Table 3 Characteristics and content of the home medicine cabinets inspected (n = 743)
From: Polypharmacy in older patients: identifying the need for support by a community pharmacist
MD (%) | Cabinets inspected (n = 743) | |
|---|---|---|
A single home medicine cabinet | 0.5 | 565 (76.5%) |
Unsuitable location | 6.6 | 104 (15.0%) |
Location: | 26.0 | |
Kitchen | 192 (34.9%) | |
Living room | 146 (25.6%) | |
Bathroom | 109 (19.8%) | |
Bedroom | 54 (9.8%) | |
Other room | 49 (8.9%) | |
Type of medicine cabinet: | 0.4 | |
Cupboard | 406 (54.9%) | |
Bag | 61 (8.2%) | |
Drawer | 172 (23.2%) | |
Other | 171 (23.1%) | |
Medicine cabinet used by: | 3.1 | |
The patient only | 510 (69.3%) | |
The patient and his/her spouse | 224 (30.4%) | |
The patient and another person | 44 (6.0%) | |
Storage problems | 5.8 | 152 (21.7%) |
Number of expired drugs: | 1.9 | |
0 | 432 (59.3%) | |
1–5 | 201 (27.6%) | |
6–10 | 48 (6.6%) | |
11–15 | 19 (2.6%) | |
≥ 16 | 29 (4.0%) | |
Storage of products other than drugs | 1.2 | 181 (24.7%) |
Presence of potentially inappropriate and/or at-risk medications | 6.6 | 104 (15.0%) |
Redundant medications | 3.1 | 147 (20.4%) |
Different generic formulations of the same drug at the same dose level | 2.8 | 137 (19.0%) |
Patient with medications kept in the refrigerator | 0.8 | 129 (17.5%) |
Inappropriate storage in the refrigerator (n = 129) | 0.8 | 22 (3.0%) |