Objective To understand the situation of commonly-used drugs, medical device and their storages in rural households among model well-off township hospitals in eastern, central and western China, and to provide the basis for the guidance of reasonably using and scientifically storing drugs. Methods The methods of combining simple random sampling and cluster sampling were used to investigate and analyze the situation of commonly-used drugs, medical device and their storages in 162 households from three well-off township hospitals in Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Sichuan provinces, respectively. Results The storage rates of commonly-used drugs of rural households in well-off towns were cold medicine (72.2%), wound paste (51.9%), cooling oil (39.5%), essential balm (36.4%), antihypertensive (27.8%), iodine tincture (14.2%), anti-diabetic drugs (13.0%) and other drugs (17.3%). The storage rates of medical devices were thermometer (50.0%), cotton swab (47.5%), sphygmomanometer (9.3%), injector (1.2%) and other devices (22.2%). A total of 66% of respondent families stored drugs and medical devices in a fixed drawer. Only 3.1% families stored drugs and medical devices in the special portable medical kit. Conclusion Rural families have a higher rate of household drugs among model well-off township hospitals in eastern, central and western China, and most drugs are OTC drugs. The storage rates of medical devices are not high. Many rural family-owned medical devices are linked with special chronic diseases in the family. A lot of rural families place drugs and medical devices randomly. There are many security risks, and it may affect the rational utilization of drugs.
Objective To understand the demands on portable medicine kit of rural residents in well-off township hospitals, and to provide the basis for scientifically designing portable medicine kit for rural residents. Methods The methods of combining simple random sampling and cluster sampling were used to investigate and analyze the demands on portable medicine kit for 162 households from three well-off township hospitals in Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Sichuan province, respectively. Results The demand rate of 162 rural households on portable medicine kit was 75.3% (122/162). The main drugs that demanders expected in the portable medicine kit were cold medicine (86.1%), wound paste (82.0%), cooling oil (61.5%), essential balm (54.9%) and antihypertensive (34.4%); and the main medical devices that demanders expected were thermometer (82%), cotton swab (73%) and sphygmomanometer (32.8%). The sizes of portable medicine kit that demanders expected were 23.7±8.5 cm in length, 17.1±6.4 cm in width, and 14.1±6.5 cm in height. The main function characteristics of portable medicine kit that demanders expected were applicability (74.6%), safety (60.7%), light weight (68.0%), economics (60.7%), and waterproof (46.7%). A total of 72.1% of demanders expected the price of less than 15 yuan, and 91.8% expected kit made of hard materials as plastic as the first choice. Conclusion The demand rate of rural residents on portable medicine kit is higher in well-off township hospital. The design and production of portable medicine kit should fully meet the demands of rural residents. Only when sufficiant respect for the market demand is paid, can the promotion and application of portable kits will be ensured.