Household Drug Use Safety in Terms of Knowledge, Behavior, and Storage

Abstract

Introduction:Household drug management, including proper knowledge, behavior, and storage practices, is essential for ensuring medication safety and preventing adverse drug events. Community-level self-medication practices without adequate understanding pose significant health risks.

Objectives: This study aims to determine the level of knowledge, behavior, and drug storage practices among the community of Karan Kidul Village, Gayamdompo, Karanganyar, and to analyze their relationships with household drug use safety.

Method: This was a non-experimental descriptive survey study using a cross-sectional approach. A total of 165 respondents were selected using the Slovin formula from a population of 280 residents. Data were collected through validated and reliable questionnaires covering knowledge, behavior, and drug storage, and were analyzed using univariate and bivariate Chi-Square tests.

Results: The majority of respondents demonstrated good knowledge (42.4%), good behavior (43.6%), and sufficient drug storage practices (51.5%). Safe drug use was reported in 85.5% of respondents. Chi-Square analysis revealed a significant relationship between knowledge, behavior, and drug storage with household drug use safety, with a p-value of 0.000 (< 0.05) for all three variables.

Conclusion:  Improving community knowledge, appropriate drug use behavior, and proper drug storage practices may contribute to safer household medication management. Community education on rational drug use, Expired Date versus Beyond Use Date distinctions, and proper storage techniques is strongly recommended.

Keywords: Beyond Use Date, drug storage, household drug use safety, knowledge, self-medication