Abstract
Improper waste management practices are a serious problem that involves not only the hospital staff but society at large. To improve biomedical waste (BMW) management, it is important to evaluate the current practices in BMW management (BMWM), identify the gaps, and address them. With this backdrop, this research was done to assess the awareness of BMW management practices among the healthcare professionals in a teaching hospital. This is a hospital-based observational study with assessment of 112 doctors, 230 nurses, and 158 waste handlers. The healthcare workers (HCW) were evaluated regarding awareness, and different practices of BMWM with a self-structured questionnaire. An overall score of ≥50% in each section was considered satisfactory regarding awareness and practices for BMWM. Data were analyzed statistically using SPSS Ver.21 software. Regarding the awareness on various aspects of BMWM, doctors had maximum level of awareness at 68.6% (60.0% – 77.2%), followed by nurses at 69.3% (63.3%-75.3%) and waste handlers at 55.9% (48.2% – 63.6%). Overall nurses showed maximum awareness of existing practices at 74.0% followed by doctors at 70.2% and waste handlers were at 53.8%. To optimize BMWM, it is important to raise awareness on best practices while evaluating the current practices. Gaps in knowledge and skills need to be identified and closed. Ongoing information, education and communication for health care professionals are pivotal in improving BMWM practices.
Highlights
Biomedical waste is the waste that is generated during investigation, treatment, or vaccination of humans or animals, or that is produced during manufacture or testing of biologicals.[1]
The quantity of the infectious waste produced is less as compared to the overall healthcare waste, the poor waste management practices by healthcare workers lead to the mixing of the infectious waste with noninfectious waste and thereby contaminating the whole waste.[3]
The difference in level awareness among doctors, nurses, and waste handlers about various aspects of BMW management (BMWM) was found statistically significant with a p-value
Summary
Biomedical waste is the waste that is generated during investigation, treatment, or vaccination of humans or animals, or that is produced during manufacture or testing of biologicals.[1]. About 85% of waste generation in relation to health related activities is non hazardous. The remaining 15% of waste generated out of healthcare activities is considered hazardous. These hazardous material might be infectious, toxic, or radioactive and have potential to cause injury.[2] the quantity of the infectious waste produced is less as compared to the overall healthcare waste, the poor waste management practices by healthcare workers lead to the mixing of the infectious waste with noninfectious waste and thereby contaminating the whole waste.[3] BMW waste production increased manifold during the Covid pandemic which further compounded the situation.[4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
