MEASURING THE MEDICAL WASTE AWARENESS LEVELS OF ORAL AND DENTAL HEALTH HOSPITALS AND CENTERS EMPLOYEES

Abstract

Medical waste management is a critical process significantly impacted by the knowledge level of healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals play a fundamental role in the proper separation, transportation, and disposal of medical waste generated during their daily work. Lack of proper knowledge and practice at every stage of these processes can lead to numerous problems, ranging from public health risks to environmental damage. In this respect, institutional medical waste management is of paramount importance. Furthermore, the rates of medications and consumables used in oral and dental healthcare services, and consequently the amount of medical waste generated, are increasing significantly. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between the institutional knowledge level of medical waste management and the medical waste knowledge level of healthcare professionals among 417 employees working in oral and dental healthcare centers. Correlation analysis revealed a positively significant correlation of 84.2% (r=0.842, p<0.05) between the institutional knowledge level of medical waste management and the medical waste knowledge level of healthcare professionals.