Effectiveness of a practice-based training on healthcare waste management focused on employee well-being: a quasi-experimental study

Sustaining the environment, preserving healthcare worker safety, and preserving public health all depend on the efficient management of healthcare waste (HCW). The current comprehension of dental professionals and accessory workforce regarding HCW was assessed and its change was evaluated after a hands-on training session was administered to them. This research was conducted using a quasi-experimental design and included 400 participants who enrolled for the study. The dropout rate was 13.5% and 346 responses were recorded. The participants were trained for five days in planned sessions, and their response (in terms of awareness, knowledge, and practical assessment) was assessed before the study and again after a period of two weeks. Maximum number of participants 54.33% were female while 45.66% of participants were male. A total of 61 faculties, 247 students and 38 technical staff participated in the study. Paired t-test was applied, and the mean total pretest scores were 19.66 ± 3.69 out of a total score of 30 whereas two weeks after the training the mean score increased to 25.66 ± 2.43, the observed p value was found to be 0.000 indicating that there was a statistically significant distinction in scores. Employee safety and well-being are paramount concerns for any organization and a practice-based, structured training program is helpful in managing biomedical waste which can result in hazardous infections if it goes unchecked. Two weeks after the program was conducted, an increase in awareness, knowledge, and practical applicability was observed demonstrating the enhancement of HCW knowledge and practice.