title: Implementation of a multi-variable regression analysis in the assessment of the generation rate and composition of hospital solid waste for the design of a sustainable management system in developing countries.
abstract: Forecasting of hospital solid waste generation is a critical challenge for future planning. The composition and generation rate of hospital solid waste in hospital units was the field where the proposed methodology of the present article was applied in order to validate the results and secure the outcomes of the management plan in national hospitals. A set of three multiple-variable regression models has been derived for estimating the daily total hospital waste, general hospital waste, and total hazardous waste as a function of number of inpatients, number of total patients, and number of beds. The application of several key indicators and validation procedures indicates the high significance and reliability of the developed models in predicting the hospital solid waste of any hospital. Methodology data were drawn from existent scientific literature. Also, useful raw data were retrieved from international organisations and the investigated hospitals' personnel. The primal generation outcomes are compared with other local hospitals and also with hospitals from other countries. The main outcome, which is the developed model results, are presented and analysed thoroughly. The goal is this model to act as leverage in the discussions among governmental authorities on the implementation of a national plan for safe hospital waste management in Palestine.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental and Water Studies, Birzeit University, Birzeit, Palestine ikhatib@birzeit.edu.
authors.forename: Issam A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Al-Khatib
authors.affiliation: Applied Statistics Master Program, Birzeit University, Birzeit, Palestine.
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Abu Fkhidah
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Graduate Studies, Birzeit University, Birzeit, Palestine.
authors.forename: Jumana I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Khatib
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Heat Transfer and Environmental Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Stamatia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kontogianni
mesh_terms: D008506:Medical Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D008877:Middle East; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D062611:Solid Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008506:Medical Waste; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D062611:Solid Waste
keywords: Hospital solid waste; general waste; generation rates; hazardous waste; model; regression