Application of total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) for analysis of barriers influencing healthcare waste management sector: A case study

ABSTRACT

The present study aims to build a structural model based on Total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) to analyze barriers affecting healthcare waste management (HCWM). Through scanning of literature and expert opinion, a total of fifteen barriers are recognized. Inputs acquired from the professionals in the field are used to develop the TISM model, and Cross impact matrix multiplication is applied to classification investigation to sort out the factors. From the TISM model, five barriers are identified as drivers. We identified two of these five barriers: ‘No support from top authorities’ and ‘No support from the government.’ MICMAC analysis classifies four barriers as dependent, five as driving, and the remaining six as linkages. The author's original contribution is to develop a model to analyze barriers influencing HCWM. This paper helps to complete the research gap by providing the different characteristics of barriers. This study clarifies that good coordination of hospitals with other authorities is necessary to properly implement healthcare waste management services. Government support will also play a vital role, and the Involvement of top management of hospitals is required to organize everything properly. Case studies and structural equation modeling (SEM) can be applied to explain further and support the findings.

KEYWORDS:

• Barriers
• TISM
• micmac
• hospitals
• India

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Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Abhishek Raj

Abhishek Raj is a research scholar in the area of healthcare waste management at IIT (BHU), Varanasi, India. He has completed his masters from MNNIT Allahabad (Prayagraj).

Cherian Samuel

Cherian Samuel obtained his Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering and Master’s in Production Engineering from Calicut University. He obtained his Doctoral degree in the Industrial Engineering and Management Department from IIT Kharagpur. He is working in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, since 2002. He has publications in refereed international and national journals and also has presented in international and national forums. His areas of interest include supply chain management, system dynamics, production, and operations management.