The Effect of the Educational Intervention Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior on the Employees' Behaviors in the Waste Management of Hafez Hospital of Shiraz

Hospital wastes contain a wide range of microorganisms and require special management due to their dangerous properties, and their improper disposal is considered a serious threat to the environment and public health. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine and influence the educational intervention based on the theory of planned behavior on the behaviors of employees in the waste management of Hafez Hospital of Shiraz, Iran.

The present interval study was conducted in 2018 on all healthcare personnel (170 people) and service workers (32 people) of Hafez hospital of Shiraz, Iran. The statistical population of the present study was completed by enumeration. The measurement tool in the present study was a questionnaire based on the theory of planned behavior and knowledge assessment which its validity and reliability were estimated and used by experts. Other tools included a waste management evaluation checklist which included management infrastructure, separation, collection, transportation, temporary storage, disposal, and weighing form of hospital wastes. The present study was conducted in two stages before and after the educational intervention. In the first stage, before the educational intervention, information was collected through questionnaires, a waste management evaluation checklist, and waste weighing continuously for a week. Then the educational content was designed. Two months after the educational intervention, in the second stage, the health care and service workers completed the questionnaires once more. Moreover, the checklist was completed and the waste was weighed over again. Obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22 and parametric (paired t-test) and non-parametric (Wilcoxon) tests.

The findings indicated a significant difference in the mean score of knowledge, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intention among both group health care workers and service workers after the intervention (P<0.001). After educational interventions, a significant difference in normal waste per capita was found (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in infectious waste, sharp waste, and pharmaceutical chemical waste per capita(P≥0.005). There was a significant difference in waste management in terms of separation, collection, transportation, and disposal (P<0.001). The infrastructure management and temporary maintenance were the same before and after the educational intervention.

The findings of the present study indicated that educational interventions based on the theory of planned behavior are effective in raising the awareness of health care and service workers and improving hospital waste management. Furthermore, the use of educational strategies and appropriate educational content can increase the quality of educational interventions.