Background and Importance Medication waste has detrimental effects on the environment and healthcare costs. Pharmacotherapeutic changes contribute to medication waste (e.g. substitution to hospitals’ medication formulary). Patient’s own medication (POM) where patients bring their own medicines for use during admission is known to positively affect medication waste. Self-administration of medication (SAM) can be combined with POM use and allows capable patients to manage their medication regimen throughout hospitalisation. It is not clear how the combination of POM use and SAM affects medication waste. Furthermore, both patients and hospital staff play a major role in medication management during hospitalisation. Their awareness hereof may affect medication waste, but their views on this are unknown.

Aim and Objectives To determine if POM use and SAM reduce the volume and monetary value of medication waste during hospitalisation. To determine the views of patients and hospital staff on medication waste.

Material and Methods A prospective pre-post intervention study was conducted, including all patients admitted to an orthopaedic ward between March and May 2022. In April 2022, POM use and SAM were implemented. Data on volume (in pieces) and monetary value (in euros (€)) of medication waste were collected. A 5-point Likert scale survey on medication waste was conducted among patients and hospital staff. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results The volume of wasted medicines decreased 44.3% from 477 to 331 pieces per 100 inpatient days after the implementation of POM use and SAM. The monetary value in hospital purchase price of wasted medicines decreased 151.8% from €283.80 to €112.70 per 100 inpatient days. 30 patients and 78 hospital staff members responded to the survey. The majority were aware of and interested in medication waste. Interestingly, 53% of patients did not feel that they contribute to medication waste as opposed to 19% of hospital staff. Both patients and hospital staff were positive towards POM use and SAM as means to reduce medication waste.

Conclusion and Relevance The implementation of POM use and SAM during hospitalisation seems to have the potential to reduce medication waste and concomitant costs at an orthopaedic ward. Patients and hospital staff seem positive towards this topic. Therefore, we recommend to further implement POM use and SAM.

Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest