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Title: Optimizing Dental Waste Practices: A Comprehensive Review of Waste Management in Hospital and Private Dental Practice across Pakistan
Authors: Noor ul Huda, Hina Nasim, Haseeb Ahmad, Hazik Shahzad, Anosha Mujtaba, Sayyeda Maria Aftab
Journal: Journal of Islamabad Medical and Dental College (JIMDC)
Publisher: Healers Educational Society
Country: Pakistan
Year: 2024
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
Language: English
DOI: 10.35787/jimdc.v13i1.1127
Keywords: Awarenessdental wastemercury waste management,
Objective: To analyze and document the management of biomedical waste, assessing potential health and environmental risks, over a period of six months throughout the dental hospitals of Pakistan.
Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional questionnaire-based study, the questionnaire was distributed to final-year students, house officers, postgraduate trainees, practicing dentists, and dental assistants in both private and public healthcare settings across Pakistan through electronic media. A convenient sampling technique was used, and the study was completed in six months, from April to September 2023, with a sample size of 356, actively practicing dental professionals, students, trainees, and dental assistants with a minimum of 6 months of experience included in this study. Non-practicing dentists and assistants within the last 6 months were excluded from the study. The study assessed criteria and dental practitioners' knowledge regarding waste disposal in dental setups and hospitals.
Result: In biomedical waste disposal practices across hospitals and clinics, incorrect methods were observed in amalgam disposal (77.2% vs. 75.8%), fixer disposal (92.2% vs. 87.1%), bloody gauze disposal (52.1% vs. 68.5%), tooth disposal (73.2% vs. 60.4%), sharps disposal (75.1% vs. 29.4%), and solid waste disposal (24.8% vs. 24.4%) in hospitals and clinics, respectively. Proper methods, such as separators, silver recovery, yellow bags, and incineration, were variably used/adopted.
Conclusion: According to the current study, most private dental facilities and hospitals are unaware of the various types of biomedical waste and do not use proper disposal methods. There is an immediate need for practitioners to receive ongoing dental education on waste management in dental care.
To analyze and document the management of biomedical waste in dental hospitals and clinics across Pakistan, assessing potential health and environmental risks.
A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study conducted over six months (April-September 2023) using electronic media to distribute questionnaires to final-year students, house officers, postgraduate trainees, practicing dentists, and dental assistants in private and public healthcare settings across Pakistan. A convenient sampling technique was used with a sample size of 356. Participants had a minimum of 6 months of experience. SPSS software (version 20) was used for data analysis.
graph TD
A["Design Questionnaire"] --> B["Distribute Questionnaire via Electronic Media"]
B --> C["Collect Responses"]
C --> D["Analyze Data using SPSS v20"]
D --> E["Identify Waste Disposal Practices"]
E --> F["Assess Health and Environmental Risks"]
F --> G["Formulate Conclusions and Recommendations"]
The study highlights a significant lack of awareness regarding various types of biomedical waste and proper disposal methods among dental practitioners in Pakistan. There is an urgent need for ongoing education on waste management in dental care to mitigate health and environmental risks.
Incorrect waste disposal methods were prevalent, particularly for amalgam (77.2% vs 75.8%), fixer (92.2% vs 87.1%), bloody gauze (52.1% vs 68.5%), tooth (73.2% vs 60.4%), and sharps (75.1% vs 29.4%) in hospitals and clinics, respectively. Proper methods like separators, silver recovery, yellow bags, and incineration were variably used.
Most private dental facilities and hospitals in Pakistan are unaware of proper biomedical waste disposal methods. Continuous dental education on waste management is crucial for practitioners to address the significant health and environmental challenges posed by biomedical waste.
1. The study was conducted over a period of six months from April to September 2023. (Confirmed)
2. A sample size of 356 dental professionals, students, trainees, and assistants participated in the study. (Confirmed)
3. Incorrect disposal methods for amalgam were observed in 77.2% of hospitals and 75.8% of clinics. (Confirmed)
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