Experience of the adequacy and appropriateness of pharmaceuticals-related environmental information and preferred information channels among Finns

The normal use of medicines is the major environmental source of pharmaceuticals and a significant contributor to the chemicalization of the environment. Despite the key role of medicine users in contributing to this environmental challenge, little research has been conducted into the current state of lay people's pharmaceuticals-related environmental information, namely the information received, the information needed, the topics included in the information received, topics of interest, and previous and preferred information channels. In this study, these aspects were studied among 2,030 Finnish adults by means of an electronic survey. Of the respondents, 84.5% had received information related to pharmaceuticals in the environment (PiE). Female gender, higher age, high education level, general environmental friendliness, and use of prescription medicines were associated with a greater likelihood that information had been received. Furthermore, 39.8% of the respondents considered the amount of information received to be sufficient. Respondents had most commonly received information on 1 to 3 different topics. Proper disposal of medicines and pharmaceutical residues ending up in the environment in general were the most common topics covered by the information received. Medicines disposal and the effects of environmental pharmaceutical residues on people were the most interesting topics among the respondents. PiE-related information was most commonly obtained from traditional media (80.4%) and websites (40.5%), the least common source of PiE-related information being physicians (1.6%). The respondents were eager to receive such information in the future, preferring traditional media and medicine package leaflets as the most convenient information channels. These findings indicate a need for more diverse PiE-related information via easily accessible information channels that can vary based on sociodemographic characteristics.