The study was published in 2026 in the Formosa Journal of Science and Technology (Vol. 5, No. 2). It provides quantitative evidence that printed health education materials, when combined with direct counseling, can change how households manage medicines.
Why Household Drug Management Is a Public Health Issue
Medicines are common household items. Many families keep painkillers, antibiotics, cough syrups, and prescription drugs at home. However, improper storage—such as exposure to heat, humidity, or direct sunlight can reduce drug effectiveness and increase the risk of accidental poisoning.
Improper disposal is equally concerning. Throwing medicines into household trash or flushing them into wastewater systems may contaminate soil and water. It also creates the possibility of drug misuse by unauthorized individuals.
Previous national data, including Indonesia’s Basic Health Research (Riskesdas), has shown that public awareness about correct drug storage and disposal remains low, particularly in rural areas. According to Ratih Ratnamaya and her colleagues at Poltekkes Kemenkes, improving community attitudes is a critical first step before sustainable behavior change can occur.
How the Study Was Conducted
The research involved 111 residents of North Gading Rejo Village who stored medicines at home. Participants were selected using quota sampling and completed the full study process.
The research design used a one-group pretest–posttest approach:
- Participants completed a questionnaire measuring their attitudes toward drug storage and disposal.
- Researchers delivered structured health education sessions.
- Each participant received a printed leaflet explaining correct storage and disposal practices.
- Participants then completed a post-intervention questionnaire.
The team analyzed the data using descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to compare attitude scores before and after the intervention.
Participant Profile
Key characteristics of respondents:
- 93.7% were women
- 32.4% were aged 36–45 years
- 59.5% had completed high school
- 70.3% were housewives
This demographic profile is significant. In many Indonesian households, women—especially mothers—manage family health decisions, including medicine storage and use.
Clear and Measurable Results
The data show a strong and statistically significant improvement in attitudes after the education and leaflet intervention.
Drug Storage Attitudes
Before education:
- 14.4% had a good attitude
- 51.4% had a moderate attitude
- 34.2% had a poor attitude
After education:
- 86.5% had a good attitude
- 13.5% had a moderate attitude
- 0% remained in the poor category
Drug Disposal Attitudes
Before education:
- 1.8% had a good attitude
- 45% moderate
- 53.2% poor
After education:
- 44.1% good
- 36.9% moderate
- 18.9% poor
Statistical analysis showed a significance value of 0.000 (p < 0.05) for both storage and disposal aspects. This indicates a strong difference between pretest and posttest scores.
Ageng Hasna Fauziyah of Poltekkes Kemenkes explains that combining direct education with printed leaflets strengthens information retention. The leaflet serves as a reinforcement tool that families can reread at home. According to Fauziyah and her colleagues, accessible educational materials help internalize safe medicine practices at the household level.
Why Leaflets Work
Leaflets are simple, low-cost, and easy to distribute. They do not require internet access or advanced literacy levels. In rural settings where digital health campaigns may have limited reach, printed materials remain practical.
The study confirms that:
- Visual and concise information improves comprehension.
- Repetition through printed materials strengthens attitude formation.
- Household-based education is more effective when targeted at family health managers.
However, the improvement in drug disposal attitudes was lower than in storage attitudes. This suggests that safe disposal practices are still less understood and may require repeated campaigns or structured policy support.
Real-World Implications
The findings from Ratih Ratnamaya, Ageng Hasna Fauziyah, and Pudji Rahayu have practical relevance for public health systems.
For Healthcare Providers
Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can incorporate leaflets into routine counseling. Community pharmacies can distribute educational materials during prescription dispensing.
For Local Governments
Village health programs can adopt leaflet-based education as a cost-effective intervention.
For Environmental Policy
Improved disposal practices reduce pharmaceutical contamination in soil and water systems.
For National Health Campaigns
The study supports scaling up community-level drug education programs across rural regions.
The research reinforces the preventive role of pharmacy professionals. Education at the household level can reduce medication errors, accidental poisoning, environmental pollution, and potential drug misuse.
Author Profiles
Ratih Ratnamaya is a lecturer and researcher in pharmacy and community health at the Department of Pharmacy, Health Polytechnic of the Ministry of Health (Poltekkes Kemenkes), Indonesia. Her work focuses on health promotion and rational drug use.
Ageng Hasna Fauziyah, S.Farm., M.Farm. is a pharmacy academic and community health educator at Poltekkes Kemenkes. Her expertise includes pharmaceutical education, public health promotion, and rational medicine management.
Pudji Rahayu is a lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy at Poltekkes Kemenkes, specializing in community pharmacy and medication management practices.
Together, the researchers contribute to strengthening pharmacy-based public health interventions in Indonesia.
Source
Ratnamaya, R., Fauziyah, A. H., & Rahayu, P. (2026). The Influence of Education and Leaflet Media on Community Attitudes Regarding the Storage and Disposal of Drugs in North Gading Rejo Village. Formosa Journal of Science and Technology, Vol. 5, No. 2, 405–412.
URL : https://journalfjst.my.id/index.php/fjst
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/fjst.v5i2.11
This study provides quantitative evidence that structured education combined with leaflet media significantly improves community attitudes toward safe drug storage and disposal, offering a scalable model for rural health promotion programs.
0 Komentar