Syukra Alhamda, Ika Nurmaya, Dinh Thi Phuong Hoa

STORAGE IS THE MOST INFLUENCING FACTOR OF HOSPITAL SOLID WASTE TREATMENT: SEM ANALYSIS

Introduction

Storage is the most influencing factor of hospital solid waste treatment: sem analysis . Discover how storage critically influences hospital solid waste treatment in West Sumatra. SEM analysis identifies storage as the dominant factor, essential for improving medical waste management.

Abstract

Introduction: From primary data, it was found that 65% of solid waste generation occurred in 12 hospitals in West Sumatra. "2,839 health facilities in West Sumatra, produced 1,899.15 tonnes of medical solid waste including hazardous and toxic materials (B3)," the government stated in March 2020. If nothing is done to address this poor waste management, it will negatively affect society. It is difficult for hospital managers to improve the waste processing system because the stages or factors that have a significant impact on poor waste processing are unknown. Aims: This research aims to find an appropriate medical solid waste treatment model that can be used in hospitals by analyzing the stages and factors involved in processing medical solid waste. Method: Structural Equation Modeling analysis was used in this cross-sectional research. The population study was 12 hospitals and the research sample was taken by calculating Wayne W. Daniel's formula to obtain 120 hospital waste treatment officers. This study started in September 2021 to March 2022. Primary data was collected by writing notes from observations by recording the results of observations, documentation, asking sources, and questionnaires filled out by waste managers and waste cleaning officers. Results: The research results show that of the 4 independent variables influencing medical solid waste processing, storage is the most dominant factor affecting waste processing. Conclusion: Sorting and storage variables influence poor hospital waste management in West Sumatra.

Review

This study addresses a critical and highly relevant issue concerning hospital solid waste management in West Sumatra, where significant waste generation poses substantial environmental and public health risks. The paper commendably attempts to identify the underlying factors contributing to poor waste processing, a gap that hospital managers often face. Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is a suitable analytical approach for exploring complex relationships between multiple variables in such a system. The key finding, that storage is the most dominant factor influencing medical solid waste processing, provides a clear and actionable insight that can guide immediate intervention strategies in hospitals. However, the abstract presents several areas that would benefit from greater clarity and detail. The initial statistic regarding 65% of solid waste generation occurring in just 12 hospitals out of 2,839 facilities is confusing and requires further explanation for its context and accuracy. While SEM is employed, the abstract does not specify the four independent variables initially mentioned, only later concluding on "sorting and storage variables." This inconsistency, along with the lack of detail on the "appropriate medical solid waste treatment model" that was the stated aim, leaves the reader with an incomplete picture of the study's full scope and findings. Furthermore, the limited sample of 120 officers from only 12 hospitals, without clear justification for their selection, raises questions about the generalizability of the findings to all hospitals in West Sumatra. Despite these limitations, the research successfully highlights the critical role of storage in effective hospital waste management, offering a valuable starting point for policy and operational improvements. Future studies would benefit from a more comprehensive description of the variables examined, the specific pathways identified through SEM, and a clearer articulation of the proposed "treatment model." Strengthening the methodological rigor in sampling and providing more detailed results will enhance the credibility and applicability of such important research, allowing for more robust recommendations to address this pressing public health challenge in West Sumatra and beyond.

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