Healthcare Waste Management: Qualitative and Quantitative Appraisal of Nurses in a Tertiary Care Hospital of India

Abstract EN

Background.

The nurse’s role in healthcare waste management is crucial.

Objectives.

(1) To appraise nurses quantitatively and qualitatively regarding healthcare waste management; (2) to elicit the determinants of knowledge and attitudes of healthcare waste management.

Method.

A cross-sectional study was undertaken at a tertiary care hospital of Mangalore, India.

Self-administered pretested questionnaire and “nonparticipatory observation” were used for quantitative and qualitative appraisals.

Percentage knowledge score was calculated based on their total knowledge score.

Nurses’ knowledge was categorized as excellent ( > 70%), good (50–70%), and poor ( < 50%).

Chi square test was applied to judge the association of study variables with their attitudes and knowledge.

Results.

Out of 100 nurses 47 had excellent knowledge ( > 70% score).

Most (86%) expressed the need of refresher training.

No study variable displayed significant association ( P > 0.05 ) with knowledge.

Apt segregation practices were followed except in casualty.

Patients and entourages misinterpreted the colored containers.

Conclusion.

Nurses’ knowledge and healthcare waste management practices were not satisfactory.

There is a need of refresher trainings at optimum intervals to ensure sustainability and further improvement.

Educating patients and their entourages and display of segregation information board in local language are recommended.