Environmental sustainability and impact on clinical safety associated with the use and management of examination gloves in healthcare units
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48492/servir0216.45570Keywords:
Environmental Sustainability, Gloves Protective, Practice Guideline, Hospital Infection Control Program, Disease PreventionAbstract
Introduction: The potential benefits of gloves need to be assessed in practice, in a real-world context. Excessive glove use in hospitals is a significant concern for various reasons, including the high financial costs, the environmental impact of overusing gloves, contributing to increased waste and associated disposal challenges, as well as obtaining information on potential inefficiencies or areas for improvement in hospital operations.
Objective/s: Assess the consumption, quality, and efficiency of the gloves under study versus conventional exam gloves dispensed in cardboard boxes.
Methods: A cross-sectional observational study with a questionnaire applied to healthcare professionals.
Results: Waste reduction with the use of the glove under study, with values between 63.74% and 81.96%, in the services participating in the study. Reduction in total consumption in the service with similar care activity between the two weeks, totaling 1056 gloves. The mean scores for the overall packaging evaluation were 16.4 points and 16.6 points for the overall glove evaluation.
Conclusion: It becomes evident that sustainability must be integrated into hospital management as a core pillar, going beyond cost reduction and incorporating criteria of quality, efficiency, and environmental impact, as an incentive for innovation in packaging and materials.
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