Personal and organizational predictors of physicians’ knowledge, attitudes and practices related to medical waste management in Mazandaran province (northern Iran)

Abstract

Medical waste management (MWM) is an important public health concern worldwide. Although physicians must participate in medical waste management, their personal and organizational predictors in this process are unknown. This study aimed to the determinants of physicians' knowledge, attitudes and practices related to MWM in eight hospitals of Mazandaran province, northern Iran. A validated, reliable self-administered questionnaire was used including 30 questions about the respondents' knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) and personal and professional variables. Of a total of 200 physicians, 150 persons completed the questionnaire (response rate of 75%). The average score (± SD) for physicians' knowledge was 6.50 (± 1.50) out of 10, whereas those for attitudes and practices were 4.44 (± 0.88) and 4.02 (± 1.35) out of 5, respectively. Surgeons and orthopaedists had the lowest scores, whereas para-clinical specialists and internal medicine specialists had the highest scores. The score of knowledge showed significant differences among speciality groups and the various speciality groups' scores differed significantly only for knowledge (P = 0.024) and the mean of total KAP was significantly different between educational and non-educational hospitals (P < 0.05). As hospital type and physician speciality was related to the KAP concerning MWM, therefore it is recommend that all hospitals should develop appropriate protocols for medical waste management based on the this variables using a participatory process with teamwork and continuous training.

Assessing knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthcare personnel regarding biomedical waste management: a systematic review of available tools

“…The characteristics of the 53 studies included are shown in Table 1: Thirty-nine studies were conducted in Asia (Abhishek et al, 2015; Acharya et al, 2014; Akbolat, 2011; Aksakal et al, 2010; Alimohammadi et al, 2018; Arab et al, 2008; Bansal et al, 2013; Basu et al, 2012; Bdour, 2015; Bhagawati et al, 2015; Bhayana et al, 2016; Biglari, 2016; Danchaivijitr, 2005; Gupta et al, 2014; Haralur et al, 2015; Hiremath et al, 2016; Jabbari et al, 2012; Kumar et al, 2018; Kumar et al, 2013, 2016; S. Kumar and Rahman, 2017; Mangala Gowri, 2014; Megha and Daksha, 2013; Mirza et al, 2016; Mousavi et al, 2016; Mumtaz et al, 2010; Nandwani, 2010; Narang et al, 2012; Pagkatipunan, 2014; Reddy and Al Shammari, 2017; Reshmi et al, 2011; Riswana, 2016; Sarker et al, 2014; Sharma et al, 2013; Shivalli and Sanklapur, 2014; Singh et al, 2012; Sood and Sood, 2011; Srivastava and Bansal, 2013; Tabash et al, 2016); Ten in Africa (Akulume and Kiwanuka, 2016; Anozie et al, 2017; Augustin et al, 2016; El-Gilany et al, 2017; Enwere and Diwe, 2014; Hakim et al, 2014; Makhura et al, 2016; Manyele and Anicetus, 2006; Mochungong et al, 2010; Mostafa et al, 2009); Two in Europe (…”

“…In general, the knowledge of BMW management is not high, showing a lack of adequate training. Nine articles express a moderately positive evaluation of the knowledge (Acharya et al, 2014; Akulume and Kiwanuka, 2016; Biglari, 2016; Ferreira and Teixeira, 2010; Gupta et al, 2014; Hiremath et al, 2016; Jabbari et al, 2012; Sarker et al, 2014; Sood and Sood, 2011) of some categories of professionals: in particular doctors and nurses have a higher knowledge in comparison with laboratory technicians and class IV employees (Ferreira and Teixeira, 2010; Kumar et al, 2018; Kumar et al, 2013; Reshmi et al, 2011; Sarker et al, 2014).…”

Household recycling knowledge, attitudes and practices towards solid waste management

“…Research studies in this field have usually focused on attitude, action and behaviour toward different aspects of SWM (Al-Sari et al, 2012;Barr et al, 2005;Jabbari et al, 2012;Purcell and Magette, 2010). Nevertheless, in order to achieve the goal of better and more effective recycling programs in the community, and also to assist in informing governmental strategies for waste management and solving household waste problems, it is important to know the behavioural and psychological factors influencing household recycling activities (Kofoworola, 2007;Rahardyan et al, 2004).…”

Cuckoo optimization algorithm in reverse logistics: A network design for COVID-19 waste management

“…The issue of waste disposal in hospitals is a very important problem and much research has been done in this area, including Gai et al (2009), Taghipour and Mosaferi (2009), Karpušenkaitė et al (2016), Jabbari et al (2012), andEren andTuzkaya (2019).…”