Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

AWARENESS OF DENTAL AUXILLARIES IN BIOMEDICAL WASTE DISPOSAL: A SURVEY

Background: Improper handling and disposal of medical waste is hazardous to waste handlers, health care workers, environment and also increases the risk of nosocomail infections. Objective:  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 disposing bags at a dental hospital.  Material and Methods: The study comprises of 18 dental auxillaries who was asked to dispose the biological, non-biological and semibiological material according to their knowledge into the color coded dustbin bags. 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. Waste generated per day was calculated of each category for one month. Results were expressed as a number and percentage of respondents for each question and were analyzed using the SPSS Version 17 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%).The mean and standard deviation (SD) of waste generated for the month of June 2014 in the dental hospital was 1.22±0.5. Conclusion: Dental auxillaries should be motivated to attend training and CDE programmes concerning waste management  so that they will be efficient to properly segregate, disinfect and dispose hospital  waste in an eco-friendly way.