IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i14p6624-d1705794.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Best Practices for Environmental Sustainability in Healthcare Simulation Education: A Scoping Review

Author

Listed:
  • Jessica E. Marsack

    (School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 North Ingalls Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Deborah Lee

    (School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 North Ingalls Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Linda M. DiClemente

    (School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 North Ingalls Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Melissa Bodi

    (Department of Nursing and Health Professions, Rivier University, 420 South Main Street, Nashua, NH 03060, USA)

  • Kimberley Clarke

    (Martha Mann Smith School of Nursing, Wake Technical Community College, Perry Health Science Campus, 2901 Holston Lane, Raleigh, NC 27610, USA)

  • Elizabeth S. Robison

    (Nursing Department, Northwest Florida State College, 100 College Boulevard, Niceville, FL 32578, USA)

  • Sandra Turnau

    (School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 North Ingalls Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Laura Van Horn

    (College of Nursing and Health, Madonna University, 36600 Schoolcraft Road, Livonia, MI 48150, USA)

  • Melissa A. Bathish

    (School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 North Ingalls Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

Abstract

Educators must understand current practices and gaps in knowledge regarding environmental sustainability in simulation education to reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste while still maintaining fidelity in simulation education. Therefore, a scoping review was conducted to answer the PICO question, “In healthcare institutions and hospitals, what are the environmentally sustainable practices that can be translated into simulation labs as best practice?” Fourteen studies were identified through a search of seven databases, critically appraised, and analyzed. Three key themes emerged: (1) the 5 R’s, (2) getting people motivated, and (3) larger external collaboration. These themes highlight practical strategies and motivational factors for sustainable practices. An expanded 5 R’s framework (reduce, reuse, recycle, research, and rethink) was introduced to guide a holistic approach. The literature highlights the importance of education, stakeholder engagement, and clearly defined standards as key drivers for motivating individuals and teams to engage in sustainable behaviors. These efforts are most effective when supported by interdisciplinary collaboration, regulatory frameworks, national policies, and technological innovation. Sustainability initiatives should extend beyond individual institutions to foster broader systemic change.

Suggested Citation

  • Jessica E. Marsack & Deborah Lee & Linda M. DiClemente & Melissa Bodi & Kimberley Clarke & Elizabeth S. Robison & Sandra Turnau & Laura Van Horn & Melissa A. Bathish, 2025. "Best Practices for Environmental Sustainability in Healthcare Simulation Education: A Scoping Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-27, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:14:p:6624-:d:1705794
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/14/6624/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/14/6624/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Charlotte Harding & Joren Van Loon & Ingrid Moons & Gunter De Win & Els Du Bois, 2021. "Design Opportunities to Reduce Waste in Operating Rooms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Tao Ran & Jianyong Pang & Jiuqun Zou, 2022. "An Emerging Solution for Medical Waste: Reuse of COVID-19 Protective Suit in Concrete," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-18, August.
    3. Eun-Hi Choi & Hyunjin Lee & Mi-Jung Kang & Inwoo Nam & Hui-Kyeong Moon & Ji-Won Sung & Jae-Yun Eu & Hae-Bin Lee, 2022. "Factors Affecting Zero-Waste Behaviours of College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-11, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Keren Dopelt & Liza Aharon & Miri Rimon, 2024. "Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior Regarding Health and Environment in an Israeli Community: Implications for Sustainable Urban Environments and Public Health," World, MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-14, August.
    2. Xiufen Xie & Yan Hong & Xianyi Zeng & Xiaoqun Dai & Melissa Wagner, 2021. "A Systematic Literature Review for the Recycling and Reuse of Wasted Clothing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-20, December.
    3. Else F. de Ridder & Herman J. Friedericy & Anne C. van der Eijk & Jenny Dankelman & Frank Willem Jansen, 2022. "A New Method to Improve the Environmental Sustainability of the Operating Room: Healthcare Sustainability Mode and Effect Analysis (HSMEA)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-15, October.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:14:p:6624-:d:1705794. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.