Medicines. Homes.

Medicines. homes.

Supported by MASI Grant, Swansea University

Demographic and lifestyle changes, along with shifts in clinical practice, have led to an increase in pharmaceutical prescriptions and waste

Medicines. homes.

is a research project about how we stock, use, and discard medicines in our homes.

Medicines are an environmental and health risk

Medical household waste is a global problem

Wrongly disposed medicines enter the environment, water, landfill, and air, contaminating livelihoods
5% of the total UK CO2 emissions comes from the health care sector, a large proportion of it attributed to pharmaceuticals
Little is known about the household’s role in creating a sustainable health care sector

Over-treatment:

– we get too many prescriptions

– we get the wrong prescriptions

Stocking of medicines at home:

– we buy too much

– we don’t perceive medicine waste as potential risk

– lack of awareness about disposal of medicines

Medicine waste

why?

Survey

Visual ethnography

Focus groups

Representative UK-wide survey with 450 participants, in February 2024.

Insights of the analysis are soon to be published.

Documenting how medicines are being stored in homes.

We collect stories and photos of medicines at home.

Photos of meds are being taken now in Wales.

Focus groups about attitudes, perceptions and the role of medicines in our lives and homes.

Goal

share your story

Raise awareness about medicines by understanding culture and attitudes
Generate insights about how people relate to medicines and medical waste
Inform evidence-based interventions for lower-carbon lifestyles and treatment practices

Ready to share your story?

We are happy to take a photo of your medicines in your home

The photos of medicines in homes will be part of curated art exhibitions

Participation is voluntary

Ethical approval by School of Management’s Research Ethics Committee, Swansea University

Data Protection Act 2018

For more information contact us