TY - JOUR

T1 - Reprocessing and reuse of single-use medical devices

T2 - perceptions and concerns of relevant stakeholders toward current practices

AU - Grantcharov, Peter

AU - Ahmed, Shushmita

AU - Wac, Katarzyna

AU - Rivas, Homero

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - BACKGROUND: Research and history have largely shown the covert billion-dollar global market of single-use medical device (SUD) reprocessing and reuse to be a safe endeavor, but awareness and perceptions of the practice both within and outside of healthcare have received limited attention.METHODS: Responses for patients, physicians, and medical practitioners were attained on both online and article-based surveys, in which attitudes and perceptions of SUD reprocessing and reuse were expressed in an assortment of closed-ended questions and partially closed-ended questions.RESULTS: Of the 214 participants, a collective 77% were unaware that the Food and Drug Administration allows SUD reprocessing and reuse. This included 65% of physicians and 84% of patients, which were significantly different proportions (P = 0.005). A significantly greater proportion of patients than physicians (92 vs. 68%) also felt that hospitals bear the responsibility of informing patients of the practice as part of their care (P < 0.001).CONCLUSION: There is a profound lack of awareness of SUD reprocessing and reuse among all relevant stakeholders. In addition, the overwhelming desire for transparency among patients further forces the debate of whether current, covert methods should be altered, in addition to the question of who bears this responsibility. Despite research and history having shown the practice to be safe, apprehension and misconceptions remain. Survey results suggest that education may be able to subdue such patient concerns.

AB - BACKGROUND: Research and history have largely shown the covert billion-dollar global market of single-use medical device (SUD) reprocessing and reuse to be a safe endeavor, but awareness and perceptions of the practice both within and outside of healthcare have received limited attention.METHODS: Responses for patients, physicians, and medical practitioners were attained on both online and article-based surveys, in which attitudes and perceptions of SUD reprocessing and reuse were expressed in an assortment of closed-ended questions and partially closed-ended questions.RESULTS: Of the 214 participants, a collective 77% were unaware that the Food and Drug Administration allows SUD reprocessing and reuse. This included 65% of physicians and 84% of patients, which were significantly different proportions (P = 0.005). A significantly greater proportion of patients than physicians (92 vs. 68%) also felt that hospitals bear the responsibility of informing patients of the practice as part of their care (P < 0.001).CONCLUSION: There is a profound lack of awareness of SUD reprocessing and reuse among all relevant stakeholders. In addition, the overwhelming desire for transparency among patients further forces the debate of whether current, covert methods should be altered, in addition to the question of who bears this responsibility. Despite research and history having shown the practice to be safe, apprehension and misconceptions remain. Survey results suggest that education may be able to subdue such patient concerns.

U2 - 10.1097/XEB.0000000000000146

DO - 10.1097/XEB.0000000000000146

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29847410

VL - 17

SP - 53

EP - 57

JO - International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare

JF - International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare

SN - 1744-1595

IS - 1

ER -