A Study to Assess the Knowledge of Staff Nurses Regarding Biomedical Waste Management in Government Medical College Srinagar and its Associated Hospitals

Abstract

Hospital is a place, which is frequently accessed by the people irrespective of age, sex, caste, religion, region and even nationality. The main aim of the hospital is to reduce health problems, eliminate potential risk, treat sick people. The healthcare service unavoidably produce waste which itself are hazardous to health. As the nurses spend maximum time in the health care settings than any other member of the health team, it increases their exposure and risk to the hazards present in the hospital environment. Keeping this in mind the following study was undertaken. Problem statement: A Study to assess the knowledge of staff nurses about biomedical waste management in GMC Srinagar & Its Associated Hospitals. Objectives: 1) To assess the knowledge of staff nurses regarding biomedical waste management. 2) To compare the level of knowledge of staff nurses working in GMC Srinagar and its associated hospitals. Method: A descriptive design was used for the study. A sample of 120 staff nurses who were working in GMC Srinagar and its associated hospitals were selected by using purposive sampling technique. Results: The findings revealed that 60% belonged to age group of (20-30), 21% belonged to (3140), 14% belonged to (41-50), and 5% belonged to above 51 age group. The study revealed that majority of the respondents (88%) were females and only 12% were males; half of the Respondents were having senior secondary as them educational qualification (52%), 1/4th of the respondents were having secondary as their educational qualification, only 4% were post graduates. The study depicted that 50% of the respondents have GNM qualification, 31% are graduate, 14% have MPHW diploma and 5% have post basic nursing professional qualification. Regarding the experience, the study depicted that 88% of respondents have 0-10 years of experience, 9% have 11-20 years experience; only 3% have 21-30 years experience. The study also revealed that only 11% respondents have attended in-service Programme on BMW and majority of the respondents i.e. 89% have not attended any in-Service programme on BMW. Most of the respondents (87%) have average knowledge while as 8% have good knowledge and 5% have poor level of knowledge. Conclusion: While concluding this research it was found that the nurses working in the GMC and its associated hospitals have average level of knowledge. The mean score obtained by the Nurse working in: SMHS =13.975, LD HOSPITAL =15.45, BONE AND JOINT HOSPITAL= 15.97. Thus, while comparing the knowledge level of Nurses working in GMC and Associated Hospitals; it was found that Nurses working in bones and joints hospital has highest knowledge level followed by LD hospital and then SMHS hospital.