Sustainability efforts in healthcare simulation and clinical learning: An international survey

Little is known about international environmental sustainability practices in healthcare simulation education. Understanding these practices can elucidate current differences in practice, promote sharing of current practices, and establish baseline efforts for improving sustainability practices globally. Therefore, an electronic survey was undertaken targeting international healthcare simulation centers to acquire a more comprehensive understanding of healthcare simulation education sustainability practices in differing international settings.

Only 40 % of respondents had a written sustainability plan, but 68.75 % indicated their center purchased environmentally preferable supplies, 100 % endorsed supply reuse, 60.4 % endorsed supply recycling, and 37.5 % endorsed sustainable supply disposal. Most participants cited "environmental consciousness" motivated these efforts. Comparison analyses found significant differences between the U.S. and Canada for recycling (p = 0.0065) and disposal (p = 0.0074), and between Canada and international countries for recycling (p = 0.01395).

Canadian simulation centers implement more waste reduction practices than any other country surveyed. Further research should investigate factors contributing to variability and perceptions of sustainability efforts, as well as differences in international waste reduction capabilities. Countries with the most successful waste reduction efforts should advertise and expand them. In addition, healthcare simulation centers must be aware of current options for plastic reuse and embed those practices into healthcare simulation centers. Embedded practices should be taught to all simulation educators and students, with the ultimate goal of students translating these ideas into practice. The summation of improving these sustainability efforts in healthcare simulation education can have a positive global impact.