Barriers and enablers to implementing environmentally sustainable practices in healthcare: A scoping review and proposed roadmap

This scoping review sought to identify the barriers and enablers to implementing environmentally sustainable practices in healthcare, as well as propose a multi-phased approach to enable such implementation. The three concepts guiding the search were (1) environmental sustainability; (2) healthcare; and (3) barriers or enablers. The PRISMA checklist for scoping reviews was used to guide this search. A total of 16 articles were included and reviewed for data extraction. While most articles focused on healthcare in general, dentistry and surgery were the most recurring clinical areas of focus. Barriers and enablers were related to the individual (e.g. knowledge, skills, and attitude), institutional (e.g. budget, strategy, and readiness), geographical/infrastructural (e.g. infrastructure and public awareness), political (e.g. regulations and incentives), and other (e.g. patient awareness and knowledge). A key enabler identified was having transformational leadership with a clear vision and collaborative approach.