Mahbobeh Oroei1, Mohsen Momeni1, Charles J Palenik2, Mina Danaei3, Mehrdad Askarian4. 1. Student Research Committee, Department of Community Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 2. Department of Oral Biology, Infection Control Research and Services, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, IN, USA. 3. Department of Community Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 4. Department of Community Medicine, Shiraz Nephrology Urology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address: askariam@sums.ac.ir.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Medical waste management is a major concern for healthcare facilities. One important element is the segregation of infectious waste from domestic, non-infectious waste. The aim of this qualitative study was to identify factors that negatively affect proper segregation at Nemazee Hospital, which is affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. METHODS: Study data came from focus groups involving hospital workers. Participants expressed their opinions regarding barriers to proper segregation of medical wastes. The participants gave their permission to have their comments recorded. Data analyses were based on a grounded theory approach. RESULTS: The results indicated that managerial weakness was an important factor in suboptimal disposal of medical waste. It appears that hospital authorities should pay better attention to educational planning, organizational resources and supervision. Together, these considerations should help reduce waste-management errors. The results also suggest that healthcare worker training needs improvement. In general, patients and their companions, as well as the local population, did not appear to have sufficient knowledge concerning disposal of infectious medical waste. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital authorities should conduct a broad review of medical waste management, including improved employee training. This step should have a positive effect on local health, as well as the environment. Improvement is also needed in the infection prevention performance of hospital healthcare workers. This approach should reduce additional production of infectious waste and costs associated with healthcare.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Medical waste management is a major concern for healthcare facilities. One important element is the segregation of infectious waste from domestic, non-infectious waste. The aim of this qualitative study was to identify factors that negatively affect proper segregation at Nemazee Hospital, which is affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. METHODS: Study data came from focus groups involving hospital workers. Participants expressed their opinions regarding barriers to proper segregation of medical wastes. The participants gave their permission to have their comments recorded. Data analyses were based on a grounded theory approach. RESULTS: The results indicated that managerial weakness was an important factor in suboptimal disposal of medical waste. It appears that hospital authorities should pay better attention to educational planning, organizational resources and supervision. Together, these considerations should help reduce waste-management errors. The results also suggest that healthcare worker training needs improvement. In general, patients and their companions, as well as the local population, did not appear to have sufficient knowledge concerning disposal of infectious medical waste. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital authorities should conduct a broad review of medical waste management, including improved employee training. This step should have a positive effect on local health, as well as the environment. Improvement is also needed in the infection prevention performance of hospital healthcare workers. This approach should reduce additional production of infectious waste and costs associated with healthcare.
Authors: Arthur Couto Neves; Camila Costa Maia; Maria Esther de Castro E Silva; Gisele Vidal Vimieiro; Marcos Paulo Gomes Mol Journal: Environ Sci Pollut Res Int Date: 2022-07-23 Impact factor: 5.190