Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Associated with Biomedical Waste Management among Students in an Indian Teaching Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose:  In developing countries, the medical waste management and treatment pose a great deal of concern because of the potential health and environmental hazards presented by this waste. Although India has guidelines on preventing and managing waste, the implementation is still difficult due to technological, economic, and social challenges, as well as insufficient training for the staff, students, in charge. This study aimed to measure the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices among allied health science, physiotherapy, pharmacy, and nursing students about biomedical waste management.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Using a structured questionnaire, data were collected from students of nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy, and allied health at Nursing, Physiotherapy, and Allied Health Teaching Hospital. Based on the participant responses, statistical analysis was performed to compare the levels of knowledge, attitude, and practices between the study groups.

Findings/Results: This study recruited 237 respondents in total, with 59.4% of the female participants and 40.5% of the study respondents representing men. Most (90.8%) of the study population fell within the 21–30 age range. The study analyzed students' knowledge of needle-stick injuries in the allied health sciences, physiotherapy, pharmacy, and nursing fields. Only PhD Scholars from Allied health science and Nursing Students had (>90%) excellent knowledge about this topic. 42 (84%) Nursing, 20 (80%) Pharmacy, 13(26%) Allied health and 35 (70%) Physiotherapy undergraduate’s students had suffered from needle stick injuries in the past 24 months.

Originality/Value: According to the study, there is a dearth of knowledge and awareness among students studying allied health sciences, physiotherapy, pharmacy, and nursing at private medical colleges in Tamil Nadu, India, concerning the risks associated with BM waste generation and the related laws and management.

Paper Type: Empirical Research