Home Handling, Storage, and Disposal of Oral Methotrexate in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients at King Abdulaziz University Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Introduction: Many patients on oral methotrexate (MTX) may not practice safe home handling, storage, and disposal methods, possibly due to a lack of information from healthcare providers. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the safe home handling, storage, and disposal practices of oral MTX among patients treated for rheumatoid arthritis. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, telephone interview and questionnaire-based survey was conducted on rheumatoid arthritis patients at the Rheumatology Department of King Abdulaziz University Hospital. The patients were eligible for inclusion if they were at least 18 years old and received oral MTX treatment between January and November 2021. The data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Chi-squared and correlation analyses were employed to test for differences in proportions and associations. Results: A total of 114 patients, with a mean age of 46.5 ± 13.2 years and 96 females (84.2%; P < 0.001), participated in the study. Not splitting or crushing the MTX medication was the major safe home handling method reported by 68 (59.6%; P < 0.001) of the patients. Safe disposal was the most practiced by patients, with a median (range) total score of 3.0 (1.0–4.0). There was no significant correlation between the patients’ level of education and their total safe handling ( r = −0.154, P = 0.101), storage ( r = −0.023, P = 0.809), and disposal practice ( r = −0.004, P = 0.966) scores. Conclusion: There was poor safe home handling of oral MTX by the patients. Poor home handling of oral MTX by patients is a health risk, requiring healthcare providers, particularly pharmacists, to educate patients and caregivers about safe disposal and storage practices.