Medical & Surgical Urology
Open Access
ISSN: 2168-9857
+44-77-2385-9429
ISSN: 2168-9857
+44-77-2385-9429
R A DasithThanura
University of Colombo, Srilanka
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Med Surg Urol
Introduction: Proper handling of biohazardous waste must meet a minimum of requirements for disposal which entails • Segregation from other waste • Secure packaging • Labelling indicating source, type of waste and the nature of treatment required • Transportation by appropriately trained personnel • Treatment and elimination of the biohazard; and • Documentation and records. • Proper disposal Methods and Materials: • This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at a Hemas Hospitals (Pvt) Ltd. Data was collected using a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire • Participants in the study were doctors, nurse, laboratory technicians and house-keeping staff • Sample selection was achieved by stratified sampling. Results: The completion rate for this study was 90 %( 632/703), with 632 questionnaires deemed acceptable for analysis. Majority of the respondents were nurses 60 %( 422/703), followed by housekeeping staff24.3% (171/703), doctors10.95 %( 77/703), and laboratory technicians 4.7 %( 33/703). There was significant agreement among the respondents that segregation of medical waste should be done at the point of generation (mean score=4.43outof5). Majority of respondents reported that their health care facility had a color-coding system (mean score=4.59); and identified “lack of knowledge of the dangers of improper waste management by HCWs” as the major obstacle to MWM Conclusions and Recommendations: This study showed that MWM at this healthcare facility appeared above average, although improvements were required in accessing waste disposal points and availability of personnel protective equipment. It is recommended that training be provided to HCWson MWM, with more attention to knowledge of ethical implications and regulatory requirements for proper MWM, and involvement of HCW sin development of MWM policies to enhance compliance.
R.A. Dasith Thanura is a dedicated healthcare professional currently enrolled in the Postgraduate Programme of Health Quality & Patient Safety at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. His research focuses on the knowledge and practice of healthcare workers regarding medical waste management at Hemas Hospital (Pvt) Ltd. With a keen interest in enhancing healthcare quality and safety.