Currently submitted to: JMIR Perioperative Medicine
Date Submitted: Apr 27, 2024
Open Peer Review Period: May 2, 2024 - Jun 27, 2024
(currently open for review)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Exploring the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions of Hospital Staff and Patients on Environmental Sustainability in the Operating Room: A Quality Improvement Survey Study.
ABSTRACT
Background:
In Canada, the healthcare system has been estimated to generate 33 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually. Healthcare systems, specifically operating rooms (ORs), are significant contributors of greenhouse gas emissions, using three to six times more energy than the hospital’s average unit.
Objective:
This quality improvement study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of staff and patients on sustainability in the OR, as well as identify opportunities for initiatives and barriers to implementation.
Methods:
Two surveys were developed, consisting of 27 questions for staff and 22 questions for patients/caregivers. Topics included demographics, knowledge, and attitudes regarding environmental sustainability, opportunities for initiatives, and perceived barriers. Multiple choice, Likert-scale, and open-ended questions were used.
Results:
A total of 174 staff and 37 patients participated. The majority (88%) of staff had received no/minimal training on sustainability, while 93% cited practicing sustainability at work as important. Among patients/caregivers, 54% often/always noticed when a hospital is being eco-friendly. Both staff and patients agreed that improving sustainability would boost satisfaction (71.8%;59.4%) and hospital reputation (89.5%;69.5%). The staff’s highest rated environmental initiatives included transitioning to reusables, education, and improved energy consumption, while patients prioritized increased nature, improved food sourcing, and education. Perceived barriers to these initiatives included cost, lack of education, and lack of incentive.
Conclusions:
Staff and patients/caregivers in a large academic healthcare center acknowledge the significance of environmental sustainability in the OR. While they do not perceive a direct impact on patient care, they anticipate positive effects on satisfaction and hospital reputation. Aligning initiatives with staff and patient/caregiver preferences can help drive meaningful change within the OR and beyond.
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