Household storage of medicines by restricted users at home in the area covered by the Jaqueline I Health Center, Northern Region, Municipality of Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Abstract

This work aimed to investigate the homemade stock of medicines of homebound persons of a health center in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Socio-demographic and economic variables; type of stored drug, its validity and the storage location was collected through an applied questionnaire to the patients. Descriptive analysis was performed. Forty-three patients, living in 42 houses were visited and was possible to observe a predominance of women (67.44%), old people (72.10%) and low family income (67,42% earned up to 3 minimum wages). The most commonly found medications were related to the nervous and cardiovascular systems, metabolism and alimentary tract diseases. Only one home (2.4%) did not have stocked medicine.Among the total of 14,385 doses/units found, 12,346 (85.8%) were for continuous treatment  and 2,966 (20.6%) were considered unsuitable for consumption. The found medicines were consistent with the chronic degenerative pathologies presented. The found units/dose demonstrates a difference between the amount of product dispensed and actual use by the patient. Therefore, to control the stocked drugs can bring benefit to the patient, economy for the health service and a reduction of the disposal of waste medicines.