Biomedical waste management: knowledge, attitude and practise among post graduate students and staff of department of oral pathology and microbiology from various dental colleges in India

Lots of problems can be fenced if the biomedical waste management is properly executed. The activities that are usually performed as part of health care waste management involve segregation, storage, collection, transportation and disposal of biomedical waste. Since the implementation of the biomedical waste management rule in 1998, every concerned health personnel is expected to have proper knowledge and application of the same. In Oral Pathology & Microbiology department, a great number of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes are generated that can be detrimental to the environment and to personnel handling it if not properly managed. With this background, the study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and Practise of biomedical waste management among post graduate students and staff of Oral Pathology and Microbiology department, in various dental colleges across India. Methods: A cross- sectional questionnaire based survey containing 24 questions to assess the knowledge, attitude and practise on biomedical waste management was done. These questionnaires were distributed to teaching staff members and post graduate students belonging to Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology of various dental colleges in India. Results were expressed as number and percentage of respondents for each question and chi- square test was performed for statistical analysis. Results: The percentage of knowledge, attitude and practise scores were 72%, 65%, 42% among staffs and post graduate students and a significant association (p<0.001) was seen. Conclusion: The study proved that the knowledge and attitude regarding biomedical waste management among staff members and post graduate students were high but practise was comparatively low, implying the need for creating awareness and thus make its practise mandatory by including it in the dental curriculum compulsorily.