ArticleCureus2026
Emotional Experiences of Healthcare Workers in Biomedical Waste Management: A Qualitative Study From North India.
Article in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background Biomedical waste management (BMWM) is an essential component of infection prevention and occupational safety within healthcare settings. While existing studies have largely focused on knowledge, compliance, and technical aspects of BMWM, limited evidence exists regarding the emotional experiences of healthcare workers (HCWs) involved in biomedical waste handling. Objective This study aimed to explore the emotional experiences of HCWs involved in BMWM and examine emotional responses across different BMWM workflow stages and HCW cadres. Methods An exploratory qualitative study was conducted among 42 HCWs, including staff nurses, resident doctors, laboratory technicians, and sanitation workers, at a tertiary care teaching hospital in North India between December 2025 and April 2026. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted using an interview guide exploring emotional experiences associated with biomedical waste handling. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Four major themes emerged from the analysis: (1) fear and anxiety related to occupational exposure, (2) frustration and workplace challenges in BMWM, (3) adaptation, coping, and risk normalisation, and (4) professional responsibility and sense of contribution. Fear and anxiety were particularly prominent during sharps handling and accidental exposure situations, while frustration commonly stemmed from poor segregation practices, inadequate infrastructure, and inconsistent adherence to BMWM protocols. Participants described gradual adaptation to workplace risks over time, although some reported reduced vigilance with repeated exposure. Despite workplace challenges, many HCWs expressed a strong sense of professional responsibility and satisfaction associated with safe waste handling. Emotional experiences varied across workflow stages and HCW cadres. Conclusion HCWs involved in BMWM experience diverse emotional responses shaped by occupational risk, workplace environment, and professional responsibility. Existing BMWM interventions may benefit from integrating emotional preparedness, supportive supervision, and cadre-sensitive occupational health approaches alongside technical training to strengthen both worker wellbeing and safe waste management practices.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.