Factors Affecting Medical Waste Management Among Healthcare Personnel on their Competency In Level 2 Private Hospitals In Pampanga: Enhancement of Operational Development Plan

Healthcare waste or medical waste poses a significant threat to environmental sustainability and public health. This requires effective waste management strategies. This study explored the factors affecting medical waste management among medical personnel. A total of 200 healthcare personnel from Hospital A, Hospital B, and Hospital C, three selected Level 2 private hospitals in Pampanga. The research design is descriptive-quantitative-correlational. Three dimensions of factors in healthcare waste management served as foci of the study: environmental awareness, infection prevention and control, safety compliance, and healthcare waste management resources. Three sets of questionnaires were used to gather data. The data were analyzed and interpreted through descriptive statistics. The healthcare personnel respondents reflect a workforce of varied medical groups in their early middle adulthood and mid-career experiences. They come from diverse ethnic groups with a preponderance of Pampangos. The factors affecting medical waste management in terms of environmental awareness, infection prevention and control, safety compliance, and healthcare waste management resources are at the moderate/good level, suggesting a need to raise the level of observance in all dimensions. The level of observance of the factors in healthcare waste management is significantly associated with the demographic variables of age, position/designation, and years of experience/service but not significantly associated with ethnicity. The proposed operational plan is envisioned to enhance existing operational plans that address the factors in medical waste/healthcare waste management and competency of healthcare personnel in the target hospitals.