Exploring sustainable healthcare waste management implementation in teaching hospitals in Malaysia
There are growing expectations for healthcare organizations to take active steps and introduce sustainable approaches to healthcare waste management (HCWM). This study investigated sustainable healthcare waste management (SHCWM) in two university teaching hospitals in Malaysia. The objectives of...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Penerbit UKM
2020
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/15763/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/15763/1/406-1546-1-PB.pdf |
| Summary: | There are growing expectations for healthcare organizations to take active steps and introduce
sustainable approaches to healthcare waste management (HCWM). This study investigated
sustainable healthcare waste management (SHCWM) in two university teaching hospitals in Malaysia.
The objectives of the study were to identify current practices and SHCWM initiatives as well as
examine the training and knowledge of hospital staff on sustainable healthcare waste management.
Following a questionnaire survey of 243 senior hospital staff, the study found that sustainable
healthcare waste management initiatives were being implemented in the healthcare facilities (HCFs)
surveyed. Descriptive statistics using frequency distributions and mean rank analysis were used to
analyze data from the 243 respondents. The findings revealed that proper segregation and sorting,
purchasing supplies that generate less hazardous waste, education/awareness about material reuse
and recycling, purchasing environmentally friendly products, and encouraging material reuse and
recycling through reward were the five initiatives perceived to be most implemented at the HCFs. The
study also found that majority of the respondents received training and were highly knowledgeable
about the health and environmental risks of HCW as well as SHCWM aspects such as waste
minimization. The findings from this study provide an overview of SHCWM in particularly large
teaching hospitals in Malaysia and suggests further research for a more comprehensive and wider
understanding of SHCWM in HCFs in Malaysia. |
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