Knowledge of the students majoring in pharmaceutical services of the management of the household first-aid kit

• Main Authors: Carlos Manuel Jiménez-Martínez, Liannys Liens-Valdés, Yamila Almaguer-Laguna
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Las Tunas 2019-03-01
• Series: Revista Electrónica Dr. Zoilo E. Marinello Vidaurreta
• Subjects: medicine chests; health education; pharmacists; drug storage
• Online Access: http://revzoilomarinello.sld.cu/index.php/zmv/article/view/1669

<p><strong>Background</strong>: the correct management of the household first-aid kit by the students majoring in specialties related to the use of medications is a task that needs to be included in their academic training.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Objective</strong>: to identify the knowledge of the first-year students majoring in pharmaceutical services at the University of Medical Sciences of Las Tunas, concerning the management of the household first-aid kit.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Methods</strong>: a descriptive observational study was carried out from August through October, 2018 with 72 students of the specialty declared in the objective and working in the community pharmacy network. To gather the data a semistructured questionnaire was designed. The following variables were included: storage of medications in their homes, types of containers used for this purpose, the contents of their household first-aid kit, among others.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Results</strong>: 39 % of the students kept the medications in drawers and 21 % in boxes. A high percentage suggested keeping the medications in inappropriate places. There was a prevalence of students who considered that analgesics and antiallergenic drugs should be kept in the contents of the first-aid kit. The disposal method mostly declared was to throw them away. It was reported that the contents should be checked once a month, for 59 % of the cases. <strong></strong></p><strong>Conclusions</strong>: important cognitive insufficiencies were detected in the sample of the students included in the study. Training activities are suggested which are centered on the teaching of a school course.