Evaluating healthcare workers’ current isolation gown design features and maintenance practices for their safety and protection

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate key design features and maintenance practices of isolation gowns which should be improved for ensuring healthcare workers’ (HCWs’) safety and protection, integrating two theoretical models – personal protective clothing on worker performance and clothing comfort. Using a survey research design, an online survey was employed with a convenience sample of 153 US HCWs. The results presented the need for isolation gown design improvement within donning and doffing, comfort, body coverage, fit and sizing. It showcases interrelationships among isolation gown properties, HCWs’ task requirements, environmental conditions and their characteristics, and how comfort can be achieved while interacting among HCWs, isolation gown and the environment for better work performance and safety. This study provides critical insights into the novel isolation gown design and development by considering more of its utilitarian, task-related features to ensure HCWs’ safety and protection.