ASSESSMENT OF THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES ABOUT MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT: THE CASE OF KÜTAHYA, TÜRKİYE

This study aims to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of employees of two hospitals in Kütahya regarding medical waste. The questionnaire conducted participants to indicate the extent to which they participated in the assessments by considering medical waste management practices in the facility where they work. The study population consisted of hospital employees working for two hospitals in the center of Kütahya, and the sample consisted of 516 hospital employees who participated in the survey, but some items weren’t answered by the participants. The first 7 questions are demographic ones, the 8th question consists of a 5-point Likert scale with 16 items, and the last 7 questions consist of a total of 15 questions about whether the meanings of the symbols in the pictures are known or not, as well as the questionnaire to assess knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions. The data analyzed by SPSS V.26. At the last part of the questionnaire, 96.7% of the respondents answered the question about "radioactive waste emblem correctly". Similarly, the 96.7% of the respondents answered correctly the question "What color are the bags used for medical waste in the healthcare facility where you work?", as “red”. Based on the results of the research, it was found that the level of knowledge of healthcare professionals in the two hospitals was at a high level. Medical waste knowledge level varies significantly depending on the health institution where the individual works, age, and length of service. The level of medical waste knowledge does not differ significantly depending on the individual's gender, the unit the individual works in, the individual's position in the hospital, or the individual's education level. In the analysis results conducted to determine the relationship between participants' medical waste knowledge and awareness levels and gender, it was determined that there was no significant difference between the answers given to all statements and in terms of gender. Recommendations were made to help manage medical waste and improve the level of knowledge and awareness of medical waste. Informative work on the courses given at regular intervals to inform the employees about the activities of the medical waste sterilization facility by organizing a technical trip. As a result of the study, it is concluded that increasing the training of hospital employees on medical waste is of great importance in terms of public health, personnel health and environmental health.