Surveying healthcare workers to improve the design, wearer experience and sustainability of PPE isolation gowns

Šterman, Sonja (avtor), Townsend, Katherine (avtor), Salter, Eloise (avtor), Harrigan, Karen (avtor)

This protective clothing design project responds to the urgent need for research into the redesign of personal protective equipment (PPE) isolation gowns, to be more fit for purpose and reusable to enhance the experiences of healthcare workers treating patients with COVID-19 and variants. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) the research addresses the engineering question: “What new materials, design and manufacturing approaches should we start to consider in preparation for pandemics e.g. reusable PPE to replace single use?” The article focuses on the online questionnaire/ survey, its main findings and the ‘participatory clothing design’ methodology which prioritises the lived experiences and expressed needs of healthcare workers wearing disposable and reusable PPE in acute care scenarios. Research methods include literature and gown reviews, selected interviews and survey directed at nurses, to acquire first-hand qualitative data about the impact of current gown design and procurement policies on wearers. Selected results and commentary from the ongoing survey are presented and thematically analysed to inform the development of reusable gowns. Semi-structured interviews with clinical leads and caregivers, as well as responses from users, will be important to integrate expertise in fashion, textile and uniform design, clinical practice, and manufacturing. Further design will be based on a complex design brief that balances the needs of wearers and critical care providers while considering regulations, protection, comfort, sustainability, and cost. This research focuses on enhancing an overlooked area of critical care clothing and the people who wear it while reducing its detrimental impact on the planet.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: healthcare workers, surveys, isolation gowns, reusable PPE, wearer experience, qualitative research
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FS - Fakulteta za strojništvo
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Datum objave: 01.04.2022
• Leto izida: 2022
• Št. strani: Str. 252-264
• Številčenje: Vol. 68, iss. 4, spec. iss.: SARS-Cov-2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-136390
• UDK: 677.017:614
• ISSN pri članku: 0039-2480
• DOI: 10.5545/sv-jme.2022.49
• COBISS.SI-ID: 105914883
• Datum objave v RUL: 28.04.2022

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Strojniški vestnik
• Skrajšan naslov: Stroj. vestn.
• Založnik: Zveza strojnih inženirjev in tehnikov Slovenije [etc.], = Association of Mechanical Engineers and Technicians of Slovenia [etc.
• ISSN: 0039-2480
• COBISS.SI-ID: 762116

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.
• Začetek licenciranja: 22.03.2022
• Vezano na: Accepted for publication

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Naslov: Anketiranje zdravstvenih delavcev za izboljšanje dizajna, izkušenj uporabnikov in trajnostnega vidika zaščitnih halj kot osebne zaščitne opreme
• Ključne besede: zdravstveni delavci, ankete, izolacijske obleke, oblačila za večkratno uporabo, izkušnje uporabnika, kvalitativno raziskovanje

Projekti

• Financer: Drugi - Drug financer ali več financerjev
• Program financ.: Arts & Humanities Research Council, UK
• Številka projekta: AH/V015842/1