Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of biomedical waste management among nursing staff in a tertiary care teaching hospital

Abstract

Objective: The management of biomedical waste (BMW) is a critical aspect of healthcare operations and it begins from the initial stage of waste generation, segregation at the source, storage at the site, disinfection, and transfer to the terminal disposal site/treatment site. Healthcare professionals, especially nursing staff, play a crucial role in biomedical waste management, given their direct involvement in patient care and waste handling activities. By understanding the current level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among nursing staff can help us identify gaps and curate plans for the future. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted among all the nursing staff working in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire. Results: Response rate was 93.5%. Majority of the nursing staff are knowledgeable about BMW management, however 16.4 % members lack the knowledge about BMW and its inclusions. Almost all the nursing staff held a positive attitude towards BMW management, but 8.86% of the nursing staff perceived reporting of needle stick injury as extra workload. While most nursing staff adhere to safe practices, 10.6% reported not knowing post-exposure prophylaxis protocol after needle stick injuries. Conclusions: Overall analysis of the KAP study revealed that 91% of participants exhibited adequate knowledge, 93% had positive attitude, and 96% demonstrated safe practices. The overall study findings were satisfactory and it identified the areas needing improvement to provide a better quality of care, creating a safe and healthy environment to the hospital staff and general public.

Keywords

• biomedical waste
• infection control
• public health
• nursing staff
• questionnaire