Insulin syringe disposal practices of pediatric patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Pediatric patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were surveyed over a 5-month period to determine disposal practices of insulin syringes. Eighty-nine (79.5%) of 112 patients surveyed responded. Thirty-three percent of the responders disposed of syringes in accordance with recommendations of the local health department and the American Diabetes Association, while the remaining patients did not. Fifty-two percent of the patients rendered the syringes useless before disposal. The study revealed a need to educate and inform patients on the proper procedures that should be followed when disposing of syringes in the home.
Ancona
K G
KG
Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 11794-8111.
Wolf
T A
TA
Phillips
C
C
Goren
G
G
Germak
J
J
Wilson
T A
TA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy; D004209:Disposable Equipment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010290:Parents; D010349:Patient Compliance; D013594:Syringes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D007328:Insulin