title: Knowledge and awareness regarding biomedical waste management in dental teaching institutions in India- A systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Proper handling, treatment and disposal of biomedical wastes are important elements in any health care setting. Not much attention has been paid to the management of Biomedical Waste (BMW) in recent years, in dental colleges and hospitals in India. The present systematic review was conducted to assess knowledge and awareness regarding BMW management among staff and students of dental teaching institutions in India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of relevant cross-sectional studies was conducted regarding BMW management in India in dental teaching institutions in India. Six studies were finally included in the present review after conducting both electronic and manual search like Pubmed, EMBASE etc. and after making necessary exclusions. Potential biases were addressed and relevant data was extracted by the concerned investigators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six studies were finally included in the review. Colour coding of wastes was not done by 67% of the subjects in one of the studies conducted in Haryana. Almost all the subjects agreed to the fact that exposure to hazardous health care waste can result in disease or infection in another study. According to another study reports, none of the respondents was able to list the legislative act regarding BMW when asked.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present review showed that knowledge and awareness level of subjects was inadequate and there is considerable variation in practice and management regarding BMW. There is a great need for continuing education and training programmes to be conducted in dental teaching institutions in India. Key words:Biomedical waste, knowledge, awareness, dentists, institution.
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head. Dept. of Periodontics, Gian Sagar Dental College and Hospital, Rajpura, Punjab.
authors.forename: Daljit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head. Dept. of Periodontics, Laxmi Bai Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Patiala, Punjab.
authors.forename: Ashutosh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nirola
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head. Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Gian Sagar Dental College and Hospital, Rajpura.
authors.forename: Vinod
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.affiliation: Sr. Reader. Dept. of Public Health Dentistry, Gian Sagar Dental College and Hospital, Rajpura, Punjab.
authors.forename: Ramandeep-Singh
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Gambhir