacists undertake to reduce medication waste, and to assess the extent to which these activities are implemented, their importance for waste-reduction and feasibility for broad implementation. Methods: A two-phase survey was conducted among community and hospital pharmacists working in different developed countries. Phase one used an open-ended questionnaire to identify activities undertaken by pharmacists. Answers were thematically analysed to construct a list of medication waste-reducing activities. In phase two, a questionnaire was disseminated among pharmacists from different countries, to assess if these activities are implemented (yes/no), their importance and feasibility (1 to 5 ranking scale). Results: In phase one, 53 pharmacists participated and 14 activities were identified. These were categorized into the pharmaceutical supply chain: prescribing, dispensing (pharmacy/patient-related) and leftover stage. In phase two, 89 pharmacists participated. Most activities were implemented by a minority of pharmacists. Reducing medication amounts in stock was most frequently implemented (dispensing stage pharmacy-related; 86%), followed by collecting unused medications (leftover stage; 77%) and performing a medication review (dispensing stage; 68%). Waste-reducing activities in the dispensing stage activities were both considered most important and feasible (ranked 4). Overall, most activities scored higher on importance than on feasibility. Conclusions: Pharmacists have various opportunities to reduce medication waste throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain, however, not all are broadly implemented. Pharmacists consider waste-reducing activities important, but they are less certain about the feasibility for implementation in practice
%K medication waste
%K unused medication
%K pharmacy practice
%K clinical pharmacy
%K survey research
%U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6165518/