Journal of health research in community

Aim and Scope: Keeping surplus medicines in homes requires special attention due to its impacts on household health, which should be optimized based on demographic and cultural factors. The aim of the study is to classification and economic evaluation of the surplus medicines in Tehran.
Methods: The research was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of households living in selected areas of Tehran, who were selected purposefully. Based on Charles Cochran's method, the sample size was calculated as 384 households, but 437 households were included in the study. The required questionnaire was designed based on literature review which its validity and reliability were verified. Questionnaires were sent with a calling system and completed, and the collected excess drugs were classified according to ATC guidelines. The data were analyzed using EXCEL and SPSS 26 software. Descriptive statistics methods were used to describe the data.
Results: 94.1% of the households studied had excess medicines at home, and about 48.7% of households kept medicines until their expiration date. 67.2% of the surplus medicines, were valid and intact, and 32.8% were expired and defective. The average value of these medicines per household was estimated at about 4.5 million IR. of Iran currency (Rials). The most excess drugs identified were related to drugs for the respiratory, digestive, cardiovascular, and nervous systems.
Conclussion: Educational and cultural interventions to properly manage medication use at the household level, as well as reviewing drug prescription and sales systems to reduce the amount of excess medication, are needed.