[Pharmwaste] Sampling at Take-Back Event
Matthew C. Mireles
mirelesmc at earthlink.net
Tue Apr 5 16:22:08 EDT 2011
Encouraging participants of drug take-back program (drop off or mail back) to complete a survey or a form in advance is a good way to engage them and provide a meaningful way of getting some good, useful data. We haven't compared or tested validity of data collection one way or the other (pre-event vs. event vs. post-event). Our haunch is that better data will come from people who already self-selected themselves to plan and participate in a take-back event or program. The window for data collection at the event or after event is very short. Considering most programs (except consumer-paid envelopes) cost nothing to the participant, filling a simple inventory form or answering a short survey should at least be part of the process. Based on our experience, most people want to take part in the process and would be glad to help out with data gathering if they understand the purpose better. In the safety and comfort of home, there's no better place to go through med cabinets and drawers, sit down quietly alone or with family members, and fill out a form.
Some programs have incorporated the survey or questionnaire into informational and/or promotional brochures given weeks or days before drug collection. Those who show up without completed forms will be politely asked to complete one onsite. Those who refuse are grouped into non-responders or "missing data"--where we started in the first place with no data. If you want some examples, please contact me.
Matthew Mireles
-----Original Message-----
>From: "Volkman, Jennifer (MPCA)" <jennifer.volkman at state.mn.us>
>Sent: Apr 5, 2011 2:19 PM
>To: "pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us" <pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us>
>Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Sampling at Take-Back Event
>
>Does anyone think that if you put the survey in the paper as part of advertising for the event, that you'd get people to fill it out ahead of time and get a higher rate of response? I like the survey Maine did with their mail back program, but it would probably have to be filled out ahead of time since it includes pill counts. It is detailed, but I think it helped them with the legislation to limit the first time fill for prescriptions that were most commonly wasted due to side effects or incompatibility with other medication.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Ed Gottlieb
>Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2011 1:34 PM
>To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us; Jim Clark; Amy Tiemeier
>Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Sampling at Take-Back Event
>
>Amy,
>
>For a full description of how we inventory go to the "New Resources"
>options at:
>http://www.takebacknetwork.com/local_efforts.html
>The how-to video guide and the inventory spreadsheet are from our
>efforts.
>
>I hope to replace the drug inventory spreadsheet with an improved
>version later this week.
>We plan on fully inventorying every tenth vehicle and all controlled
>substances.
>
>Here is the survey we use:
>
>Pharmaceutical waste collection day survey o TCAT o Tburg o
>Newfield
>
>Thank you for coming today. May I ask you 5 brief questions about our
>event?
>
>Did you come to either of our previous 2 events? o Yes,
>both o Yes, one o No
>
>How did you hear about this event? (check all that apply)
>o Radio o Website/internet o Friend/relative o
>Newspaper sticker o Newspaper ad/article
>o Flier or poster o Bus o Banner
> o Agency newsletter o Place of worship
>o Other _________________________
>
>What would you have done with these medications if you hadn’t heard
>about this event?
>o Flush or wash down the drain o Throw them in the trash
> o Other collection event
>o Continue to hold on to them o Don’t know o Other
>_________________________
>
>Why do you want to get rid of these medications? (check all that
>apply)
>o Medication expired o Stopped using or don’t need
>this medication
>o Did not want anyone else to use it o Deceased
>o Protect environment o Safety for myself & household
>
>o Don’t know o Other
>___________________________
>
>What town do you live in?
>o Caroline (incl. Brooktondale, Slaterville Springs) o
>Danby
>o Dryden (incl. Freeville, Etna, Varna, V. Dryden) o
>Enfield
>o Groton (incl. V. Groton, McLean) o Ithaca
>(city)
>o Ithaca (town incl. V. Cayuga Heights) o
>Lansing (incl. V. Lansing)
>o Newfield o Ulysses (incl.
>Jacksonville, V. Trumansburg)
>o Tompkins Co. (don’t know municipality) o Other
>______________________________________
>
>Other comments
>
>Good luck!
>
>Ed Gottlieb
>Chair, Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal
>Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator
>Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility
>525 3rd Street
>Ithaca, NY 14850
>(607) 273-8381
>fax: (607) 273-8433
>egottlieb at cityofithaca.org
>
>
>
>
>>>> Jim Clark <jac20 at psu.edu> 4/5/2011 9:27 AM >>>
>Amy,
>
>I ask people to fill out the short survey below at the collection sites
>we manage. No personal information, but it gets us some demographical
>info. For what you are doing, it would be interesting to know the age of
>the medications, controlled verses uncontrolled, and type of medication
>(pills verses patches etc.). My two cents!
>
>Jim Clark, Extension Educator
>Penn State Extension of McKean County
>
>Town/County you live in? ___________________________________
>Whose medication was it?
> _____ Mine
> _____ Family or Household Member
> _____ Friend
> _____ Pet
>How did you find out about this event?
>___________________________________
>Age Demographics:
>_____ Under 20 _____ 20 to 30 _____ 31 to 40 _____ 41 to
>50 _____ 51 to 60 _____ 61 to 70 _____ 71 to 80 _____ 81
>and up
>Have you flushed or washed medications down the drain in the past?
>_____ Yes _____ No
>Comments and Recommendations:
>
>
>From: Tiemeier, Amy [mailto:Amy.Tiemeier at stlcop.edu]
>Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 3:38 PM
>To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
>Subject: [Pharmwaste] Sampling at Take-Back Event
>
>List Members,
>
>I will be collecting data from a sampling of meds that are brought back
>in our region during the DEA National Take Back Initiative on April
>30th.
>
>I wanted to see if anyone could provide me some insight on what would
>be the best way to sample (e.g. 1 out of every 10 bags/boxes, 1 lb out
>of every box, etc.).
>
>Additionally, I wanted to find out what information people thought
>would be valuable to gather. It is intended to be anonymous so no
>individually identifiable information will be gathered.
>
>Thank you for any insights or thoughts you may have.
>
>Amy
>
>Amy Tiemeier, Pharm.D., BCPS
>Associate Director of Experiential Education
>Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
>
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