Healthcare waste management research: A structured analysis and review (2005–2014)

Abstract

The importance of healthcare waste management in preserving the environment and protecting the public cannot be denied. Past research has dealt with various issues in healthcare waste management and disposal, which spreads over various journals, pipeline research disciplines and research communities. Hence, this article analyses this scattered knowledge in a systematic manner, considering the period between January 2005 and July 2014. The purpose of this study is to: (i) identify the trends in healthcare waste management literature regarding journals published; (ii) main topics of research in healthcare waste management; (iii) methodologies used in healthcare waste management research; (iv) areas most frequently researched by researchers; and (v) determine the scope of future research in healthcare waste management. To this end, the authors conducted a systematic review of 176 articles on healthcare waste management taken from the following eight esteemed journals: International Journal of Environmental Health Research, International Journal of Healthcare Quality Assurance, Journal of Environmental Management, Journal of Hazardous Material, Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, Resources, Conservations and Recycling, Waste Management, and Waste Management & Research. The authors have applied both quantitative and qualitative approaches for analysis, and results will be useful in the following ways: (i) results will show importance of healthcare waste management in healthcare operations; (ii) findings will give a comparative view of the various publications; (c) study will shed light on future research areas.

Cross-cultural adaptation of an environmental health measurement instrument: Brazilian version of the health-care waste management • rapid assessment tool

“…Some studies have identified the importance of training programs directed to health workers, HCW management teams and waste handling workers in order to improve the global approach on HCWM [47, 48]. However, this has been neglected in Brazil [23] and may be one of the reasons behind the difficulties on HCWM faced by this country.…”

Green nephrology and eco-dialysis: a position statement by the Italian Society of Nephrology

“…Legal provisions and definitions are also different, thus adding to uncertainties and making comparisons difficult [37][38][39].…”

Training and Knowledge of Health Professionals about Hospital Waste and its Risks in a Central Hospital

“…(2,3, 4) Torna-se pertinente integrar o plano de formação específico na área de gestão de Resíduos Hospitalares (RH) no plano de formação institucional (5). As formações nesta área devem atender ao levantamento das necessidades de formação diagnosticadas, devendo ser adequadas ao conteúdo funcional dos diferentes grupos profissionais (6,7). Para um estudo neste contexto selecionou-se o CHSJ (Centro Hospitalar de S.João) tendo por base a sua dimensão e diferenciação da prática clinica.…”

“…(2,3,4) It is appropriate to integrate the specific training plan in the area of Hospital Waste Management into the institutional training plan (5). Training in this area should take into account the determined training needs and should be adequate to the functional content of the different professional groups (6,7). For a study in this context, the HCSJ (Hospital Center of S. João) was selected based on its size and differentiation of the clinical practice.…”