Awareness of diabetes patients about the proper disposal of household sharp waste

Uvod: Kao posljedica liječenja šećerne bolesti, u kućanstvima bolesnika sa šećernom bolesti nastaje posebna vrsta otpada, a to je oštri otpad. ----- Ciljevi: Ispitati na koji način osobe sa šećernom bolešću zbrinjavaju oštri otpad u vlastitom domaćinstvu, ispitati educiranost bolesnika o pravilnom zbrinjavanju, te postoji li povezanost između edukacije i pravilnog zbrinjavanja oštrog otpada. ----- Metoda: U istraživanju je sudjelovao 121 ispitanik, 55 muškaraca i 66 žena. Raspon dobi bio je od 26 do 85 godina, prosječna dob 65,5 godina. Ispitivanje je provedeno u Sveučilišnoj klinici Vuk Vrhovac, a podaci prikupljeni anonimnim upitnikom. Rezultati su prikazani deskriptivnom statistikom, povezanost je ispitana Fisherovim testom. Podaci su obrađeni programom Statistica 12, Microsoft Office Excel 2007, te on line programom vassarstats. ----- Rezultati: Od 121 ispitanika 86 (71%) ih u liječenju koristi inzulin, a 35 (29%) tablete. Manji dio ispitanika upotrijebljene igle (6%) i lancete (7%) pravilno zbrinjava, na način da ih sakuplja u posebne spremnike i odnosi u ljekarnu ili liječniku obiteljske medicine, dok veći dio ispitanika inzulinske igle (94%) i lancete (93%) baca u kućno smeće direktno ili prethodno zaštićeno u posudu. Većina ispitanika (69%) nije dobilo uputu o pravilnom zbrinjavanju otpada, dok je 38 ispitanika (31%) dobilo takvu uputu. Ispitivanje je pokazalo da ne postoji povezanost između pravilnog zbrinjavanja oštrog otpada i stručne spreme ispitanika, kao ni vrste terapije, ali postoji značajna povezanost između dobivenih uputa i pravilnog zbrinjavanja igala i lanceta. ----- Zaključak: Uvođenje redovite edukacije o pravilnom zbrinjavanju oštrog otpada, davanje jasnih uputa, kao i dostupnost spremnika za oštri medicinski otpad može utjecati na pravilno zbrinjavanje ove vrste otpada, te tako pridonijeti zdravlju ljudi i zaštiti okoliša.Introduction: As a result of the treatment of diabetes, in households of patients with diabetes, a special type of waste called sharp waste, comes into existance. ----- Objectives: To examine how people with diabetes dispose of sharp waste in their own households, examine the education of patients about proper disposal, and whether there is a correlation between education and proper disposal of sharp waste. ----- Methods: The study included 121 respondents, 55 men and 66 women. The age range was 26 to 85 years, mean age 65.5 years. The test was conducted at the University Clinic Vuk Vrhovac and data collected by anonymous questionnaire. Results are presented by descriptive statistics and the correlation was tested by Fisher testing. Data were processed by the computer program „Statistika 12“, Microsoft Office Excel 2007, and on-line program vassarstats. ----- Results: Of the 121 patients 86 of them (71%) use insulin in their treatment, and 35 (29%) use tablets. A smaller proportion of respondents proprly dispose of used needles (6%) and lancets (7%) in a manner to collect them in the special containers and then refer them to the pharmacy or the physician, while the majority of the respondents throw insulin needles (94%) and lancets (93% ) directly into the household trash without any protection, or previously protected in a container. Most respondents (69%) did not receive instruction on the proper disposal of waste, while 38 respondents (31%) received such instruction. The study showed that there is no correlation between proper disposal of sharp waste and qualifications of the respondents, or type of therapy, but there is a significant relationship between given instructions and proper disposal of needles and lancets. ----- Conclusion: Implementation of training on proper disposal of sharp waste on regular basis, giving the clear instructions, as well as the availability of containers for sharp medical waste, can affect the proper disposal of these wastes, and thus contribute to the human health and the environment protection