Awareness and disposal practices of unused or expired medications among patients with type 2 diabetes in Ipoh, Malaysia.

INTRODUCTION: Improper disposal of unused or expired medications poses significant public health and environmental risks. Despite Malaysia's "Return Your Medicines Program," improper disposal practices persist, particularly among Type 2 diabetic patients on long-term therapies. This study aimed to determine awareness and disposal practices of unused or expired medications among Type 2 diabetic patients in Ipoh and identify factors influencing improper disposal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at three government clinics in the Kinta District of Ipoh, Malaysia. Data were collected from 241 participants using structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson's chi-square tests. RESULTS: A total of 34.4% of respondents reported having unused or expired medications, primarily due to overprescription (36.1%). Among the diabetic patients surveyed, 68% demonstrated satisfactory awareness regarding the disposal of unused prescribed medications, while 32% showed unsatisfactory awareness. In terms of disposal practices, 43.37% of participants followed proper methods, whereas 56.63% engaged in poor disposal practices. A statistically significant association was observed between the level of awareness and the disposal practices adopted by the participants(p=0.000). It is recommended that health authorities enhance public education campaigns and implement accessible, wellpublicized medication take-back programs to promote proper disposal of unused or expired medicines. CONCLUSION: The study identifies a strong association between awareness levels and proper disposal practices of unused or expired medications, emphasizing the need for targeted educational initiatives to promote safe disposal among patients.