• Kornkamol Luksila

Objective  To study the management of infectious waste by dental assistants and workers in dental clinics. This management included the separation, collection, transportation of infectious waste, realizing the harmful risk related to the study groups, as well as the sufficiency of the necessary equipment.

Materials and methods  Interviewed and observed dental assistants and workers who worked in dental clinics, Department of Health, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Two study groups composed of 65 dental assistants and 65 workers. The interview from consisted of demographic data, type, and management of infectious waste.

Results  The results showed that dental assistants and workers had 91.28% and 88.08% average scores in understanding types of infectious waste. There was no statistical difference between the two groups (p<0.05). Most of the study groups were able to separate non-sharp infectious waste correctly, but there were inappropriate practice in the separation, collection, and transportation of sharp infectious waste.

Conclusion  Although the study groups had high average scores in understanding types of infectious waste, they were unable to manage the infectious waste appropriately, which may be harmful to themselves and the environment. The results of this study suggested that the better management of infectious waste in dental clinics requires three approaches, which are: properly training, sufficient equipment, and improved practice management and supervision for the effective infectious waste management.

(CU Dent J 2001;24:203-12)