Results of AIPO Italian survey on sustainability in Interventional Pulmonology

Abstract

Background: Sustainability in medicine is gaining increasing importance. In interventional pulmonology only few studies demonstrated the impact of mechanisms involved in CO<inf>2</inf> 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.