Published in: SAMJ November 2016, Vol. 106, 1096-1102, DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2016.v106i11.10689 / Background. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) produce various types of waste in the course of rendering healthcare services. Each classification of waste must be disposed of according to the prescribed guidelines. Incorrect disposal of waste may pose a danger to employees, patients and the environment. HCPs must have adequate knowledge of the disposal of medical waste. Objectives. To determine the knowledge and practices of HCPs with regard to medical waste disposal at a hospital in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Methods. A quantitative cross-sectional research approach was used. The study respondents included nurses, medical doctors, dental health staff and allied health staff. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires and analysed using IBM SPSS version 22.0. Results. A high proportion of HCPs did not have adequate knowledge regarding the disposal of medical waste, but nevertheless disposed of medical waste appropriately. While the knowledge and practices of HCPs with regard to medical waste disposal were not associated with age, gender or years of experience, there was an association between professional category and knowledge and practices. Conclusions. Disposal of medical waste is the responsibility of all HCPs. All categories of HCPs should receive regular training to improve their knowledge regarding disposal of medical waste and to minimise the risks associated with improper waste management. This will further increase compliance with the guidelines on disposal of medical waste.

Hazardous waste management practices at ten medical institutions in Cape Town were studied and tests undertaken to determine concentrations of specific chemicals and radioactivity in liquid effluent outflows, as well as emissions from incinerators. To investigate the sewage outflow for Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), N, pH and heavy metals, a continuous sampler was installed at two hospitals and a Medical School. Samples were analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry for As, Hg, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Fe. Mercury levels ranged from l-70μg l⁻¹, exceeding the Environmental Target Quality of 0.04μg l⁻¹, and the South African General Effluent Standard of 20μg l⁻¹ . All other heavy metals were below General Effluent Standard Limits. In addition, a sludge sample from the Athlone Wastewater Plant was tested for Hg, realising 6mg kg⁻¹ on a dry weight basis, which was within Department of Health (DOH) Guidelines of 10 mg kg⁻¹. Samples of incinerator bottom ash analysed for heavy metal content gave Hg concentrations of 1.1-4.0mg kg⁻¹, and Zn concentrations of 5.1-11.0g kg⁻¹. Incinerator ash was also analysed for radio-activity and substantial levels of ¹²⁵I (332-650 bq kg⁻¹ ), and Ga⁶⁷ (9186bq kg⁻¹) recorded, which exceeded the South African limits of 200bq kg⁻¹. In Cape Town, hospital incinerators are old, burn large amounts of plastics and produce toxic emissions. They are all situated in residential or inner-city areas, and even though there is legislation dealing with emissions and chemical waste, these laws are not being enforced. Based on the above results, an investigation was carried out to assess attitudes to and knowledge of hazardous waste in the ten institutions. One thousand questionnaires were administered to staff, and the data from the 80% response rate statistically analysed. Results suggest that there is an urgent need for an holistic approach to toxic waste management, encompassing enforceable legislation coupled with on-going educational programmes and strong support from top management and all levels of staff.

Thesis (M.P.H.M. (Primary Health Care Management))--Mahidol University, 2008. / LICL has E-Thesis 0039 ; please contact computer services.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Illinois at Chicago, 1999. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Illinois at Chicago, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references.

Resíduos de Serviços de Saúde (RSS) podem causar danos à saúde e ao ambiente se não houver um gerenciamento seguro e adequado. No Brasil, os serviços de saúde devem seguir as recomendações técnicas e legais definidas pela Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária e Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente. Porém, não há definição técnica e legal sobre o manejo de resíduos gerados nos domicílios, e que sejam do tipo dos RSS. Considerando o elevado número de pessoas com Diabetes Mellitus (DM) no Brasil, e que, dentre esses indivíduos, 20 a 25% são usuários de insulina, em tratamento ambulatorial e domiciliar, faz-se necessária a existência de um sistema organizado para o manejo desse tipo de resíduo no domicílio. Este projeto visou conhecer a realidade do manejo de resíduos perfurocortantes e de origem química e biológica em domicílios de pessoas com DM, usuários de insulina. Esta pesquisa de caráter descritivo e exploratório, foi desenvolvida com 26 usuários de insulina do Núcleo de Saúde da Família I de Ribeirão Preto-SP. O método para a coleta de dados foi a entrevista com perguntas semi-estruturadas. Os dados coletados foram compilados em um banco de dados do Programa Excel e categorizados em tabelas e gráficos, procedendo-se à análise estatística descritiva. Esta investigação foi realizada após a aprovação do CEP do CSE-Cuiabá da FMRP/USP. Os resultados obtidos revelaram que a faixa etária predominante dos usuários de insulina era de 61 até mais de 80 anos para 76,8% dos sujeitos, com apenas 1 sujeito (3,8%) na faixa etária de 11 a 20 anos. O tempo de diagnóstico variou de 10 a 29 anos para 61,5% dos usuários de insulina. Dos sujeitos deste estudo, 73,9% referiram que o tempo de uso da insulina variou entre 0 e 9 anos e de 10 a 29 anos para 23% dos indivíduos. A aplicação da insulina no próprio domicílio foi referida por 88,5% dos sujeitos. Em relação ao monitoramento da glicemia capilar no domicílio, 80,8% dos pacientes afirmaram realizar o teste regularmente. A reutilização de seringas e agulhas foi referida por 69,6% da população estudada. Quanto ao acondicionamento, os sujeitos afirmaram acondicionar as seringas e agulhas (65,2%) e lancetas (52,2%) em garrafas plásticas. Porém, os usuários de insulina referiram acondicionar as fitas reagentes (47,8%) e os frascos de insulina (82,7%) junto com os resíduos comuns. Ao que se refere ao descarte dos RSS gerados com aplicação da insulina e com o teste de glicemia capilar, a maioria dos entrevistados informou realizar o descarte de seringas e agulhas (57,8%) e lancetas (53,8%) em garrafas plásticas, encaminhando, posteriormente, para algum serviço de saúde. No entanto, o descarte das fitas reagentes (61,6%) e frascos de insulina (76,9%) são destinados para a coleta pública, juntamente com os resíduos comuns do domicílio. Em relação às orientações recebidas para o manejo e descarte desses resíduos, 61,5% dos sujeitos afirmaram ter recebido algum tipo de orientação de algum serviço de saúde. O estudo revela que há uma inadequação do manejo e descarte dos resíduos oriundos do tratamento e monitoramento do DM no domicílio de usuários de insulina. Aponta, também, para a necessidade de ampliar as ações educativas em saúde com vistas à geração de resíduos perfurocortantes e de origem química e biológica nos domicílios de usuários de insulina, no sentido de minimizar riscos de exposição a esses agentes ambientais. / Medical Waste (MW) can cause damage to health and to the environment if there is no safe and proper management. In Brazil, health services should follow the legal and technical recommendations established by the National Agency for Sanitary Surveillance and the National Council on the Environment. However, there are no legal and technical definitions about the management of waste generated in households, which are of MW kind. Considering the high number of people with diabetes mellitus (DM) in Brazil, and that, among these individuals, 20 to 25% are insulin users in outpatient treatment and home care, it is necessary to have an organized system for managing this type of waste at home. This project aimed to know the reality of the management of sharp, chemical and biological waste in households of people with DM, insulin users. This descriptive and exploratory research was developed with 26 insulin users of the Center for Family Health I, in Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo. Data collection was carried out using semi-structured interview. Collected data were compiled into a database of the Excel Program and categorized in tables and graphs, then descriptive statistical analysis was performed. The research was carried out after approval of the Research Ethics Committee of the Health Teaching Center (CSE) Cuiabá, of the FMRP/USP (University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto Medical School). Results revealed that the predominant age group of the insulin users was 61 to over 80 years for 76.8% of subjects, with only one subject (3.8%) aged 11 to 20 years. The time of diagnosis ranged from 10 to 29 years for 61.5% of the participants. Of the study subjects, 73.9% reported that the time of use of insulin ranged between 0 and 9 years and 10 to 29 years for 23% of the individuals. The application of insulin in the household was reported by 88.5% of the subjects. Regarding the monitoring of capillary blood glucose at home, 80.8% of the patients reported performing the test regularly. The reuse of syringes and needles was reported by 69.6% of the population. Concerning the storage, the subjects reported storing syringes and needles (65.2%) and lancets (52.2%) in plastic bottles. However, users of insulin reported storing reagent strips (47.8%) and vials of insulin (82.7%) with ordinary waste. Concerning the disposal of MW generated with the application of insulin and capillary blood glucose testing, most respondents reported disposing syringes and needles (57.8%) and lancets (53.8%) in plastic bottles, and later sending to some health service. However, the disposal of reagent strips (61.6%) and vials of insulin (76.9%) are forwarded to public collection, along with common household waste. In relation to the guidance received for the handling and disposal of such waste, 61.5% of the subjects reported having received some guidance from health services. The study reveals that there is inadequate handling and disposal of waste from treatment and monitoring of DM in the households of insulin users. It also points out the need to expand health education actions concerning the generation of sharp, chemical and biological waste in households of insulin users to minimize risks of exposure to these environmental agents.

Resíduos de Serviços de Saúde (RSS) podem causar danos à saúde e ao ambiente se não houver um gerenciamento seguro e adequado. No Brasil, os serviços de saúde devem seguir as recomendações técnicas e legais definidas pela Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária e Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente. Porém, não há definição técnica e legal sobre o manejo de resíduos gerados nos domicílios, e que sejam do tipo dos RSS. Considerando o elevado número de pessoas com Diabetes Mellitus (DM) no Brasil, e que, dentre esses indivíduos, 20 a 25% são usuários de insulina, em tratamento ambulatorial e domiciliar, faz-se necessária a existência de um sistema organizado para o manejo desse tipo de resíduo no domicílio. Este projeto visou conhecer a realidade do manejo de resíduos perfurocortantes e de origem química e biológica em domicílios de pessoas com DM, usuários de insulina. Esta pesquisa de caráter descritivo e exploratório, foi desenvolvida com 26 usuários de insulina do Núcleo de Saúde da Família I de Ribeirão Preto-SP. O método para a coleta de dados foi a entrevista com perguntas semi-estruturadas. Os dados coletados foram compilados em um banco de dados do Programa Excel e categorizados em tabelas e gráficos, procedendo-se à análise estatística descritiva. Esta investigação foi realizada após a aprovação do CEP do CSE-Cuiabá da FMRP/USP. Os resultados obtidos revelaram que a faixa etária predominante dos usuários de insulina era de 61 até mais de 80 anos para 76,8% dos sujeitos, com apenas 1 sujeito (3,8%) na faixa etária de 11 a 20 anos. O tempo de diagnóstico variou de 10 a 29 anos para 61,5% dos usuários de insulina. Dos sujeitos deste estudo, 73,9% referiram que o tempo de uso da insulina variou entre 0 e 9 anos e de 10 a 29 anos para 23% dos indivíduos. A aplicação da insulina no próprio domicílio foi referida por 88,5% dos sujeitos. Em relação ao monitoramento da glicemia capilar no domicílio, 80,8% dos pacientes afirmaram realizar o teste regularmente. A reutilização de seringas e agulhas foi referida por 69,6% da população estudada. Quanto ao acondicionamento, os sujeitos afirmaram acondicionar as seringas e agulhas (65,2%) e lancetas (52,2%) em garrafas plásticas. Porém, os usuários de insulina referiram acondicionar as fitas reagentes (47,8%) e os frascos de insulina (82,7%) junto com os resíduos comuns. Ao que se refere ao descarte dos RSS gerados com aplicação da insulina e com o teste de glicemia capilar, a maioria dos entrevistados informou realizar o descarte de seringas e agulhas (57,8%) e lancetas (53,8%) em garrafas plásticas, encaminhando, posteriormente, para algum serviço de saúde. No entanto, o descarte das fitas reagentes (61,6%) e frascos de insulina (76,9%) são destinados para a coleta pública, juntamente com os resíduos comuns do domicílio. Em relação às orientações recebidas para o manejo e descarte desses resíduos, 61,5% dos sujeitos afirmaram ter recebido algum tipo de orientação de algum serviço de saúde. O estudo revela que há uma inadequação do manejo e descarte dos resíduos oriundos do tratamento e monitoramento do DM no domicílio de usuários de insulina. Aponta, também, para a necessidade de ampliar as ações educativas em saúde com vistas à geração de resíduos perfurocortantes e de origem química e biológica nos domicílios de usuários de insulina, no sentido de minimizar riscos de exposição a esses agentes ambientais. / Medical Waste (MW) can cause damage to health and to the environment if there is no safe and proper management. In Brazil, health services should follow the legal and technical recommendations established by the National Agency for Sanitary Surveillance and the National Council on the Environment. However, there are no legal and technical definitions about the management of waste generated in households, which are of MW kind. Considering the high number of people with diabetes mellitus (DM) in Brazil, and that, among these individuals, 20 to 25% are insulin users in outpatient treatment and home care, it is necessary to have an organized system for managing this type of waste at home. This project aimed to know the reality of the management of sharp, chemical and biological waste in households of people with DM, insulin users. This descriptive and exploratory research was developed with 26 insulin users of the Center for Family Health I, in Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo. Data collection was carried out using semi-structured interview. Collected data were compiled into a database of the Excel Program and categorized in tables and graphs, then descriptive statistical analysis was performed. The research was carried out after approval of the Research Ethics Committee of the Health Teaching Center (CSE) Cuiabá, of the FMRP/USP (University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto Medical School). Results revealed that the predominant age group of the insulin users was 61 to over 80 years for 76.8% of subjects, with only one subject (3.8%) aged 11 to 20 years. The time of diagnosis ranged from 10 to 29 years for 61.5% of the participants. Of the study subjects, 73.9% reported that the time of use of insulin ranged between 0 and 9 years and 10 to 29 years for 23% of the individuals. The application of insulin in the household was reported by 88.5% of the subjects. Regarding the monitoring of capillary blood glucose at home, 80.8% of the patients reported performing the test regularly. The reuse of syringes and needles was reported by 69.6% of the population. Concerning the storage, the subjects reported storing syringes and needles (65.2%) and lancets (52.2%) in plastic bottles. However, users of insulin reported storing reagent strips (47.8%) and vials of insulin (82.7%) with ordinary waste. Concerning the disposal of MW generated with the application of insulin and capillary blood glucose testing, most respondents reported disposing syringes and needles (57.8%) and lancets (53.8%) in plastic bottles, and later sending to some health service. However, the disposal of reagent strips (61.6%) and vials of insulin (76.9%) are forwarded to public collection, along with common household waste. In relation to the guidance received for the handling and disposal of such waste, 61.5% of the subjects reported having received some guidance from health services. The study reveals that there is inadequate handling and disposal of waste from treatment and monitoring of DM in the households of insulin users. It also points out the need to expand health education actions concerning the generation of sharp, chemical and biological waste in households of insulin users to minimize risks of exposure to these environmental agents.

NCRP report No.160 states that medical exposure increased to nearly half of the total radiation exposure of the U.S. population from all sources in 2006 (NCRP 2009). Part of this increase in exposure is due to the rise in nuclear medicine procedures. With this observed growth in medical radionuclide usage, there is an increase in the radionuclide being released into wastewater after the medical procedures. The question then arises: what is the behavior of medical radionuclides and their impurities in the wastewater process? It is important to note that, often, medical radionuclides are not exactly 100% radionuclide pure, but they meet a certain standard of purity. Of particular interest are the longer lived impurities associated with these medical radionuclides. The longer lived impurities have a higher chance of reaching the environment. The goal of this study is to identify the behavior of medical radionuclides and their impurities associated with some of the more common radiopharmaceuticals, including Tc-99m and I-131, and locate and quantify levels of these impurities in municipal wastewater and develop a model that can be used to estimate potential dose and risk to the public. / Graduation date: 2012 / Access restricted to the OSU Community at author's request from May 24, 2012 - May 24, 2014

Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / Introduction The aim of the study was to determine the knowledge and practices of health care workers on medical waste disposal at George Masebe Hospital, Waterberg District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Method A cross sectional study was conducted and simple random sampling was used to select participants. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaire which where total of 141 participants were sampled using the Slovin formula. Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS Version 22 and both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to answer the study objectives. Results The study shows that 43% of the respondents had good knowledge on medical waste disposal, 13% were not sure and 44% had insufficient knowledge. Forty nine percent (49%) of the respondents practiced safe medical waste disposal, 4, 3% were moderate in practice and 46, 1% had insufficient practice in place. There was no statistical significant relationship between knowledge and practice of medical waste disposal control measures of health care workers. Conclusion The study concluded that knowledge of the respondents on medical waste disposal was insufficient, there were satisfactory medical waste practices and there was no relationship between knowledge and practice.