A armazenagem de medicamentos em casa: perfil da população retrita ao domicílio adscrita ao centro de saúde Jaqueline I, Brasil

Abstract

This study investigated the homemade stock of medicines of all homebound persons of a health center in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The socio-demographic and economic variables of patients; the type of drug, its validity and the storage location were collected through a questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was performed. 43 patients were visited in 42 houses, with a predominance of women (67.44%), elderly (72.10%) with low family income (66.67% earned 1-3 minimum wages). The most commonly found medications were for the nervous and cardiovascular systems, metabolism and alimentary tract. Only one home (2.4%) did not have stocked medicine. Of the total of 14,385 doses / units found, 12 350 (85.86%) were of continuous use and 2,966 (20.62%) were considered unusable (expired, without expiry date or without label). The stock of medicines found was consistent with the chronic degenerative pathologies presented. A strategy to control this volume of drugs can bring benefit to the patient, an economy for the service and control the disposal of waste medicines.