A qualitative study of the general public and healthcare professionals to understand medication wastage related behaviours and potential reduction strategies

Abstract

Background and objective: Medication wastage continues to compromise public health in terms of safety, the environment and the economy. There is a need to develop and implement wastage reduction strategies. Paying attention to behaviour change theories significantly impacts the positive implementation of evidence into healthcare practice. The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) provides a constructive conceptual basis for gauging implementation issues, designing interventions to enhance healthcare practice, and understanding behaviour-change processes. To understand medication wastage behaviours and explore potential wastage reduction strategies from the perspectives of theMaltese general public and healthcare professionals (HCPs).