A Study of University Hospital Health care worker's relevant factors of Medical Waste Management Practices

This study was a cross-sectional study to examine the status of knowledge, attitude, and practice on medical waste among hospital employees, to identify the correlation of each, and to identify factors influencing attitude and practice of medical wastes. Data from 150 healthcare workers at a university hospital in Gyeonggi S city were collected using a structured questionnaire from October 4 to November 2, 2010. A questionnaire originally developed by Kyoung Hee Park (2004) was modified to measure attitude and practice of medical waste and another questionnaire developed by Hye Jeong Jang (2007) was modified to measure knowledge of medical waste. The collected data were analysed using the SPSS Window program(Ver 18.0). And descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis were performed. The results of this study were summarized as follows. 1) There were no significant differences on medical waste knowledge among subjects regardless general characteristics & environment-related characteristics of subject. 2) There were significant differences on attitudes among the subjects by occupation type (F=-1.996, p<.05) and awareness level of severity on environmental issues, (F=9.874, p<.001), awareness level of the need for environmental protection (F=10.648, p<.001). 3) There were significant differences on practice among the subjects with interests in environmental issues(F=5.579, p<.05), and awareness level on need for environmental protection(F=5.323, p<.05). 4) The correlations were positive between knowledge and practice(r=.17, p=.036), attitudes and practices(r=.46, p=.000). 5) As a result of the multiple regression analysis, working as a nurse(B=-.17p<.05) and positive attitude on medical waste handling(B=.47p=.000) were found to be significant predictors for the practice. 6) As a result of the multiple regression analysis, awareness on severity of environmental issues(p<.05) and awareness on need for environmental protection, (p=.000) were found to be significant predictors for the attitude. From the study results above, the higher awareness on severity of environmental issues and the higher awareness on the need for environmental protection led to more positive attitude. And the more positive attitude on medical waste predicted better practice. Therefore, when planning a medical waste education for hospital health care workers, providing knowledge, medical waste management might be essential to emphasize the importance of proper handling medical wastes and also to reinforce the awareness on severity of environmental issues as well as the need for environmental protection to form positive attitudes for better practices.

Author dc:creator

• 유, 주영

Contributors dc:contributor

• 이, 순영
• 보건대학원
• 200927094

• 의료폐기물
• 지식
• 태도
• 실천
• 대학병원 의료 종사자
• Medical Waste
• University Hospital Health Care Worker

Language dc:language

ko

Identifier

http://dcoll.ajou.ac.kr:9080/dcollection/jsp/common/DcLoOrgPer.jsp?sItemId=000000011611
000000011611

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.ajou.ac.kr:201003/4376