Sağlık Yönetiminde Sürdürülebilirlik: Sağlık Çalışanlarının Sürdürülebilirlik ve Atık Yönetimi Algısı Üzerine Bir Araştırma

Abstract

The concept of sustainability has gained significant importance, especially in the last fifty years. The main reasons for this include the low costs in the production of plastics, the preference of products served with plastic by consumers due to price effects, the concentration of industries polluting the environment, the evolution of the culture of cohabitation and co-production into a culture of cohabitation and consumption, and the increasing dependency on fossil fuels. This study aims to examine the concept of sustainability from the perspective of the healthcare sector and to develop possible actions and solution proposals accordingly. Considering the additional harm medical wastes cause to the environment, it is already known that destruction and similar actions can be systematically carried out. The main point here is to investigate the extent to which healthcare professionals generally approach the concept of sustainability consciously. To achieve this, interviews were conducted with 50 healthcare professionals residing in Istanbul and Ankara through open-ended questions, considering that obtaining data from state hospitals might be challenging and there could be relevant sensitivities. What makes these interviews significant is that discussions were held with doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals with at least 10 years of industry experience, including those who have worked in government institutions in some parts of their careers. The selection of ten doctors with administrative duties among them ensured a more effective conduct of the interviews. Employees in the Turkish healthcare system possess a significant clinical knowledge within the global healthcare system. They are well-versed in both theoretical and practical aspects, knowing what to do in emergency situations. However, they need support in ensuring sustainability in their activities. One of the most significant findings of this study is that, with joint programs that can be implemented both in their residences and workplaces, similar to every profession, close to a hundred percent success can be achieved in this professional group as well..