California’s Access to Care & Sharps Disposal in the ......manufacturers and specified...

September 2019

California’s Access to Care & Sharps Disposal in the Diabetic Community

Survey ParametersWhen: Conducted August 2019

Who: 500 respondents from California age 18+ with type 1 or type 2 diabetes

Ages: Gen Zs (18-24), Millennials (25-34), Baby Boomers (54+)

What: 21 question mobile survey

How: Direct to mobile users via Pollfish

Why: Designed to identify consumer concerns, habits and insight around diabetes care and sharps disposal, as well as the recent Senate Bill (SB) 212

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Executive Summary

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Californians with diabetes are concerned about

disposal, yet many are not safely disposing needles • More than a quarter (28%) of Californians with diabetes

think one of the biggest concerns when it comes to

diabetes care is how to properly dispose of

needles/lancets.

• One in seven (15%) typically dispose of used

needles/lancets in a trash can within their home, despite

the fact that the majority (65%) of Californians with

diabetes are concerned that their disposed

needles/lancets could harm someone in their household

or where they work.

• Additionally, one in five (20%) Californians with diabetes

typically take their used needles/lancets home and

dispose of them in a trash can.

• Another one in 20 (5%) Californians with diabetes

dispose of the needles/lancets in a public trash can

when they are not at home.

Executive Summary, Cont’d.

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A lack of disposal options for sharps may be to blame for

improper disposal, but a new California bill may help • Nearly half (42%) of Californians with diabetes think a lack

of public safety disposal containers is the biggest challenge

they face today when disposing needles/lancets.

• Additionally, more than half (54%) of Californians with

diabetes who have disposed of used needles/lancets in a

public trash can did so because there were no safe disposal

containers nearby and they had no other choice.

• However, California Senate Bill 212, which requires sharps

manufacturers and specified pharmaceutical drug

companies to establish, fund and promote a statewide

takeback system for these products might be the answer.

• Only half (54%) of Californians with diabetes are aware of

the bill, but of those who are aware, three-quarters (75%)

believe it will make disposal easier, as they’ll no longer have

to purchase their own waste containers.


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Administering diabetes care in public triggers feelings of embarrassment, anxiousness and nervousness • More than two thirds (67%) of Californians with diabetes have

administered an insulin injection in a public place.• However, more than half (53%) have never encountered a sharps

container in a public restroom.• That said, if they saw a sharps disposal container in a public

space or establishment, the majority (72%) of Californians with diabetes would use it to dispose of their insulin/lancet needles, proving the need for additional disposal containers to be placed in establishments across the country.

• A lack of disposal options is likely just one of many reasons why

more than a quarter (27%) of Californians with diabetes feel

embarrassed when administering their insulin/medication in

public, another quarter (24%) feel anxious and a fifth (20%) feel

nervous.

• Less than one in six (15%) Californians with diabetes feel

comfortable administering their insulin/medication in public.


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Overall, greater awareness and access to safe sharps disposal methods is needed• Nearly a quarter (23%) of Californians with diabetes

have not talked with their doctor about proper needle disposal, and therefore may not be aware of proper disposal methods.

• A fifth (21%) of Californians with diabetes think a lack of options for disposing needles/lancets at home is the biggest challenge people with diabetes face today when disposing needles/lancets.

• The majority (88%) of Californians with diabetes think at-home sharps disposal kit would help them manage their diabetes care more easily, giving them another option for disposal.

• With the introduction of California Senate Bill 212 we will likely see positive changes in access to safe sharps disposal.

Screening question

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● All respondents who selected “yes” were able to proceed with the survey

Do you have type 1 or 2 diabetes?

Question 1 Results

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● When asked which of the following issues they think are the biggest concerns when it comes to diabetes

care, Californians with diabetes said cost (68%) is the biggest concern followed by access to care (45%)

administration of care (36%), lack of conversation and awareness (30%), how to properly dispose of

needles/lancets (28%) and community support (21%)

Of the following, which issues do you think are the biggest concerns when it comes to diabetes care?

Question 1 Additional Findings

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Men and women agree on the majority of concerns when it comes to diabetes care

● The majority (67%) of men and the majority (68%) of women are the most concerned about cost of care

Women’s additional biggest concerns are:

● Access to care (43%)

● Administration of care (33%)

● Lack of conversation and awareness (32%)

● How to properly dispose of needles/lancets (26%)

● Community support (21%)

Baby boomers are the least concerned about cost of and access to care, compared to Millennials and Gen Zs

● 61% percent of Baby Boomers are concerned about cost of care, compared to Millennials (72%) and Gen Zs (75%)

● Only 37% of Baby Boomers are concerned about access to care, compared to Millennials (50%) and Gen Zs (50%)

Men’s additional biggest concerns are:

● Access to care (48%)

● Administration of care (41%)

● Lack of conversation and awareness (29%)

● How to properly dispose of needles/lancets (31%)

● Community support (20%)

Question 2 Results

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Where is it most difficult for you to administer insulin/diabetes care?

● A third (34%) of Californians with diabetes find it most difficult for to administer insulin/diabetes care

while traveling for work or leisure

● A third (33%) find it most difficult while attending social activities

● Three in 10 (31%) find it most difficult at work or school


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Men are more likely than women to find it most difficult to administer insulin/diabetes care while traveling for

work, while women are more likely than men to find it most difficult while attending social activities

● 35% men find it most difficult to administer insulin/diabetes care while traveling for work or leisure, compared

to 33% of women

● 34% of women find it most difficult to administer insulin/diabetes care while attending social activities,

compared to 30% of men

Baby Boomers, Millennials and Gen Zs all have different takes on where it’s most difficult for them to

administer insulin/diabetes care

● 38% of Baby Boomers find it most difficult to administer insulin/diabetes care while attending social activities

compared to Millennials (23%) and Gen Zs (26%)

● 41% of Millennials find it most difficult to administer insulin/diabetes care while traveling for work or leisure,

compared to Gen Zs (32%) and Baby Boomers (33%)

● 40% of Gen Zs find it most difficult to administer insulin/diabetes care at work or school, compared to

Millennials (35%) and Baby Boomers (20%)

Question 3 Results

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● More than a quarter (27%) of Californians with diabetes feel embarrassed when administering their

insulin/medication in public, while a fifth (20%) feel nervous) and a quarter (24%) feel anxious

● Only 15% of Californians with diabetes feel comfortable administering their insulin/medication in public

● More than one in 10 (11%) have never administered their insulin/medication in public

Of the following, which best represents your feeling when administering your insulin/medication in public?


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Men and women are both embarrassed when administering their insulin/medication in public

● More than a quarter (27%) of both men and women feel embarrassed when administering their

insulin/medication in public

● More than a quarter (27%) are also anxious when administering their insulin/medication in public, compared to

22% of women

● Men (21%) are slightly more nervous than women (19%) when administering their insulin/medication in public

Millennials are the most anxious when administering their insulin/medication in public

● Millennials (32%) are the most likely to be anxious when administering their insulin/medication in public


● Gen Zs (26%) and Baby Boomers (29%) are both most likely to feel embarrassed when administering their

insulin/medication in public

Question 4 Results

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Have you talked with friends and family about how to administer care/insulin to you in the event of an

emergency?

● More than one in five (21%) Californians with diabetes have not talked with friends and family about how to

administer care/insulin to them in the event of an emergency

● 78% have talked with friends and family about how to administer care/insulin to them in the event of an

emergency


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Men are slightly more likely than women have talked with friends and family about how to administer

care/insulin to them in the event of an emergency

● Eight in 10 (80%) of men have talked with friends and family about how to administer care/insulin to them in the

event of an emergency, compared to women (78%)

Millenials are the most likely to have talked with friends and family about how to administer care/insulin to

them in the event of an emergency

● Millennials (88%) are the most likely to have talked with friends and family about how to administer care/insulin

to them in the event of an emergency, compared to Baby Boomers (69%) and Gen Zs (72%)

Question 5 Results

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Of the following, which best describes how you typically dispose of your used needles/lancets at

home on a daily basis?

● The majority (73%) of Californians with diabetes typically dispose of their used needles/lancets in a safe disposal

container in their home

● One in seven (15%) typically dispose of used needles/lancets in a trash can and 11% usually dispose of

needles/lancets in a safe disposal container in public


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Men are more likely than women to dispose of their used needles/lancets in a trash can at home

● A fifth (20%) of men typically dispose of their used needles/lancets in a trash can in their home, compared to

11% of women who say the same

● Women (76%) are more likely than men (68%) to typically dispose of their used needles/lancets in a safe

disposal container in their home

Millennials are the most likely to use safe disposal containers in their home to dispose of their used

needles/lancets

● Millennials (70%) are more likely than Gen Zs (65%) or Baby Boomers (63%) to typically use safe disposal

containers in their homes to dispose of their used needles/lancets when they’re at home

● Millennials (13%) are the least likely to typically use public safe disposal containers to dispose of used

needles/lancets when at home, compared to Gen Zs (17%) and Baby Boomers (17%)

Question 6 Results

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Of the following, which best describes how you typically dispose of your used needles/lancets on a

daily basis when you are NOT at home?

● More than half (56%) of Californians with diabetes typically dispose of used needles/lancets in a personal safe

disposal container and one in seven (14%) dispose of them in a safe disposal container in public

● However one in five (20%) typically take used needles/lancets home and dispose of them in a trash can, and

another 5% dispose of the needles in a public trash can


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Men are more than twice as likely as women to dispose of used needles in a public trash can

● Eight percent of men typically dispose used needles/lancets in a public trash can when they are not at home,

while just three percent of women say the same

● Men (25%) are also more likely to typically take used needles/lancets home and dispose of them in a trash can

there, compared to 16% of women

Baby Boomers are the most likely to dispose of used needles/lancets in a public trash can when they are not at

home

● 10% of Baby Boomers typically dispose of used needles/lancets on a daily basis in a public trash can when they

are not at home, compared to Millennials (4%) and Gen Z (9%)

● Millennials (54%) and Gen Z (54%) are more likely than Baby Boomers (49%) typically dispose of used

needles/lancets in a safe disposal container in public when they are not at home

Question 7 Results

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If you disposed of a needle/lancet in a public trash can, which of the following best describes why

you disposed of a needle/lancet in a public trash can?

● More than half (54%) of Californians with diabetes who have disposed of used needles/lancets in a public trash

can did so because there were no safe disposal containers nearby and they had no other choice

● Nearly three in 10 (27%) usually discard needles in trash cans, and nearly two in 10 (19%) wanted to get rid of

the needle as quickly as possible

Question 8 Results

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Are you aware of the needle/lancet disposal laws in your city and state?

● The majority (63%) of Californians with diabetes are aware of the needle/lancet disposal laws in their state, but

32% are not aware


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Men are more likely than women to be aware of the needle/lancet disposal laws in their city and state

● 65% of men and 61% of women are aware of the needle/lancet laws in their city and state

Baby Boomers are the least likely to be aware of the needle/lancet disposal laws in their city and state

● Just 47% of Baby Boomers are aware of the needle/lancet laws in their city and state, compared to Millennials

(70%) and Gen Zs (63%)

Question 9 Results

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Are you aware of California Senate Bill 212, requiring sharps manufacturers and specified

pharmaceutical drug companies to establish, fund and promote a statewide takeback system for

these products?

● Only half (54%) of Californians with diabetes are aware of California Senate Bill 212

● 39% of are not aware of Senate Bill 212


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Men are more likely than women to be aware of California Senate Bill 212

● 57% of men and 51% of women are aware of the California Senate Bill 212

● 37% of men and 41% of women are NOT aware of the California Senate Bill 212

Millennials are the most likely to be aware of California Senate Bill 212

● 63% of Millennials are aware of California Senate Bill 212, compared to Baby Boomers (35%) and Gen Zs (56%)

● 55% of Baby Boomers are NOT aware of the California Senate Bill 212, compared to Millennials (31%) and Gen

Zs (38%)

Question 10 Results

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If you are aware of California Senate Bill 212, do you think this bill will make your disposal of

needles/lancets easier?

● Three quarters (75%) of Californians who are aware of Senate Bill 212 think it will make disposal easier as

they’ll no longer have to purchase their own waste container

● More than one in 10 (12%) do not think the bill will impact their personal disposal of needles/lancets

● Another 12% are not sure, but do think the bill is a step in the right direction for improving diabetes care


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Men are slightly more likely than women to think California Senate Bill 212 will make disposal easier

● 80% of men and 72% of women think California Senate Bill 212 will make disposal easier as they’ll no longer

have to purchase their own waste container

● 10% of men and 13% of women do not think the bill will impact their personal disposal of needles/lancets

● 9% of men and 14% of women are not sure, but think the bill is a step in the right direction for improving

diabetes care

Gen Z, Millennials and Baby Boomers agree the California Senate Bill 212 will make disposal easier

● The majority of Gen Zs (74%), Millennials (75%) and Baby Boomers (71%) think the bill will make disposal easier

as they’ll no longer have to purchase their own waste container

● 11% of Gen Z, 12% of Millennials and 12% of Baby Boomers do not think the bill will impact their personal

disposal of needles/lancets

● 16% of Gen Zs, 14% of Millennials and 12% of Baby Boomers are not sure, but think the bill is a step in the right

direction for improving diabetes care

Question 11 Results

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Where do you keep UNUSED needles/lancets in your household?

● Half (51%) of Californians with diabetes keep unused needles/lancets in a locked drawer or cabinet that only

they have access too, however, more than a fifth (21%) keep unused needles/lancets in an unlocked container,

and 23% keep them in their bathroom cabinet


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Men and women have similar storage habits for keeping unused needles/lancets

● 50% of women and 52% of men keep their unused needles/lancets in a locked drawer or cabinet that only they

have access to, while 28% of men and 24% of women keep them in an unlocked container

● Additionally, 20% of women and 28% of men keep their unused needles/lancets in their bathroom cabinet

Baby Boomers are the most likely to keep their unused needles/lancets in an unlocked container

● 43% of Baby Boomers keep unused needles/lancets in an unlocked container in their household, compared to

19% of Millennials and 19% of Gen Zs

● Gen Zs (25%) are most likely to keep unused needles/lancets in their bathroom cabinet, compared to Millennials

(21%) and Baby Boomers (24%)

Question 12 Results

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Would an at-home sharps disposal kit help you manage your diabetes care more easily?

● Nearly nine in 10 (88%) Californians with diabetes think an at-home sharps disposal kit would help them

manage their diabetes care more easily

● Just 7% think an at-home sharps disposal kit would not help them manage their diabetes care more

easily


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Women are slightly more likely than men to think an at-home sharps disposal kit would help them manage

their diabetes care more easily

● 90% of women think an at-home sharps disposal kit would help them manage their diabetes care more easily,

compared to 86% of men

Millennials are the most likely to think an at-home sharps disposal kit would help them manage their diabetes

care more easily

● More than nine in 10 (91%) Gen Zs think an at-home sharps disposal kit would help them manage their diabetes

care more easily, compared to 81% of Gen Zs and 88% of Baby Boomers

Question 13 Results

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Have you ever administered an insulin injection in a public place?

● 67% of Californians with diabetes have administered an insulin injection in a public place and 32% have not


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More men than women have administered an insulin injection in a public place

● 72% of men have administered an insulin injection in a public place, compared to 63% of women

Millennials are the most likely to have administered an insulin injection in a public place

● Nearly three quarters (72%) of Millenials have administered an insulin injection in a public place compared to 63% of Gen

Zs and 53% of Baby Boomers

Question 14 Results

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If you have administered an insulin injection in a public place, how did you dispose of your

needle/lancet?

● Of Californians with diabetes who have administered an insulin injection in a public place, 37% brought the

needle/lancet home and disposed of it in a trash can there

○ Nearly one in eight (12%) disposed of the needle/lancet in a public trash can

○ 28% disposed of the needle/lancet in their own personal safe disposal container

○ 22% disposed of the needle/lancet in a public safe disposal container


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Of Californians with diabetes who have administered an insulin injection in a public place, men are more likely

than women to dispose of the needle/lancet in a public trash can.

● 20% of men disposed of their needle/lancet in a public trash can compared to just 5% of women

● However, women (38%) are slightly more likely than men (36%) to bring the needle/lancet home and dispose of

it in a trash can there.

● Women (31%) are also more likely than men (26%) to dispose of the needle/lancet in a personal safe disposal

container, and women (25%) are more likely than men (18%) to dispose of the needle/lancet in a public safe

disposal container

Baby Boomers who have administered an insulin injection in a public place, are the most likely to dispose of the

needle/lancet in their own personal safe disposal container

● 38% of Baby Boomers dispose of the needle/lancet in their own personal safe disposal container, compared to

Millennials (24%) and Gen Zs (26%)

● Millennials (38%) are the most likely to bring the needle/lancet home and disposed of it in a trash can there,


● Gen Zs (33%) are the most likely to dispose the needle/lancet in a public safe disposal container, compared to

Millennials (22%) and Baby Boomers (15%)

Question 15 Results

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Have you ever encountered a sharps container in a public restroom (e.g. at a retail, food, gas station

or other establishment)?

● Nearly half (45%) of Californians with diabetes have encountered a sharps container in a public restroom, but

more than half (53%) have not.


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Fewer women than men have encountered a sharps container in a public restroom

● 51% of men have encountered a sharps container in a public restroom, compared to 40% of women

Baby Boomers are the least likely to have encountered a sharps container in a public restroom

● Less than a third (31%) of Baby Boomers have encountered a sharps container in a public restroom, compared to

Millennials (49%) and Gen Zs (54%)

Question 16 Results

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If you have encountered a sharps container in a public restroom, in which type of establishments have

you seen sharps containers in public restrooms?

● Californians with diabetes who have encountered a sharps container in a public restroom, are most likely to have

seen a sharps container in a public restroom at a fast food establishment (47%)

○ 44% have seen a sharps container in a public restroom at a shopping mall

○ 43% have seen a sharps container in a public restroom at an airport

○ 37% have seen a sharps container in a public restroom at a retailer or gas station

○ 27% have seen a sharps container in a public restroom at a sit-down restaurant


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Of Californians with diabetes who have encountered a sharps container in a public restroom, the majority of

men have seen sharps containers in a public restroom at a fast food establishment, and the majority of women

have seen sharps containers in a public restroom at a shopping mall

● 57% of men and 38% of women who have seen a sharps container in a public restroom are most likely to have

seen it at a fast food establishment

● 51% of women and 36% of men who have seen a sharps container in a public restroom are most likely to have

seen it at a shopping mall

Women also saw sharps containers in

public restrooms at:

● Airport (50%)

● Gas station (32%)

● Retailer (41%)

● Sit-down Restaurant (29%)

Men also saw sharps containers in public

restrooms at:

● Gas station (44%)

● Airport (34%)

● Retailer (33%)

● Sit-down Restaurant (24%)

Gen Zs are most likely to have seen sharps containers in a public restroom at a shopping mall

● 59% of Gen Zs who have seen a sharps container in a public restroom are most likely to have seen it at a

shopping mall, compared to Millennials (48%) and Baby Boomers (27%)

Question 17 Results

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How did this change your perception of the brand/restaurant/retailer?

● The majority of Californians with diabetes (61%) who have seen a sharps container in a public restroom think

more highly of the brand/restaurant/retailer

● 24% think more poorly of the brand/restaurant/retailer

● 13% did not change their perception of the brand/restaurant/retailer


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Women who have seen a sharps container in a public restroom are more likely than men to think more highly

of the brand/restaurant/retailer

● 65% of women who have seen a sharps container in a public restroom think more highly of the

brand/restaurant/retailer, compared to 57% of men

● 27% of men and 22% of women who have seen a sharps container in a public restroom think more poorly of the

brand/restaurant/retailer

Baby Boomers who have seen a sharps container in a public restroom are the most likely not change their

perception of the brand/restaurant/retailer

● 20% of Baby Boomers who have seen a sharps container in a public restroom did not change their perception of

the brand/restaurant/retailer, compared to Millennials (14%) and Gen Zs (8%)

● Gen Zs (73%) who have seen a sharps container in a public restroom think more highly of the

brand/restaurant/retailer, compared to Millennials (63%) and Baby Boomers (53%)

Question 18 Results

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If you saw a sharps disposal container in a public space (e.g. park) or establishment (e.g. retailer,

restaurant, etc.) would you be inclined to use it to dispose of your insulin/lancet needles?

● If they saw a sharps disposal container in a public space or establishment, the majority (72%) of Californians with

diabetes would use it to dispose of their insulin/lancet needles

● More than a fifth (21%) would not use it to dispose of their insulin/lancet needles


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When compared to men, women who saw a sharps disposal container in a public space or establishment are

slightly more likely to use it to dispose of their insulin/lancet needles than men

● Men (79%) are more likely to use a sharps disposal container in a public space or establishment to dispose of

their insulin/lancet needles than women (67%)

If they saw a sharps disposal container in a public space or establishment, Baby Boomers are the most likely to

use it to dispose of their insulin/lancet needles

● Baby Boomers (78%) are the most likely to use a sharps disposal container in a public space or establishment to

dispose of their insulin/lancet needles, compared to Gen Zs (66%) and Millennials 72%)

Question 19 Results

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Are you concerned that your disposed needles/lancets could harm someone in your household or

where you work?

● The majority (65%) of Californians with diabetes are concerned that their disposed needles/lancets could harm

someone in their household or where they work

● Nearly a third (32%) are not concerned that their disposed needles/lancets could harm someone in their

household or where they work


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Men are more likely than women to be concerned that their disposed needles/lancets could harm someone in

their household or where they work

● 71% of men are concerned that their disposed needles/lancets could harm someone in their household or

where they work, compared to 61% of women

Gen Zs and Millennials are the most likely to be concerned that their disposed needles/lancets could harm

someone in their household or where they work

● 68% of both Gen Zs and Millennials are concerned that their disposed needles/lancets could harm someone in

their household or where they work, compared to 59% of Baby Boomers

Question 20 Results

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Have you ever talked with your doctor about proper needle disposal (i.e. how to dispose of your

sharps in public and/or at home)?

● Although 76% of Californians with diabetes have talked with their doctor about proper needle disposal, nearly a

quarter (23%) have not


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Men are slightly more likely than women to have talked with their doctor about proper needle disposal

● 78% of men and 74% of women have talked with their doctor about proper needle disposal

Baby Boomers are the most likely NOT to have talked to their doctor about proper needle disposal

● Baby Boomers (47%) are the most likely NOT to have talked with their doctor about proper needle disposal,

compared to Gen Zs (19%) and Millennials (13%)

Question 21 Results

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In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge diabetics face today in terms of disposing of

needles/lancets?

● More than four in 10 (42%) Californians with diabetes find lack of public safety disposal containers is the biggest

challenge people with diabetes face today in disposing needles/lancets followed by:

○ 21%: lack of options for disposing needles/lancets at home

○ 19%: ensuring their family and friends are not exposed to needles

○ 15%: ensuring their used needles to do not impact the environment


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Women are slightly more likely than men to believe the biggest challenge people with diabetes face disposing

of needles/lancets is the lack of public safety disposal containers

● Women (43%) believe the biggest challenge people with diabetes face disposing of needles/lancets is the lack of

public safety disposal containers, compared to men (42%)

● Women (21%) are also more likely than men (20%) to believe the biggest challenge people with diabetes face

disposing of needles/lancets is the lack of options for disposing them at home

Baby Boomers are the most likely to believe the biggest challenge people with diabetes face today disposing of

needles/lancets is the lack of public safety disposal containers

● Baby Boomers (45%) are the most likely to believe the biggest challenge people with diabetes face disposing of

needles/lancets is the lack of public safety disposal containers, compared to Millennials (38%) and Gen Zs (37%)

● Baby Boomers (22%) and Gen Zs (22%) the least likely to believe that the biggest challenge people with diabetes

face disposing of needles/lancets is lack of options for disposing them at home, compared to Millennials (25%)

Thank you.

California’s Access to Care & Sharps Disposal in the ......manufacturers and specified...

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