Drug disposal among hospice home care nurses: a pilot study of current practice and attitudes

It is the role of the hospice home care nurse to dispose of unused medications after a patient's death. However, the methods of disposal, the nurses' attitudes, and beliefs regarding the environmental and health effects of disposal practices, as well as the knowledge of applicable federal guidelines, are unknown.

The purpose of the study was to explore the drug disposal practices of Michigan hospice home care nurses and the related attitudes and beliefs.

A Web-based survey was administered to a convenience sample (n=138) of hospice home care nurses.

Nearly half of the respondents reported disposing of 11 or more doses per patient. Nurses most commonly disposed of the drugs by mixing them with a noxious substance and considered this method both acceptable and safe. However, more than half (55%) reported that they dispose to sewerage always or often, and nurses were concerned about legal and environmental issues around drug disposal. Most nurses reported that returning medications to the hospice office was unsafe or extremely unsafe.

Findings from this study suggest further education, practice, and research directions.