Reducing Glove Overuse in Outpatient Specialty Clinics: Cost Reduction and Environmental Benefit
M. Lauren Lalakea, Julia E. Noel, Duncan A. Meiklejohn
Abstract
Abstract Gloves are the highest‐volume single‐use disposable product used in health care. Minimizing unnecessary glove use is relevant in the context of mitigating health care waste and greenhouse gas emissions. We sought to reduce non‐sterile glove overuse in the Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and Plastic Surgery/Burn Clinics affiliated with a tertiary care safety‐net teaching hospital by using evidence‐based education regarding hand hygiene and appropriate glove use. Baseline use averaged 14,820 gloves/month and 10.8 gloves/patient visit. After intervention, use decreased to 10,100 gloves/month and 7.9 gloves/visit, respectively, representing a 27% reduction in gloves/visit. On an annualized basis, this corresponds to a savings of 56,628 gloves, 180 kilograms of waste, and $3,003.17 per year. Calculated projected reduction in CO 2 e emissions is 1472–1767 kg annually, equivalent in impact to 3766–4519 miles driven in a standard gas‐powered car. Widespread adoption would provide a significant positive impact given the scale of glove use in US health care settings.