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Medical clothing items are standardised and serve a functional purpose. In this study, design students worked collaboratively with healthcare workers to create a concept-driven collection of hospital wear. The aim was threefold: first, to identify challenges with hospital clothing; second, to engage students in a real-world design challenge; and third, to gather reactions to the collection at fashion shows. We concluded the main motivation in patient gowns design is the preservation of dignity, while staff uniforms lack means for personal identification. Only a quarter of surveyed healthcare workers would wear the resulting collection, owing to their perception of practicality, where half of the surveyed patients would, praising its modernity and good coverage of the body. Engaging students in a real-world design challenge proved to be a valuable teaching tool. The work highlights opportunities in the redesign of hospital clothing and student engagement in design and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nursing uniforms have undergone various metamorphoses since Malaysia gained independence. This article presents the process of transforming the nursing uniform at the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) between 1983 and 2017. In this historical case study, content analysis was conducted on the data obtained through library research and face-to-face interviews. The HUSM nursing uniform evolution can be categorised into three phases: the inauguration of the unique HUSM image and the negotiation for Malay-Muslim-friendly nursing uniforms (from 1983 to the mid-1990s); the officiation of the Malay-Muslimfriendly nursing uniform (from the mid-1990s to 2011); and the enhancement of the HUSM image (from 2011 to 2017). With the evolution of the Malay-Muslim dressing norms during the specific time frame, various obstacles arose, but the HUSM continuously improved its nursing uniform in terms of practicality, professional image and Malay-Muslim features. The process of advocating for a Malay-Muslim friendly uniform in the post-colonial period was challenging, although Malay-Muslims account for the majority of the population and Islam is the official religion of Malaysia. HUSM has demonstrated practicality in blending the local dressing norms within the professional dress codes while maintaining good standards of practice in healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Latinoamericana de Hipertension is the property of Revista Latinoamericana de Hipertension and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective  Wearing a white coat (WC) has been associated with risk of colonization and transmission of resistant pathogens. Also, studies have shown that physicians' attire in general affects patients' confidence in their physician and the patient–physician relationship. Our objective is to evaluate the hypothesis that not wearing a WC during physician postpartum rounds does not affect patient–physician communication scores. Materials and Methods  This is an unblinded, randomized, parallel arms, controlled trial of postpartum women at a single university hospital. Women were randomly assigned to having their postpartum physicians' team wear a WC or not (no-WC) during rounds. Our primary outcome was "patient–physician communication" score. Univariable and multivariable analysis were used where appropriate. Results  One hundred and seventy-eight patients were enrolled (87 in WC and 91 in no-WC groups). Note that 40.4% of patients did not remember whether the physicians wore a WC or not. There was no difference in the primary outcome (p  = 0.64) even after adjusting for possible confounders. Conclusion  Not wearing a WC during postpartum rounds did not affect the patient–physician communication or patient satisfaction scores. In the setting of prior reports showing a risk of WC pathogen transmission between patients, our findings cannot support the routine wearing of WCs during postpartum rounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gümüshane Üniversitesi Saglik Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Gumushane University, Faculty of Health Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The presentation of a physician's clothing and themselves is an important part of the physician-patient interaction. Physician attire can impact patient satisfaction and trust in their physician. We sought to discover the influence physician attire may have on patients' comfort level with proposed treatment plans, which could influence treatment adherence. We surveyed 495 subjects to better understand the relationship between physician attire and patients' perceptions of treatment plans. We found subjects' comfort level in proposed treatment plans was not significantly affected by physician attire. This finding suggests physician attire may not be as important when considering the potential effect on treatment adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to identify differences in perceptions between healthcare and non-healthcare personnel when it comes to wearing scrubs in non-healthcare settings.Methods: An anonymous survey with 11 closed-ended questions sent via e-mail to healthcare students and employees at The University of Texas Health San Antonio and non-healthcare students and employees at The University of Texas at San Antonio. The answers were scored from 1 to 5 for each question, with a total score ranging from 11-55. Total scores were analyzed and compared between the two groups using a sample t test.Results: 2730 people responded to the survey. The mean healthcare-related group responses scored 33.96 ± 7.65, while the non-healthcare group scored 34.47 ± 8.08, (p=0.096).Conclusions: In this study, we found no significant difference in attitudes about wearing scrubs in public between healthcare and non-healthcare; it appears that both groups are concerned about wearing scrubs in public. Both groups agree with the value of wearing scrubs in the clinical settings only. Healthcare professionals in this study did not endorse the need to change out of scrubs after work, while non-healthcare subjects believed changing one's scrubs before leaving a clinical setting was proper. The authors believe healthcare institutions should emphasize wearing scrubs only in professional circumstances, make a distinction between uniform and surgical scrubs, provide clean surgical scrubs to their employees, and designate locker rooms to encourage staff to change before the end of the work period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Scrubs and white coats are worn by health-care professionals in clinical environment as a part of personal protective equipment. Scrubs, white coats, and uniforms of dental personnel are spattered by saliva, aerosols, and blood, and there is definite risk of infection through various transmissible pathogens. The main aim of this study was to determine the level of bacterial contamination presents on disposable surgical dental care clothing worn over scrubs of dental students to assess the risk of spread of nosocomial infection in our dental institution. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted among postgraduate dental students who performed various dental procedures including extraction and minor oral surgical procedures such as impaction, transalveolar extractions, and alveoloplasty in the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery. A total of 45 participants who were treated in the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery were included in the study. Several samples were collected from different regions of disposable surgical dental care clothing of the students and sent for microbiological analysis. Results: Bacterial colony counts were greater in cultures obtained from the sleeve cuffs of the surgical dental care clothing compared with the neck region (collar region). Bacterial colony counts cultured following alveoloplasty procedure were greater in number when compared to transalveolar extraction procedure. Conclusion: From our study, it is concluded that disposable dental care clothing is highly contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and the results of the study strictly mandate the use of personal protective surgical dental care clothing before minor surgical procedures to prevent cross infection in the dental clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The personnel in an operating room are usually the main source of microorganisms and the correct clothing system for staff is, therefore, of high importance for patient safety. The same surgical clothing system is often worn during a complete working day/shift, i.e. no change of clothing between operations, and the personnel may also leave the surgical department/section for different reasons. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of contaminating the outside of the surgical clothing during a day of use and also to evaluate if there is a higher risk of contamination if staff visit areas outside the surgical department. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With increasing use of medical radiologic procedures, wearing proper protector should be emphasized to reduce occupational radiation exposures. This research describes the rates of lead apron wearing for radiation protection and assessed occupational factors related to wearing rates for various types of healthcare professionals. Methods: We conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey through a website, on-site visits, fax, and mail. Of the 13,489 participants, 8858 workers who could not completely separate themselves from radiological procedure areas. Their general characteristics (sex and age), work history (job title, duration of employment, and hospital type), and practices (frequency of radiation procedures, ability to completely separate from radiation, and frequency of wearing protective lead aprons) were examined. Results: The mean rate of lead apron wearing during radiologic procedures was 48.0 %. The rate was different according to sex (male: 52.9 %, female: 39.6 %), hospital type (general hospital: 63.0 %, hospital: 51.3 %, clinic: 35.6 %, dental hospital/clinic: 13.3 %, public health center: 22.8 %), and job title (radiologic technologist: 50.3 %, doctor: 70.3 %, dentist/dental hygienist: 15.0 %, nurse/nursing assistant: 64.5 %) (p < 0.001). By logistic regression analysis stratified by job title, use of lead aprons by radiologic technologists and nurses/nursing assistants was associated with hospital type and exposure frequency score. For doctors, apron wearing was associated with employment duration. For dentists/dental hygienists, apron wearing was associated with the exposure frequency score. Conclusions: To improve working environments for healthcare professionals exposed to radiation, it is necessary to consider related factors, such as job title, duration of employment, and hospital type, when utilizing a planning and management system to prevent radiation-related health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors discuss the professional and ethical aspects of wearing scrubs outside a clinical setting. Topics include the foundational principles of antiseptic surgery established by surgeon Joseph Lister, patients' perceptions and visual representation of scrubs, and the speculation within the healthcare industry over global awareness of hospital-acquired infections.

The article looks at the design process for a uniform to be worn by health care professionals in Denmark. The authors use Actor-Network Theory (ANT) to explore the sometimes conflicting interests of the various stakeholders in the design process and the relationship between the uniform's functional and self-expressive aspects. Details on the roles of fashion and industrial design in health care uniforms are presented. Other topics include laundry technology, professional identity, pockets, and user-driven design.

Background. No randomized trials have examined the effect of contact precautions or universal glove and gown use on adverse events. We assessed if wearing gloves and gowns during all patient contact in the intensive care unit (ICU) changes adverse event rates. Methods. From January 2012 to October 2012, intervention ICUs of the 20-site Benefits of Universal Gloving and Gowning cluster randomized trial required that healthcare workers use gloves and gowns for all patient contact. We randomly sampled 1800 medical records of adult patients not colonized with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and reviewed them for adverse events using the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Global Trigger Tool. Results. Four hundred forty-seven patients (24.8%) had 1 or more ICU adverse events. Adverse events were not associated with universal glove and gown use (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], .48- 1.36). This did not change with adjustment for ICU type, severity of illness, academic hospital status, and ICU size, (IRR, 0.91; 95% CI, .59-1.42; P = .68). Rates of infectious adverse events also did not differ after adjusting for the same factors (IRR, 0.75; 95% CI, .47-1.21; P = .24). Conclusions. In ICUs where healthcare workers donned gloves and gowns for all patient contact, patients were no more likely to experience adverse events than in control ICUs. Concerns of adverse events resulting from universal glove and gown use were not supported. Similar considerations may be appropriate regarding use of contact precautions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we address points raised by Stephanie Dancer's article in The BMJ in which she claimed that by 'dressing down', physicians fail to adhere to the dignitas of the medical profession, and damage its reputation. At the beginning of this paper, we distinguish between two different senses in which a person can be, as she terms it, 'scruffy'; and then we address Dancer's three main claims. First, we argue that in regard to the medical profession it is fallacious to assume, as she appears to do, that someone is incompetent or irresponsible when such a judgement is grounded in the fact that a physician is not dressed in a formal way. Second, we argue, contrary to her claim, that the dignified nature of the medical profession is in no coherent way linked to sartorial elegance or lack thereof, but rather, that such dignity is bound to the value of the medical practice in itself, to patients, and to society at large. Third, we examine two ways in which doctors can 'dress down' and show that 'scruffiness' does not necessarily intimates a lack of personal hygiene. Finally, we show that pointing to mere statistical correlation without causation, cannot be used as an argument against scruffiness. We conclude by suggesting that in the medical context, it is more appropriate to educate patients than to chastise practitioners for not following arbitrary cultural mores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A doctor's competence and professionalism is often judged on the basis of attire. Our Lady of Lourdes (OLOL) is a leading Irish hospital in the implementation of Bare Below the Elbows (BBTE) policy, however surgical attire is not standardised and there is great variability in attire worn on wards. We aimed to evaluate patients attitude towards surgeons attire in OLOL. Methods: A prospective survey of adult surgical in-patients was conducted from October 2013 to February 2014. A twelve-question questionnaire was used as data collection tool, using a five point Likert scale to assess patients response to each question. Data were collected on patient demographics, patients level of trust and confidence based on different surgical attire, and patients perception of different attire worn by surgical teams. Results: There were 150 completed surveys during the study period with a male to female ratio of 44% to 56% respectively. The mean patient length of in-hospital stay (LOS) was 4.7 days (range 1-22). The most commonly represented age group was 30-40 years (18%), with a comparable spread among all age groups. The majority of patients found the attire worn by surgeons on the ward to be very appropriate (93%). Majority of responders believed scrubs to be the most appropriate attire for surgeons on wards (39%), followed by shirt and tie with white coat (38%) followed by short sleeved shirt and no tie (18%). Shirt and tie with white coat had a positive effect on patients trust in 63% of responders, a negative effect in 10% and no effect in 26%. Scrubs had a positive effect on patients trust in 63%, negative effect in 11% and no effect in 25%. Short sleeved shirt and no tie had a positive effect in 44%, negative effect in 25% and no effect in 30% of patients. Conclusion: Patients in OLOL find attire worn by surgeons to be appropriate. Shirt and tie with white coat or scrubs remains the patient's choice attire for surgeons. Shirt and tie with white coat or scrubs has a more positive effect on trust of patients compared to short sleeved shirt and no tie. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposed an integrative three-stage process model (integrative process model for universal design [IPM-UD]) as guidance for universal design practices, particularly for apparel. The IPM-UD consolidated the universal design principles and the functional–expressive–aesthetic attributes. The model validity was evaluated with an empirical design case of hospital patient apparel. To identify specific user needs, survey data were collected from 173 patients and healthcare providers at 2 large hospitals located in the Midwestern region of the USA, and guided the creative design process. Computer-aided illustration and digital textile printing assisted rapid prototyping of the designed solutions. Prototypes of the patient apparel were evaluated by potential user groups through focus group interviews. The outcome of the empirical design demonstrated potential benefits of the IPM-UD to be a valuable tool for successful practices of inclusive apparel design for users with diverse needs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose: Health care workers, including physicians, have adopted more casual dress. The appearance of a physician may influence patients' opinion of physician knowledge, competence and trustworthiness. We hypothesized that medical inpatients and outpatients would rate these attributes higher in residents who dressed and acted in a more formal manner. Methods: Prospective cohort included both inpatients and outpatients. One hundred thirty three patients, aged 62.3±16 years, 49% of whom were female, were surveyed. One of two male resident physicians approached each patient, ostensibly to obtain consent to a brief mini-mental status examination. The physician was dressed, and acted, either "formally" (F) or "informally" (I). Patients then completed a six item questionnaire, using a 5 point Likert scale, to assess their confidence in the resident. Total scores could be 6 to 30. Total scores were compared using one-way ANOVA. Results: Patients' perceptions were high for both F and I: 25.5±3.1 vs. 24.1±3.0, respectively (p=0.013). This diflerence was driven by the "labcoat" question: patients generally preferred physicians to wear a labcoat (3.9±1.0 vs. 2.8±1.3, p<0.0001). Responses to four of the other fivequestions were numerically, but not statistically, higher in F. There was no diflerence in preference between the tworesidents: 24.6±2.8 vs. 24.9±3.5, p=0.56. Conclusion: More formal dress and demeanor by residents leads to a modest, but significant, increase in patient perception of the resident's value. Wearing a white lab coat, in particular, has a positive eflect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of airborne bacteria-carrying particles in the operating room is considered an indicator of the risk of infections to the patients undergoing surgery susceptible to infections. The filtration efficacy of the fabric and the design of the clothing systems affect the number of bacteria-carrying particles in the air during ongoing surgery. Results from different clothing systems evaluated in the operating room during ongoing surgery will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Industria Textila is the property of Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Textile si Pielarie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: The aim of the presented experiments was to determine thermal stress of surgeons performing their work with a high metabolic rate, wearing clothing characterized by high insulation and impermeability protecting them against water vapour but also in thermal conditions of a warm climate protecting patients against hypothermia. The experiments were conducted with the participation of 8 volunteers. Each subject took part in the experiment four times, i.e. in each of the four tested surgical gowns. The experiments were conducted in a climatic chamber where thermal conditions characteristic of an operating theatre were simulated. The parameters to be measured included: skin temperature, temperature measured in the auditory canal, sweat rate as well as temperature and humidity between clothing and a human body. The conducted experiments provided the grounds to conclude that medical clothing can be regarded as barrier clothing and it can influence thermal load of a human body. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of this research was to characterize selected thermal properties of clothing fabrics available to operating room (OR) workers at the University of Alberta Hospital and to relate the thermal properties to fabric structural characteristics. In this study, we measured the thermal resistance and air permeability of fabrics obtained from surgical gowns, scrubs and warm-up jackets currently in use in ORs in a specific hospital. The results showed that the fabrics from which the surgical gowns were made provide the highest thermal insulation with lowest air permeability, while the warm-up jackets’ fabrics had the greatest air permeability with low thermal insulation values. The clothing options available to workers in the OR fall well below the predicted clothing insulation values for thermal comfort. For workers in the OR, such as anaesthesiologists, who are predominantly sedentary throughout their work shift, the lack of thermally insulating clothing options has consequences for their overall thermal comfort. This study comprises part of a larger ongoing study investigating improving the OR workers thermal comfort through clothing. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Objective: The authors had for objective to evaluate the air-tightness of FFP2 respirator masks used by healthcare workers, with a quantitative fit-test protocol. Materials and methods: This test measures the number of ambient particles inside and outside the respirator mask. The ratio between both is called fit-factor. The fit-test is successful for an FFP2 respirator mask when the fit-factor is equal or superior to 100. The tests were performed in three hospitals. Nine types of FFP2 respirator masks were fit-tested, classified in three groups: hard shell, duckbill, and flat-fold respirator masks. Results: One hundred and eighty fit-tests were performed. Less than a third of the fit-tests were successful (35/130). The rate of successful tests was higher with flat-fold (57.5%, 23/40) than with duckbill (18.3%, 11/60), or hard shell respirator masks (3.3%, 1/30), (P <0.05). Zero to 60% of healthcare workers had a successful fit-test with the respirator masks used in each hospital. This percentage increased with the number of tested respirator masks. No 100% success rate was ever reached in any hospital with the three tested respirator masks. Conclusion: Duckbill, and flat-fold respirator masks seem to be better adapted for healthcare workers than hard shell respirator masks. It seems necessary to implement new recommendations for respiratory protection in France. At least two types of respirator masks with various sizes and shape should be available and fitting controls should be performed with respirator masks that are worn by healthcare workers exposed to infectious risks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents the results of a study to explore the effects of pre-wetting of the inner and outer surface of surgical gown materials on their resistance to subsequent penetration. Two gown fabrics currently in common use, one disposable and one reusable, were tested for liquid penetration following standard procedures specified for categorizing surgical gown protection levels. Synthetic blood, simulated human perspiration, and isopropyl alcohols were used as challenge liquids. Significant results from independent-samples t-test analysis indicated that the dry-wet condition of surgical gown fabrics is a significant factor in barrier efficacy. Protection of the wearer may be compromised by gown fabric wetness from blood or other liquids in the surgical environment or by the wearer's perspiration. Protocols for replacement of surgical gowns may need to take these factors into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Surgical gown fabrics are categorized for liquid penetration resistance by standard tests under specified laboratory conditions, which can be different from the conditions encountered in the surgical environment. The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of temperature and challenge liquid (CL) type on the effectiveness of liquid penetration resistance of surgical gown fabrics. Design/methodology/approach – One disposable and one reusable surgical gown fabric were tested for liquid penetration using standard methods required in American Society for Testing Materials F2407 for classifying the materials used in Levels 1-3 surgical gowns. Standard test conditions were compared to varied conditions of ambient/fabric temperature (AFT), CL type and challenge liquid temperature (CLT). Analysis of variance was used to determine the effects of variables on liquid penetration. Findings – AFT, CL type and CLT were significant (p<0.05) variables for liquid penetration for at least one of the test fabrics. Higher ambient temperature, fabric and liquid temperature conditions resulted in greater liquid penetration. Use of synthetic blood as the CL resulted in higher liquid penetration than observed with distilled water. Research limitations/implications – Results suggest that temperatures within the range of body heat or ambient surgical environments are sufficient to affect liquid penetration of surgical gown fabrics. Also, the use of CLs other than distilled water and the use of CLs warmed to body temperature may be needed to accurately assess the liquid penetration resistance of surgical gown fabrics. Level of protection afforded by surgical gowns may be compromised by variability in these conditions. Originality/value – Conventional wisdom has held that differences between standard testing temperatures and body temperature or ambient temperature in the surgical theatre were insufficient to influence liquid penetration. This study has shown otherwise. No previous studies were found that addressed these variables but our study illustrates their effect on selected materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearing a white apron during duty hours is a debatable issue. Whether white apron is considered uniform like uniform code of armed forces and Constitution demands its mandatory use or is it a violation of fundamental right of a physician? The effects of white aprons on patients' feelings and on their perceptions about the doctor has been studied extensively by different scholars but few articles point towards the conflicts of opinions and lack of clarity in this subject .The question regarding use of white aprons in commercials is also a subject of debate. Thus this article is an attempt on the part of the authors to review the literature and search for a rational view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing awareness about the highly communicable bacteria and viruses, medical professionals and associations are making it mandatory to use protective surgical gowns to barrier the spreading of various diseases like SARS, HIV, hepatitis, etc. These diseases, which may be caused by a variety of microorganisms, can pose significant risks to human life and health unless sufficient measures are taken. Are medical professionals really feeling safe with existing surgical gowns prevalent in the market? Do these gowns provide absolute barrier to viruses along with providing comfort? Can we rely on the performance or is there something else we need to understand and modify? This article reveals some facts pertaining to these questions and precisely highlights various issues related to the development, application, and quality evaluation of surgical gowns. It also deals with the types of gowns available, their classification, technology behind them, technical aspects, testing means, their limitations, and future course of action to satisfy the growing needs of our health care professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article proposes a method by which defects in lead aprons may easily be evaluated on a routine basis and discusses criteria for the defects in thyroid lead shielding. This method gives unique rejection criteria that can be applied to different types of radiation protective clothing and different lead equivalences. Lead aprons and thyroid shields are considered as valuable aids in keeping the radiation dose received by hospital personnel under normal working conditions as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).

Copyright of Tempus Vitalis is the property of Sociedad Andaluza de Enfermeria en Cuidados Criticos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Summary: Introduction: A second cycle audit to evaluate the results after introduction of water impervious surgical gowns and drapes while performing Austin-Moore hemiarthroplasty as recommended by our previously published study. Aim: To assess the difference in the re-operation rate following Austin-Moore hemiarthroplasty between procedures performed under laminar air-flow to those performed in conventional (non-laminar flow) theatres, after the introduction of water impervious gowns and drapes in 2000. Materials and methods: A consecutive cohort of patients who had Austin-Moore hemiarthroplasties performed at our district general hospital between August 2000 and July 2004 were included in the study. The minimum follow-up period was 1 year. Of the total of 435 patients, 223 were operated in non-laminar air-flow theatres and 212 were operated in laminar air-flow theatres. Peri-operative antibiotics and waterimpervious surgical gowns and drapes were used in all cases. Results: The overall re-operation rate for all indications was 1.4% (3/212) in the laminar air-flow theatre group and 5.8% (134/223) in the non-laminar air-flow theatre group. Conclusion: The rate of re-operation for all indications in the non-laminar air-flow theatre group was four times greater than in the laminar air-flow group. We recommend that Austin-Moore hemiarthroplasty procedures should be performed in laminar air-flow equipped theatres. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: This study was performed to examine the preferences of patients regarding physician attire, and if their perception of physician competence was influenced by the physicians' clothing style. Methods: Patients attending the obstetrics and gynecology clinic in which residents provided the majority of direct patient care were invited to participate in this study by completing a questionnaire. Patients were first asked to respond to 3 questions about their preference regarding physician attire. They were then asked to examine a series of photographs illustrating a variety of physician clothing styles worn by a model. Patients were asked to respond to 2 questions: 1) If your doctor is dressed in this outfit, would that make you more or less comfortable talking to your physician?, and 2) If your doctor is dressed in this outfit, would it make you feel more or less confident in his/her abilities? Results: The majority of the respondents expressed no preference for their physician wearing a white coat (60%/110/183), or they did not respond that a physician's dress influenced their comfort level (63%/111/179) or the confidence (62%/114/181) they had in their physician. However, for both male and female physician models, the comfort level of patients and their perceptions of physician competence were the highest in response to images of physicians dressed in scrubs with a white coat, and least for casual dress. Conclusion: Resident physician attire makes a difference to patients. Our patients prefer the white coat with surgical scrubs. Casual clothing is less well liked by our patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More and more disposable goods are available in surgical rooms. Rules and standards have been proposed in order to prevent infection from patient to surgical team and vice versa. A proposed mandatory European standard prEn 13795 "Surgical drapes, gowns and clear air suits used as medical devices, for patients, clinical staff and equipment", is being developed by the Committee of European Normalisation and specifies the basic performance requirements and test methods for single-use and reusable materials after sterilisation process. Therefore, the performances of the surgical gowns demand a balance between barrier and comfort properties. In comfort evaluation, tactile feeling is one of the most primary and important aspects with regard to the grading of the products. Therefore, the influence of the sterilisation process on the tactile perception is important to be evaluated. Subsequently, the final aim of this paper is to contribute to the knowledge of influence of sterilisation treatment on the tactile perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of data of interrogation, the peculiarities of a dentist's requirements of medical clothes were defined. The most significant quality parameters of textiles for such clothes were estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Materials Requirements Planning (MRP) has been used extensively in manufacturing and other industries to improve on-time delivery and to reduce costs. In this paper, we illustrate how an MRP-type system was developed to monitor surgical linen at a large teaching hospital. We also describe a bar-code scanning ‘tag and recapture’ study to estimate total inventory. The hospital implemented several changes based upon our recommendations that resulted in time savings and a smoother flow of materials throughout the surgical linen supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This pilot study aimed to investigate the routine use of cotton cover gowns in the care of neutropenic patients and whether the rate of infection would increase if they were not used. Patients were randomly placed into alternate groups on admission and nursed with or without gowns. The patients’ rates of infection were noted with no significant difference in infection rates. Using evidence from a systematic review of the literature, cover gowns have now been removed as a method of protecting neutropenic patients. ‘Simple’ and effective hand-washing, together with the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, has been shown to be sufficient protection for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. - While coat contamination increases progressively with the duration of use, there are no guidelines on how frequently medical white coats should be changed. The purpose of our study was to examine the turnover of individual batch of medical white coats in a university hospital. Study design and methods. - A retrospective analysis of the white coat turnover of 826 physicians was performed by using the hospital laundry computerized database and an electronic declarative survey (240 responses) to evaluate the duration of medical white coat use. Results. - There was a wide discrepancy between the data extracted from the laundry database and those from the survey. The median factual duration of use (20 days, range: 15-30) corresponding to a turnover of 2 (1-2) coats per month, was widely underestimated by the physicians. Multivariate analysis identified 4 independent factors associated with a declared use of coats longer than 7 days: estimation of insufficient gown turnover (OR 14.8 [4.8-45.8]), daily change considered as not useful (OR 5.1 [2.4- 10.8]), non-medical specialty (OR 2.95 [1.5-5.6]) and presence of stains on gowns (2.9 [1.5-5.5]). Conclusion. - Shortening white coat use should be included in medical education in order to improve the good practice rules of hospital hygiene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerosols generated by the air turbine handpiece contain oral microorganisms that are a potential health hazard to the dentist. The effectiveness of different face masks in preventing cross contamination varied greatly but in all instances was significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey is presented with data from 27 operating rooms in four county councils, where air flows, concentration of airborne viable particles and used clothing systems have been given from 111 ongoing surgeries. With the results from the survey, a simple mathematical expression based upon the dilution principle has been established to predict the concentration of airborne viable particles present in the operating room during ongoing surgery. This expression has shown relatively good agreement with reported results from ongoing surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: It is believed that patients prefer that surgeons convey a professional appearance with traditional business attire and white laboratory coat. We performed a prospective study to assess patient opinions regarding traditional attire versus the wearing surgical scrubs in the outpatient setting. Methods: During a 5-month period, surgeons alternated wearing traditional clothing and surgical scrubs. Adult patients were given a questionnaire assessing their preferences regarding surgeons'' clothing. Results: Six hundred twelve patients returned the questionnaire. The majority felt that scrubs were appropriate attire for physicians. Half of the patients felt that wearing white laboratory coats is necessary. A minority felt that their surgeon''s dress affects their opinion regarding the care they received. There was no difference between responses regardless of the attire actually worn. Conclusions: Surgeon''s clothing choice does not significantly influence patient''s opinion of the care they receive. Patients do not have strong preferences for white coats or more traditional surgical attire. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article offers information on how emergency medical service (EMS) providers could protect themselves and their patients from infectious agents. It suggests knowing when and when not to wear medical gloves, washing hands as soon as possible after performing patient care and decontaminating and replacing ambulance medical equipment after big emergency call. It also recommends carrying spare uniform, a specific bag for contaminated laundry and using disposable equipment.

We evaluated a personal protective equipment removal protocol designed to minimize wearer contamination with pathogens. Following this protocol often resulted in virus transfer to hands and clothing. An altered protocol or other measures are needed to prevent healthcare worker contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]