INTRODUCTION:

Hospital is a place of almighty, a place to serve the patient. Since beginning, the hospitals are known for the treatment of sick persons. But we are unaware about the adverse effect of the garbage and filth generated by them on human body and environment. Now it is a well- established fact that there are many adverse harmful effects to the environment including human being which are caused by the ''hospital waste'' generated during the patient care.¹

''K. Park''. Social and preventive medicine state that waste management is one of the important public health measures. If we go into the historical background, before the discovery of bacteria as cause of disease, the principal focus of preventive medicine and public health has been on sanitation. Inadequate improper handling of care waste may have serious public health consequences and a significant impact on the environment.

Appropriate management of health care waste is thus a crucial component of environmental health protection. It should be become an integral part health care service.²

According to BMW rule 1998 all the BMW shall be treated and disposal according to the rule with the help of requisite BMW treatment facilities like incinerators, autoclave, microwave system of waste at a common waste treatment facility or any other waste treatment facility. It is well known that act that establishment of such facility individually is beyond the capacity of even small or medicine hospital and nursing home. Further it appears cost effective to establish one large facility, rather than establishing multiple small facilities^.3

The hosptial wastes include all types of waste that produce during diagnosis, treatment and provide the care to the patient. In which including sharp, pathological waste, human blood and blood products culture and stocks etc.²

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

Health care waste is generally defined "all waste generated by the health care facilities, such as hospital, clinicians, labs, and also includes waste from veterinary facilities. Although health care waste comprises a very small portion of the entire waste stream, it deserves special attention because of hazards to human health, if not managed properly.⁴

In the 21st century with increased use of dispoasable material and the presence of dreaded like Heptitis-B and AIDS, it is utmost important to take care of the infected or hazardous waste to save the mankind from disaster.The Health care institution or hospitals which are responsible for care of morbid population are emitting voluminous quantity of rubbish, garbage and Biomedical Waste matter each day from wards, operation the operation theatre and outpatient areas.Proper management of hospital waste is essential to maintain hygiene, aesthetics, cleanlines and control of along environmrental pollution.⁵

WHO conducted study on the waste generated in 12 hospitals and the waste generated and weighed during a period of month. The study revealed that in 58% of hospital paper and household waste are segregated from total medical waste in 96% hospital infections medical waste is segregated.⁶

Thus, nursing students must be aware about proper practices regarding biomedical waste aware about proper practices regarding Biomedical Waste Management. So that they could make it in use of their professional careers thereafter.⁷

PROBLEM STATEMENT:

A descriptive study to assess the knowledge of Nursing students regarding Biomedical waste management in selected college of nursing, Ludhiana, Punjab.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To assess the knowledge of nursing students regarding Bio medical waste management.

2. To find association of knowledge level of the nursing students regarding biomedical waste management with the selected demographic variables.

3. To enhance the knowledge of nursing students regarding biomedical waste management with the help of pamphlets.

Research Design:

The descriptive research design was used to assess the knowledge of nursing students regarding Biomedical waste management in selected college of nursing, Ludhiana, Punjab.

Research approach:

Convenience sampling technique was used to select the samples.

Research setting:

The study was conducting at selected College of Nursing, Ludhiana, Punjab.

METHODOLOGY:

The descriptive research design was used to assess the knowledge of nursing students regarding Biomedical waste management. The study was conducting at selected College of Nursing, Ludhiana, Punjab.The targeted population of present study was GNM 1st year and P.B.BSc 1st year students.The total sample size was 50 nursing students. Convenience sampling technique was used to select the samples. The structured questionnaire was developed and information was collected from sample using Questionnaire to meet the objectives of the study. Tool was developed by review of literature, Internet search and consultation and discussion with nursing experts. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with mean, standard deviation; percentage and ANOVA test.

RESULT:

The majority of 36(72%) GNM first year students and P.B.BSc first year students had inadequate level of knowledge 14(28%) students knowledge level was moderate.There is highly significant association between the level of knowledge with selected demographic variable was accepted for hospital where practice is done. With respect to other demographic variables, there is no significant association for age, gender, type of family and subject.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The study calls for the need of in service education and training of nursing students about Bio-Medical Waste Management.A seminar study needs to be undertaken with a large sample for better generalization. In service education program/ structured teaching program/ workshops/ seminars should be organized for students, so that they can have adequate knowledge regarding Biomedical waste management, its disposal, segregation and management.

REFERENCES:

1. Chandra Hem. Hospital waste an Environmental Hazard and its Management. (1999); 3(5)

2. K. Park social preventive and medicine, Published by Bancesides Brothers, page 595.

3. Gordon JG, Rein hasdt PA, Denys GA (2004); Medical waste.

4. Gazette of india. Ministry of Environment, Forest and climate change notification. 2015;

5. Dhruv P. Hirani. International Journal of Innovative Research in Advanced Engineering. 2014; 1 (8):

6. Punjab Pollution Control Board. Obligations on the part of the health care establishments under BMW Management Rules. 2016;

7. U.W Fule, S.S. Ningare, P.M. Telkhade. Environmental Hazard and Waste Management. 2017; 2(5): 1-4.

Received on 06.02.2022 Modified on 08.03.2022

Int. J. of Advances in Nur. Management. 2022; 10(2):127-128.

DOI: 10.52711/2454-2652.2022.00032