Awareness of and Interest in Green Initiatives and Practices in Hospital Pharmacy: A Canada-Wide Survey.

Abstract

Background: Climate change poses significant risks to both the environment and public health. The Canadian health care system accounts for an estimated 4.6% of national carbon emissions, and hospital pharmacy contributes substantially to these emissions.

Objectives: To evaluate the awareness of green initiatives and green practices in hospital pharmacy and to explore the overall interest of pharmacy staff in improving on sustainable and climate-resilient pharmacy practices.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered securely online to Canadian hospital pharmacy staff, between February 15 and April 30, 2023. The survey contained 38 questions with specified themes related to sustainability and climate resilience.

Results: A total of 214 participants responded to the survey. Of these, 84% (141/167) were motivated or highly motivated to engage in sustainable pharmacy practices. When asked about specific green initiatives planned by their hospital, 53% (109/206) reported not being aware of any initiatives, and 10% (20/206) indicated that no plans existed. The green practices that were at least partially implemented were "reduced paper use" (27% of responses), "improved recycling programs" (18%), and "raised awareness" (11%). The top 3 areas of pharmacy waste were identified as "single-use plastic" (28% of responses), "excessive paper use" (18%), and "improper recycling" (17%). The top 3 barriers to implementing eco-friendly practices were identified as "cost" (50% [83/166]), "time consumption" (50% [83/166]), and "added complexity" (30% [49/166]).

Conclusions: Hospital pharmacy staff participating in this survey study shared a willingness and strong motivation to engage in more sustainable and climate-resilient pharmacy practices, but they reported significant barriers, such as time consumption and perceived complexity, that must be addressed in implementing these changes.