Cleaning up hospitals : using participatory professional development to teach environmental sustainability practices to healthcare cleaning staff

Abstract

This thesis examines the use of participatory professional development (PPD) to teach environmental sustainability practices to healthcare cleaning staff, using the guidance of the Participatory Adult Learning Strategy (Dunst & Trivette, 2009). Two questions were answered: (1) What impact does the selected PPD have for cleaning staff at a healthcare facility have in terms attitude toward environmental sustainability and (2) What impact does it have on workplace practices relevant to environmental sustainability? Participants showed development of knowledge in regards to environmental sustainability and a shift in their willingness to change practice. Participants found the structure of learning helpful in allowing them to explore the topics of choice and develop understanding of practices related to environmental sustainability in their workplace. The impact of PPD is discussed along with limitations and recommendations for further research related to education for environmental sustainability.