Environmental Impact Labels for Surgical Devices: A Mixed-Methods Study of Surgeon Interpretation and Implementation...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Operations
• Environmental Sustainability
• Surgical Practice

Background:

• Operating rooms are highly resource-intensive due to single-use surgical devices.
• Environmental impact labels (EILs) are proposed for sustainable decision-making in hospitals.
• Surgeons' understanding and relevance of EILs in surgical workflows require evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate surgeons' perceptions of three environmental impact label (EIL) prototypes.
• To assess the interpretability and relevance of EILs in clinical settings.
• To identify factors influencing the adoption of EILs in surgical environments.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods study involving attending surgeons at an academic medical center.
• Quantitative survey assessing reactions to three EIL prototypes.
• Semi-structured interviews for in-depth qualitative insights.
• Analysis of quantitative data using cumulative link mixed models and chi-square testing.
• Thematic analysis of interview transcripts.

Main Results:

• Thirty-two surgeons participated in the study.
• Intuitive metrics like carbon footprint were understood, while abstract indicators were misunderstood.
• Two EIL prototypes (A and B) showed higher visual appeal than prototype C.
• Key themes included label clarity, metric interpretability, responsibility perceptions, and the influence of cost and efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Surgeons are receptive to environmental impact information if presented clearly and clinically.
• Abstract metrics and restricted device selection limit the potential for behavioral change.
• Effective EILs must use intuitive measures and integrate with institutional procurement and cost frameworks to influence practice.