Let's Store Medicine Correctly in the Village Community, Rejosari Kudus

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FORMOSA NEWS - Kudus - Community Education Improves Safe Medicine Storage in Rejosari Village, Kudus. Community service conducted by Dwi Susiloningrum, Dian Arsanti Palupi, Yulia Pratiwi, Lilis Sugiarti, and Eko Prasetyo from the Cendekia Utama Kudus Institute of Health Technology, through a scientific article published in 2026 in the Asian Journal of Community Services.

Incorrect medicine storage remains a hidden but serious public health issue in many households. Medicines exposed to heat, humidity, or improper placement can lose their effectiveness without visible signs, increasing the risk of treatment failure and adverse effects. As self-medication becomes more common, public awareness of safe medicine storage has become a critical concern.

A Common Household Problem

Medicines have physical and chemical properties that are highly sensitive to environmental conditions. Exposure to high temperatures, excessive humidity, direct sunlight, or unsafe storage locations can degrade active ingredients and reduce therapeutic effectiveness. In some cases, improper storage may even increase the risk of toxicity.

At the household level, storage errors are still widespread. Medicines are often kept in kitchens, bathrooms, or other damp and hot areas, stored outside their original packaging, or placed within easy reach of children. These risks are amplified as families increasingly store over-the-counter medicines and leftover prescriptions at home.

Initial observations by the research team showed that many residents in Rejosari Village did not fully understand the storage instructions printed on medicine packaging. This gap in knowledge highlighted the need for structured, community-level educational interventions.

Direct Education for Practical Change

The community service activity was held on October 21, 2025, at the Rejosari Village Head’s residence and involved approximately 50 local residents. Before the educational session began, participants received free blood pressure checks to assess baseline health conditions.

Education was delivered using visual presentations, short videos, live demonstrations, and hands-on simulations. Participants were guided step by step on how to store medicines correctly based on their type and dosage form. The team also provided direct assistance and consultations, allowing residents to ask questions about medicines commonly stored in their homes.

According to Dwi Susiloningrum and her colleagues, this interactive approach helped participants better understand storage principles compared to one-way lectures. Residents became actively involved in discussing real-life storage challenges and solutions.

Six Key Principles of Safe Medicine Storage

During the sessions, the team emphasized six essential principles for proper medicine storage:

Always read and follow storage instructions on medicine packaging.

Store medicines out of reach of children.
Protect medicines from direct sunlight, heat, and excessive humidity.
Keep medicines in their original packaging with clear and intact labels.
Regularly check expiration dates and the physical condition of medicines.
Use a dedicated, preferably lockable, medicine cabinet for household storage.

Participants were also informed that different dosage forms such as tablets, capsules, syrups, ointments, and medicines requiring refrigeration have specific storage requirements that must be followed to maintain quality.

Implications for Public Health Policy

These findings highlight the importance of integrating medicine storage education into broader public health initiatives. Regular and sustained educational programs can help reduce medication errors, prevent adverse drug events, and improve treatment outcomes at the household level.

The authors recommend that similar programs be implemented continuously and expanded to other villages, with involvement from local authorities and health cadres. Follow-up home visits are also suggested to ensure that correct storage practices are consistently applied.

With simple, community-driven interventions, improving medicine literacy at the village level can become a strong foundation for safer and more effective medicine use nationwide.

Author Profiles

Dwi Susiloningrum, S.Farm., M.Farm. Lecturer at Institut Teknologi Kesehatan Cendekia Utama Kudus,
specializing in community pharmacy.

Dian Arsanti Palupi, S.Farm., M.Farm. Lecturer at Institut Teknologi Kesehatan Cendekia Utama Kudus,
expert in pharmaceutical management.

Yulia Pratiwi, S.Farm. Academic staff at Institut Teknologi Kesehatan Cendekia Utama Kudus, focusing on public health education.

Lilis Sugiarti, S.Farm., M.Farm. Lecturer at Institut Teknologi Kesehatan Cendekia Utama Kudus, specializing in pharmaceutical services.

Eko Prasetyo, S.Farm. Pharmacy practitioner involved in community-based medicine education.

Source

Dwi Susiloningrum, Dian Arsanti Palupi, Yulia Pratiwi, Lilis Sugiarti, Eko Prasetyo. Let’s Store Medicine Correctly in the Village Community, Rejosari Kudus. Asian Journal of Community Services, Vol. 5 No. 1, hlm. 57-66. 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ajcs.v5i1.571

URL: https://srhformosapublisher.org/index.php/ajcs