Environmental sustainability from anesthesia providers' perspective: a qualitative study.
Greta Gasciauskaite1, Justyna Lunkiewicz2, Donat R Spahn2
1Institute of Anesthesiology, University and University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, Zurich, 8091, Switzerland. greta.gasciauskaite@usz.ch.
BMC Anesthesiology
|November 18, 2023
Summary
Anesthesia providers recognize the importance of environmental sustainability and implement greener practices. Key challenges include waste management and a need for more education on sustainable anesthesia.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Anesthesiology
- Healthcare Sustainability
Background:
- Climate change poses a global health threat, necessitating sustainable healthcare systems.
- Anesthesiology significantly contributes to healthcare's environmental impact due to its resource intensity.
- There is a critical need to address ecological health determinants within medical practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore anesthesia providers' perspectives on environmental sustainability in anesthesia practice.
- To identify perceived environmental threats and implemented green measures within anesthesiology.
- To understand barriers to adopting ecologically friendly practices in anesthesia.
Main Methods:
- A single-center qualitative study utilizing an online survey.
- Involved 62 anesthesia providers implementing internal sustainable anesthesia guidelines.
- Thematic analysis was used to interpret participants' responses.
Main Results:
- 89% of providers deemed environmental sustainability essential; 95% implemented greener practices.
- Conscious anesthetic selection was the most common sustainability measure.
- Waste production/management and lack of sustainability education were identified as major environmental threats and barriers.
Conclusions:
- Sustainable anesthesia initiatives can enhance provider engagement and awareness.
- Findings highlight opportunities to reduce the climate impact of healthcare.
- Further action and education are crucial for advancing sustainable anesthesia.
Keywords:
AnesthesiologyCarbon footprintClimate changeEnvironmental sustainabilityGlobal healthGreenhouse gasesOzone depletionWaste management.More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:27Ethical Issues
978
Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
978
01:20Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview
305
Inhalation anesthetics are drugs that induce general anesthesia upon inhalation. They work by increasing the sensitivity of GABAA receptors or inhibiting NMDA receptors, leading to a decrease in central nervous system activity. The depth of anesthesia can be rapidly adjusted by changing the concentration of the inhaled gas. Some common examples of inhalational anesthetics include volatile liquids like isoflurane, desflurane, sevoflurane and gases like xenon and nitrous oxide. Isoflurane, a...
305
01:20Sputum Studies II: Culture and Sensitivity
354
Description
Sputum culture and sensitivity is a medical procedure used to diagnose bacterial infections in the respiratory tract and select the most appropriate antibiotics for treatment. This process involves analyzing sputum samples of thick and opaque secretions produced in the lungs and airways. These samples are collected from patients and then sent to the laboratory for analysis.
The test can identify various pathogens responsible for respiratory infections, including Streptococcus,...
Sputum culture and sensitivity is a medical procedure used to diagnose bacterial infections in the respiratory tract and select the most appropriate antibiotics for treatment. This process involves analyzing sputum samples of thick and opaque secretions produced in the lungs and airways. These samples are collected from patients and then sent to the laboratory for analysis.
The test can identify various pathogens responsible for respiratory infections, including Streptococcus,...
354
01:22Stages of General Anesthesia
461
Various sedation levels offer significant advantages in facilitating procedural interventions for patients undergoing medical or invasive surgical procedures. These levels span from anxiolysis to general anesthesia, providing a spectrum of sedative effects to cater to specific patient needs. Anxiolysis reduces anxiety and is achieved through minimal sedation, enabling patients to remain awake and responsive while feeling more at ease during the procedure. This level can benefit minor...
461
01:24General Anesthesia: Overview
223
Anesthesia is a medical procedure that uses drugs for CNS suppression to enable painless surgeries and procedures. The selection of anesthetics is influenced by their pharmacokinetic properties, side effects, and patient characteristics. Various types of anesthesia include general, local, regional, spinal, and inhalational.
General anesthesia induces unconsciousness in the whole body, while the others target specific areas or sensations. It is administered to minimize adverse effects, maintain...
General anesthesia induces unconsciousness in the whole body, while the others target specific areas or sensations. It is administered to minimize adverse effects, maintain...
223
01:08Obedience
32.9K
According to obedience research, we may harm others under the forceful pressures of an authority figure (Milgram, 1974). How about if the inappropriate orders were delivered with less force? The increasing interdependence between nurses and physicians compelled Hofling and his colleagues to explore nurses’ reactions to a potentially harmful medical request made by the perceived authority figure, the doctor (Hofling, Brotzman, Dalrymple, Graves, & Pierce, 1966). In this situation,...
32.9K