Saudi Journal of Oral and Dental Research (SJODR)
Volume-4 | Issue-02 | 58-61
Original Research Article
Evaluation of Knowledge and Practice of Waste Management amongst Dental Auxiliaries
Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Dr. Sanket Platia, Dr. Aditi Khanna, Dr. Sommya Kumari
Published : Feb. 18, 2019
Abstract
Introduction: Improper handling and disposal of medical waste is hazardous to waste handlers, health care workers,
environment and also increases the risk of nosocomail infections. This study was planned to evaluate the practical
calibration and awareness of dental auxillaries in disposal of hazardous biomedical waste generated during dental
treatment into color coded dustbins at a dental hospital. Material and Methods: The study comprises of 18 dental
auxillaries who was asked to dispose the simulated biological, non-biological and semibiological material according to
their knowledge into the color coded dustbin. The study was planned and carried out three times (for each dental
auxillary) at different days. As each respondent was asked to dispose the waste of each category three times, thus waste
was disposed for 162 times. Results: were expressed as a number and percentage of respondents for each question and
were analyzed using the SPSS Version 10 software. Chi-square test was performed and the level of significance was set
at p < 0.05. Results: The correct disposal of biological waste in red coded dustbin was n=31 (57%), non-biological waste
in green coded dustbin was n=30 (54%), semi biological waste in yellow coded dustbin was n=27 (50%). Thus waste
was correctly disposed 88 times (54%). Conclusion: Dental auxillaries should be motivated to attend training and
education programmes concerning waste management so that they will be efficient to properly segregate, disinfect
and dispose hospital waste in an eco-friendly way.