A PROSPECTIVE RESEARCH STUDY ON EXCESS WATER USAGE DUE TO THE CONVENTIONAL SCRUBBING TECHNIQUE IN SOUTH AFRICAN STATE HOSPITALS alvindrabile@gmail.com

PW07-01

A PROSPECTIVE RESEARCH STUDY ON EXCESS WATER USAGE DUE TO THE CONVENTIONAL SCRUBBING TECHNIQUE IN SOUTH AFRICAN STATE HOSPITALS

5

 

 

 

 

South Africa

Oral or Poster

South Africa faces resource and financial limitations within the healthcare system. This study investigates the volume of water used during the “conventional scrubbing process” in a quaternary state hospital. This study is relevant due to the widespread water scarcity in South Africa and the World Health Organization’s drive towards sustainability.

The main aims were quantifying the volume of excess water used when scrubbing and comparing the average volume of water used by different surgical departments and healthcare practitioners at different levels of qualification. The measured variables were the specific water flow-rate for each scrub (millilitres/second), the total length of time taken to scrub (seconds) and the time spent actively rinsing hands (seconds). With these variables, the volume of water used in between hand rinsing was calculated – which equates to the volume excess water usage.

A total of 45 participants, belonging to five different surgical departments, took part in this study (15 consultants, 15 registrars and 15 scrub nurses). The mean (SD) excess volume used per scrub was 7.05 (5.27) litres. There was no statistically significant mean difference in excess water usage between the five departments or the different levels of qualification (P >0.0001 and P >0.0001 respectively). Incidentally, a statistically significant mean difference was found between the scrubbing time of the participants and the WHO recommended scrubbing time (99.9% CI: 91.92-149.51; P <0.0001).

This study highlights the need for investing in water saving strategies for operating theatres by demonstrating the volume of excess water usage that the healthcare system generates.