| Title: | Surveying healthcare workers to improve the design, wearer experience and sustainability of PPE isolation gowns |
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| Authors: | ID Šterman, Sonja (Author)
ID Townsend, Katherine (Author)
ID Salter, Eloise (Author)
ID Harrigan, Karen (Author) |
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| Files: |  625fbeccd73cd.pdf (1,73 MB)
MD5: 076FE2DE79D17E9F8A6C27FFFC31628A
 https://www.sv-jme.eu/sl/article/surveying-healthcare-workers-to-improve-the-design-wearer-experience-and-sustainability-of-ppe-isolation-gowns/
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| Language: | English |
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| Work type: | Article |
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| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
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| Organization: | FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
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| Abstract: | 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. |
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| Keywords: | zdravstveni delavci, ankete, izolacijske obleke, oblačila za večkratno uporabo, izkušnje uporabnika, kvalitativno raziskovanje, healthcare workers, surveys, isolation gowns, reusable PPE, wearer experience, qualitative research |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Submitted for review: | 25.02.2022 |
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| Article acceptance date: | 22.03.2022 |
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| Publication date: | 01.04.2022 |
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| Publisher: | Zveza strojnih inženirjev in tehnikov Slovenije [etc.], = Association of Mechanical Engineers and Technicians of Slovenia [etc.] |
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| Year of publishing: | 2022 |
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| Number of pages: | str. 252-264 |
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| Numbering: | ǂVol. ǂ68, ǂiss. ǂ4, spec. iss.: SARS-Cov-2 |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DKUM-81627  |
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| UDC: | 677.017:614 |
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| ISSN on article: | 0039-2480 |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 105914883 |
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| DOI: | 10.5545/sv-jme.2022.49 |
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| Copyright: | © The Authors 2022 |
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| Publication date in DKUM: | 26.03.2025 |
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| Views: | 124 |
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| Downloads: | 6 |
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| Metadata: |    |
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| Categories: | Misc.
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