Oral Health and Dental Management

Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding biomedical and hazardous waste disposal among radiation workers

5^th American Dental Congress

October 05-07, 2015 Philadelphia, USA

Anurag Tripathi

King George Medical University, India

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Oral Health Dent Manag

Abstract:

Objective: To evaluate the existing level of knowledge, attitude and practices regarding biomedical and hazardous waste disposal among radiation workers. Materials & Methods: This knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) study was done in King George Medical University, India. A self-administered questionnaire was designed and distributed among 97 radiation workers, who included radiology technicians and students undergoing training in diploma in Radiology. The survey form composed of 18 questions framed based on knowledge, attitude and those regarding the practice they followed in relation to health-care and hazardous waste management. The percentage response for each question from all the participants was obtained and the data was calculated. Results: The survey was done on 97 individuals and was attended by 86 of radiology diploma trainee and 11 radiology technicians. 56 of respondents underwent training for biomedical waste management out of which 53 could match the color coded bins. 25 of respondents were not aware about the ill effects of harmful chemicals used in the radiology. 3 respondents did not use gloves and worked bare handed on the patients. Only 6 technicians used lead apron for taking radiographs. For oil leakage from the X-ray machine, 78 respondents believed in informing the authorities, 4 were indifferent to it, while 15 wanted to clean the oil leakage from the X-ray machine. 12 subjects were not aware of presence of silver in used fixer solution. 83 respondents believed in diluting and throwing used developer in the drain, while 14 wanted to throw it without dilution. All the respondents believed that environmental pollution could be caused by throwing processing chemicals down the drains. Conclusion: It can be concluded from this survey study that, though many radiation workers have knowledge about the management of waste but are not applying it diligently. It is imperative that waste should be segregated and disposed off in a safe manner to protect the environment as well as human health.

Biography :

Anurag Tripathi has done his Masters in Dental Surgery in 2006. He is working as an Assistant Professor in Oral Medicine and Radiology department, Faculty of Dental Sciences, King George Medical University, Lucknow, India. He is the author of 17 articles in national and international journals and is a member of several international associations and professional bodies.

Email: dranuragtripathi@yahoo.co.in