Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Sustainability in medicine is gaining increasing importance. In interventional pulmonology only few studies demonstrated the impact of mechanisms involved in CO2 equivalent production; moreover, operators' sensitivity to sustainability and each center's recycling processes are highly variable. We conducted a national survey among interventional pulmonologists on perception of sustainability resulting from their work, and how endoscopic activity impacts the production of recyclable material. METHODS: A 26-item questionnaire was sent to each AIPO member registered in the interventional pulmonology study group. Items were divided in four topics: demographic data, perception of the problem, measures in place to improve sustainability and potentially feasible measure to improve the problem. RESULTS: We obtained a 16.2% response rate and majority of participants work in high volume centers. Climate change was perceived as an important problem but responders though that physicians are few involved mainly due to lack of awareness of the problem. Recycling programs are widely available with differentiation between recyclable and potentially contaminated material. The disposable bronchoscopes use was perceived to increase carbon footprint. Most critical interventions to improve sustainability suggested were: optimization of separate waste collection, instrument reprocessing procedures, adherence to guidelines to reduce unnecessary procedures and improving staff awareness. Most participants believed that scientific societies should establish a working group on climate change. CONCLUSIONS: The sustainability of daily activity in interventional pulmonology is a cause for concern among interventional pulmonologists while the lack of awareness remains the main reason for the poor perception of the problem; sustainability represents a need and an opportunity for interventional pulmonologists to align with other disciplines, but this concept can also be extended to all areas of pneumology.
Source: Panminerva Medica
Authors: Filippo PATRUCCO, on behalf of Interventional Pneumology and Lung Transplant Study Group of Associazione Italiana Pneumologi Ospedalieri - Italian Thoracic Society (AIPO-ITS), Alberto FANTIN, Alessandro DI MARCO BERARDINO, Maria MAJORI, Roberto PIRO, Valentina PINELLI, Silvia PUGLISI, Elena TAGLIABUE, Marco TRIGIANI, Rocco F. RINALDO, Paolo SOLIDORO, Emanuela BARISIONE
Institutions: Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Maggiore della Carita, University of Udine, Azienda sanitaria universitaria Friuli Centrale, University of Parma, Ospedale di Parma, Azienda Sanitaria Unità Locale di Reggio Emilia, Azienda USL Toscana Nord Ovest, Ospedale Garibaldi, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliera Citta' della Salute e della Scienza di Torino
Language: English
Subfield: Environmental Engineering
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4409240551