TY  - JOUR
T1  - Attitudes toward Environmentally Friendly Medicines: A Survey of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Students
A1  - Ahmed K. Mansour
A1  - Salim R. Al-Harbi
A1  - Yasser F. Qureshi
JF  - Annals of Pharmacy Education, Safety, and Public Health Advocacy
JO  - Ann Pharm Educ Saf Public Health Advocacy
SN  - 3108-4850
Y1  - 2023
VL  - 3
IS  - 1
DO  - 10.51847/r0GWhltTVv
SP  - 202
EP  - 210
N2  - This study aimed to examine the preferences of university students in Gothenburg, Sweden, regarding medicines with varying environmental impacts relative to their effectiveness, and to determine whether prior exposure to information about the environmental risks of pharmaceuticals influences these preferences. A questionnaire-based survey was carried out among students enrolled in various programs at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. A total of 704 students were provided with both oral and written explanations about the study at the conclusion of a lecture and invited to participate (response rate: 83.5%). The survey included questions about knowledge of medicines’ environmental impact and two hypothetical scenarios offering medicines for the treatment or relief of minor human ailments.

Overall, 53.3% of participants (pharmacy students: 57.8%) reported having received information on the environmental effects of medicines, and 79.6% (pharmacy students: 80.6%) expressed concern about such effects. About 20% (pharmacy students: 9.0%) cited the university as their information source. Students generally favored medicines that were least effective but most environmentally friendly. Pharmacy students consistently rated the most environmentally harmful medicines higher than medical or health care students. Despite receiving similar information about environmental impacts, pharmacy students were less inclined to prefer environmentally friendly medicines with lower effectiveness. Pharmacy students rated medicines higher overall than other student groups, even while acknowledging their potential environmental harm.
UR  - https://smerpub.com/article/attitudes-toward-environmentally-friendly-medicines-a-survey-of-pharmacy-and-health-sciences-studen-qwpbofleb4d59y2
ER  -