Knowledge, attitude, and compliance on healthcare waste management among level IV student nurses at a private hospital in Iloilo City

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the Knowledge, Attitude, and Compliance on Healthcare Waste Management Among Level IV Student Nurses at A Private Hospital in Iloilo City. A descriptive-correlational research design was used wherein 143 student nurses or 64.13% of the population were chosen as participants. The data were gathered through a structured, researcher-made questionnaire consisting of 30 items with 10 items for each on knowledge, attitude, and compliance. The instrument was pretested and subjected to validity and reliability tests to ensure its effectiveness. Data was collected through survey questionnaires over a one-week period. Their responses were computed and interpreted in a descriptive and inferential statistical analysis and were classified based on their personal characteristics which included their age, sex, and length of hospital exposure. Analyses between the different variables were done to draw conclusions on the Level IV student nurses' level of knowledge, attitude, compliance, and the relationships that exist among these variables in regard to healthcare waste management. Findings generally imply that knowledge has little to no relationship on compliance, suggesting that other factors may have a greater influence on respondents' compliance habits while in attitude and compliance, it was found that as attitude improve, compliance with healthcare waste management practices increases, suggesting that attitude may play an essential role in influencing compliance behavior. The study concluded that although the student nurses are knowledgeable and have favorable attitudes toward Healthcare Waste Management, compliance remains an area of challenge, hence the need for focused training and education.