Effect of a Biomedical Waste Management Educational Program on Nurses' Occupational Hazards and Safety Measures Compliance

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 1- Assistant professor of nursing administration, Faculty of nursing, El Minia University

2 2- Lecturer of Nursing administration, faculty of nursing, Ain shams University

3 3- Lecturer of Nursing administration, faculty of nursing, Aswan University, Aswan, Egypt.

Abstract

Background: Biomedical management of waste is vital to reduce exposure to occupational health hazards and enhance compliance with safety measures. Aim: To examine the effect of the biomedical waste management educational program on nurses' occupational hazards and safety measures compliance. Design: A quasi-experimental research design was utilized in the current study. Subjects: A convenient sample of 257 (23 head nurses and 234 staff nurses) was involved in the current study. Setting: The current study was carried out at Minia Cardiothoracic University Hospital. Tools: Three tools were used in this study. Tool I: Nurses' Knowledge about Biomedical Waste Management Questionnaire, Tool II: Occupational Hazards Questionnaire, and Tool III: Compliance of Safety Measures Questionnaire. Results: The current study found that (85.00%, 85.00%, and 84.60%) of the studied nurses had high total knowledge scores, occurrence of occupational hazards regarding biomedical waste management, and self-report compliance regarding safety measures, which were improved after program implementation, respectively. Conclusions: Biomedical waste management educational program positively affects nurses by improving their knowledge about biomedical waste, self-report compliance regarding safety measures, and decreasing occupational health hazards. Recommendations: Periodical workshops, training, seminars, and programs for the nurses from all healthcare sectors in service education for newly nurses to enhance compliance with safety measures and minimize occupational hazards.

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