Table 4.

Summary of respondents’ preferences and knowledge regarding use of reusable and disposable medical devices

Preferences and knowledge on reusable and disposable medical devices
	Medical Students % (N)	Nursing Students % (N)	Physician Assistant Students % (N)	Combined Students % (N)
Medical device preference
Prefer or strongly prefer reusable	52.2 (84)	64.2 (34)	67.4 (31)	57.3 (149)
No preference	26.1 (42)	13.2 (7)	21.7 (10)	22.7 (59)
Prefer or strongly prefer disposable	21.7 (35)	22.6 (12)	10.9 (5)	20.0 (52)
	(Question N = 161)	(Question N = 53)	(Question N = 46)	(Question N = 260)
Ranked #1 in preference determination
Infection control	53.4 (86)	52.8 (28)	54.4 (25)	53.5 (139)
What’s available in my institution	33.5 (54)	16.9 (9)	28.3 (13)	29.2 (76)
Environmental sustainability	4.9 (8)	11.3 (6)	10.9 (5)	7.3 (19)
Habit	4.4 (7)	15.1 (8)	2.2 (1)	6.2 (16)
Concern for cost	3.7 (6) (Question N = 161)	3.8 (2) (Question N = 53)	4.4 (2) (Question N = 46)	3.9 (10) (Question N = 260)
There is strong evidence that use of single-use disposable medical devices meaningfully reduces infection risk.
Agree or strongly agree	43.1 (69) (Question N = 160)	50.9 (27) (Question N = 53)	34.8 (16) (Question N = 46)	43.2 (112) (Question N = 259)