Environmental Sustainability Perspectives Among Critical Care Professionals: A Qualitative Systematic Review and...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Healthcare Management
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Intensive care units (ICUs) are significant sources of environmental pollution.
• Qualitative data on healthcare professionals' perspectives on sustainability in ICUs is scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize qualitative evidence on intensive care professionals' views on environmental sustainability.
• To identify challenges and strategies for implementing sustainable practices in ICUs.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative meta-synthesis approach was employed.
• Systematic searches were conducted across multiple English and Chinese databases.
• Data synthesis used meta-aggregation following quality appraisal with the JBI checklist.

Main Results:

• Seven studies met the inclusion criteria.
• Identified themes include ICU setting characteristics, barriers to sustainability, and implementation strategies.
• Professionals face interconnected barriers in daily practice.

Conclusions:

• The ICU environment poses unique challenges to sustainable critical care.
• Targeted, context-specific strategies are essential for reducing environmental impact.
• Integrating sustainability into education, workflows, procurement, and waste management is crucial for 'green ICUs' without compromising patient safety.