en بهداشت محیط زیست Environmental Health پژوهشي Original Article <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">Background and Purpose:</span></span></span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"> The increasing provision of home healthcare has led to a rise in infectious waste within residential settings, posing significant public health and environmental risks. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive management framework to address this challenge.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">Materials and Methods:</span></span></span></b> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">This study used a mixed-methods design that integrated a systematic literature review and qualitative interviews to develop a conceptual model of household infectious waste management in Iran . Fifteen specialists in waste management were selected through purposeful sampling, and their expertise was examined using qualitative content analysis. The initial framework was then validated and refined using the Delphi technique, incorporating iterative feedback from the expert panel.</span></span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">Sample size was determined based on data saturation in the qualitative interviews, which was achieved after 12 participants, and the adequacy principles for the Delphi panel (n = 22 in round 1 and n = 10 in the final validation).</span></span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">Results</span></span></span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">: The final model is structured around 12 core elements: 1) education and culture, 2) management measures, 3) social and legal support, 4) economic support, 5) technology, 6) control and evaluation, 7) production, 8) classification and collection, 9) temporary storage, 10) transportation, 11) processing, and 12) safe disposal. These elements are further elaborated through 14 sub-components designed to improve operational practices.&nbsp;Quantitative validation results showed median scores of 3.5-4.0 on a 4-point scale for all 12 evaluation criteria, with expert agreement ranging from 90% to 100%.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">Conclusion</span></span></span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">: Our findings demonstrate that a holistic strategy, covering the entire life cycle of waste, from generation to final disposal, is crucial for effective management. A key insight is the critical need for public education on proper separation, storage, and disposal methods, given that those generating the waste typically lack formal training. The study also underscores the vital role of innovative technologies and intelligent management systems in optimizing the waste handling process. For this model to be implemented successfully, a collaborative effort involving households, healthcare providers, waste management professionals, and government agencies is essential. We recommend further investigation to test the model&rsquo;s expert-based validation and enhance its efficacy in real-world scenarios.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div> Waste, Infectious, Waste Management, Acculturation, Household Waste 0 0 http://jhs.mazums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-642-3&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Leila Mohammadinia Mohammadinial@tbzmed.ac.ir 100319475328460015826 100319475328460015826 No Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Khadijeh Raei khraei47@gmail.com 100319475328460015827 100319475328460015827 No Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Fathollah Gholami-Borujeni gholami_b_f@yahoo.com 100319475328460015828 100319475328460015828 Yes Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Health Sciences Research Center, School of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.