OBJECTIVE: To examine the extent of home-kept prescription drugs in the general population and to identify the predictors for a higher number of prescription drugs kept in people's homes. METHODS: The study included a random stratified sample of 1,000 Slovenian inhabitants. Participants answered a self-administered questionnaire regarding sources and contents of their home pharmacies. The main outcome measure was the presence and the number of home-kept prescription drugs. RESULTS: The response rate was 41%. At least one prescription drug in the home pharmacy was kept by 298 (75.4%) of the respondents, average number of prescription drugs was 3.1 +/- 3.3. The majority of the respondents (319, 77.8%) bought the drugs for self-medication in pharmacies. Almost a quarter of the respondents obtained them from relatives and friends (82, 20.0%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a visit to a clinical specialist in the previous year and high blood pressure were independent predictors for the presence of any home-kept prescription drug. Multivariate linear regression analysis also showed that rural and suburban living areas, a visit to a clinical specialist, a need for a home visit by a doctor in the past year, and the presence of diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma or depression are independent predictors for a higher number of home-kept prescription drugs. CONCLUSION: Doctors have to take into account that their patients keep several prescription drugs in their home pharmacies. These patients are potential providers to their friends and relatives of potentially unsafe drugs for self-medication.
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