Knowledge regarding biomedical waste management among nursing staffs of Teaching Hospital at Birgunj, Parsa, Nepal.

Abstract

Biomedical waste poses significant environmental and public health risks, necessitating proper handling and disposal. Nursing staff, as frontline healthcare providers, play a crucial role in ensuring safe biomedical waste management practices. The objective of this study is to identify the knowledge on biomedical waste management among nurses in a hospital at Birgunj. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses working in National Medical College and Teaching Hospital. The nonprobability purposive sampling technique was used to collect data from 169 nurses using a self-administered questionnaire. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23 facilitated data entry and analysis. Descriptive analysis, employing mean and standard deviation, was conducted, while inferential analysis utilized the chi-square test to explore associations between knowledge levels and selected demographic variables. Results indicated that among the 169 respondents, the majority (67.45%) possessed adequate level of knowledge. Notably, no significant associations were observed between the nurse's knowledge level on biomedical waste management and the selected demographic variables. To enhance knowledge among nurses regarding biomedical waste management, it is recommended that hospital authorities organize continuous education programs and periodic training sessions. These initiatives can contribute to an increased understanding of proper biomedical waste management practices among nursing staff.