Operating Room Clothing: Time for an Improved Image

Noemi Bitterman and Anna Becker
Industrial Design, Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning, Technion– Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City, Haifa 32000

Yoel Donchin
Patient Safety Centre, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Centre, Jerusalem, Israel
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Aim and objectives
Despite major innovations in the operating room (OR) the clothing of the surgical team (scrubs), has remained essentially the same for decades. Unisex scrubs shared by the entire surgical team- surgeons, anesthetists, nurses, and technicians have not been adapted to the changing needs and tasks of the team, the technological nature of OR, or fashion trends. The aim was to evaluate the current use of OR clothing, assess wearing habits and team preferences, identify problems, and suggest design alternatives for improvement.

Methods
Observations, interviews and video recordings were conducted at different medical centers documenting OR clothing. An anonymous questionnaire was distributed among OR staff: surgeons, anesthetists, nurses, and technicians, employed at 11 hospitals in different cities in Israel, addressing habits of OR outfit use, information about carried items and evaluating scrub design preferences. Statistical evaluation was carried out by group segmentation (gender and sub- specialization).

Results
160 OR staff participated; 61 surgeons, 41 anesthetists, 38 nurses, and 20 non-medical OR staff. 38.2% female (n= 60) and 61.7% male (n= 97), their age 40 ± 9 years (mean ± SD). 81% the OR staff is basically satisfied with their clothing, asking for only minor changes in their scrubs design and the selection of colors. Carrying professional equipment and personal belongings have been identified troublesome. Pens, cell phones, keys, employee nametags, stamp, wallet, and watches were the most carried items in the pockets or attached to OR clothing.

Based on the observations and questionnaire we developed a concept of an external, independent carrying/storage device positioned at the waist/hips, holding designated pockets for the carried items (as specified in our survey).

Advanced textiles and innovative technology enables a compact, light, and mostly “smart” carrying object. A power supply for electronic equipment, ‘embedded computing’ for paging and continuous connectivity, changeable and adjustable compartment dimensions, automatic identification and even tactile paging are partial options for innovative technology incorporated into the device.

Conclusions
Our working hypothesis is that storing staff belongings out of the OR clothing will increase safety and sterility, facilitate clothing maintenance, promote tidy appearance and upgrade surgical staff image. We recommend that changes in style and colours of scrubs will be performed in hospitals using our picture and color-plate methodology to accommodate local preferences and needs.