Ethan Rhodes
Hospital clothing has evolved over the years, with the traditional hospital gown being a contentious issue for patients due to its open back design, which can be uncomfortable and expose the wearer. These gowns, also known as patient or medical gowns, are designed for easy access to the patient's body, but some newer designs offer more privacy and dignity, with wraparound styles, snap fastenings, and pockets. Additionally, there are adaptive clothing options for patients with physical or cognitive challenges. Hospital clothing also includes scrubs, worn by medical professionals, which consist of sanitary clothing, surgical caps, and shoe covers. These are designed to promote a clean environment and are often green or blue to prevent optical illusions caused by staring at red or pink hues during operations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Hospital gowns, patient gowns, medical gowns, lapover gowns, dignity gowns, popper gowns, pullover gowns, surgical scrubs, nursing scrubs, theatre blues |
| Purpose | Patient comfort, patient dignity, coverage, ease of access for healthcare workers |
| Design | Open back, wraparound, V-neck, ties, poppers, snaps, reversible, pockets, long sleeves, detachable headscarf, side openings, sleeve openings |
| Concerns | Dehumanizing, embarrassment, discomfort, impractical, expensive, difficult to wash |
| Alternatives | T-shirts, pyjamas, regular clothes, adaptive clothing |
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What You'll Learn
- Hospital clothes are called 'patient gowns' or 'medical gowns'
- They are also known as 'surgical greens' or scrubs
- Scrubs are designed to be simple, easy to wash, and cheap to replace
- Gowns are designed for patient comfort, dignity, and ease of access for healthcare workers
- Alternatives to gowns include T-shirts, robes, and wraparounds
Hospital clothes are called 'patient gowns' or 'medical gowns'
Hospital clothes are collectively known as "hospital gowns". They are also commonly referred to as patient gowns or medical gowns. These gowns are distinct from surgical gowns, which are protective garments worn by surgeons and operating theatre staff.
Patient gowns are designed with patient comfort, dignity, and coverage in mind, as well as ease of access for healthcare workers. They are typically designed to be open at the back, which has benefits for hospital staff in terms of dressing and undressing patients, as well as facilitating the use of a bedpan. However, this design can cause embarrassment and discomfort for patients when they are upright and moving, as the open back can expose the buttocks. As a result, newer designs have been developed to offer more dignity and comfort, with openings down the side or front, wraparound styles, snap fastenings, and pockets for medical devices.
There are many different types of patient gowns, catering to different patient needs and abilities. For example, some gowns are designed with adaptive clothing features, making them easier to put on and take off for individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities. The Dignity Giving Suit, introduced by Birmingham Children's Hospital in England, features Velcro fasteners on the seams and has been well-received by patients and healthcare professionals alike. Another innovative design is the three-arm toga, which is put on like a backward coat, providing ease of dressing without ties, poppers, or straps.
While patient gowns are designed to be functional, they have been criticised for being uncomfortable and exposing too much of the patient's body, leading to feelings of embarrassment and a loss of dignity. This has spurred efforts to redesign patient gowns to better preserve patient dignity while still providing necessary access for medical procedures.
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They are also known as 'surgical greens' or scrubs
Hospital clothing can be divided into two categories: clothing for medical professionals and clothing for patients.
Clothing for medical professionals, also known as surgical greens or scrubs, is designed to promote cleanliness and sterility in the operating room. Scrubs are usually made of cotton or a cotton-polyester blend and typically consist of a short-sleeve V-necked shirt and drawstring pants, or a short-sleeve calf-length dress. They are designed to be simple, with minimal places for contaminants to hide, easy to launder, and cheap to replace if damaged or stained. The colour green is commonly chosen for scrubs because it is the opposite of red on the colour wheel, helping doctors avoid visual fatigue when looking at the red and pink hues of blood and organs.
In addition to scrubs, medical professionals may also wear surgical caps, masks, latex gloves, and supportive closed-toe shoes. In some cases, bouffant surgical caps are required for all individuals in the operating room, including patients.
Clothing for patients, on the other hand, is designed with patient comfort, dignity, and coverage in mind, as well as ease of access for healthcare workers. Traditional hospital gowns are typically designed with an open back to facilitate dressing and undressing and the use of a bedpan. However, these gowns have been criticised for exposing patients' buttocks when standing or walking, leading to embarrassment and discomfort. As a result, newer designs have emerged that offer more coverage, such as wraparound styles that resemble robes, while still providing access for medical procedures. These newer gowns may also feature snap fastenings, pockets for medical devices, and more attractive colours.
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Scrubs are designed to be simple, easy to wash, and cheap to replace
Scrubs are the sanitary clothing worn by physicians, nurses, dentists, and other healthcare professionals involved in patient care. They are called "scrubs" because they are worn in a "scrubbed" environment. They are designed to promote a clean environment and are usually made of cotton or a cotton/polyester blend.
The design of scrubs is simple, with minimal places for contaminants to hide, making them easy to wash. They are also cheap to replace if they become damaged or irreparably stained. This is particularly important in maintaining a sanitary environment, as wearing outside clothing is thought to introduce unwanted pathogens.
The simplicity of the design also lends itself to practicality. Scrubs are often worn by surgeons and other operating room personnel, who need to be able to quickly change into sterile clothing before surgery. The lack of complicated fastenings or ties means that scrubs can be put on and taken off quickly and efficiently.
In addition to being practical for healthcare professionals, scrubs can also be designed with patient needs in mind. For example, scrubs can have long sleeves and a detachable headscarf for patients who wish to keep their heads covered during surgery. This design was recognised with an award in 2009 and has since been used by NHS trusts.
While scrubs are designed to be simple and practical, they are not always comfortable or dignified for patients. Traditional hospital gowns, with their open backs, can expose patients' buttocks when they are upright and moving, causing embarrassment and discomfort. This has led to calls for alternative designs that preserve patient dignity while still allowing medical staff the necessary access to the patient's body.
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Gowns are designed for patient comfort, dignity, and ease of access for healthcare workers
Hospital clothing, often referred to as patient gowns or medical gowns, is designed with specific purposes in mind. While the traditional hospital gown has drawn criticism for exposing patients' backsides and causing embarrassment, newer designs are being implemented to address these issues and improve patient comfort, dignity, and ease of access for healthcare workers.
The traditional hospital gown was designed during a time when patients spent most of their hospital stays in bed. The open back design made it easier for staff to dress and undress patients and facilitated the use of a bedpan. However, modern medical practices encourage early mobilisation, and the open back design can now cause discomfort and embarrassment to patients when they are upright and mobile.
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the need to redesign hospital gowns to better preserve patient dignity and comfort while still providing necessary access for medical staff. This balance between patient comfort and medical necessity has driven innovations in hospital gown design.
One example of such innovation is the Dignity Giving Suit, introduced by Birmingham Children's Hospital in England in 2013. This suit, made of polyester/cotton, featured Velcro fasteners on the seams and was well-received by patients and healthcare professionals alike. Adults also expressed interest in having similar gowns designed for them. Another redesign, known as the DCS (dignity, comfort, safety) gown, was recognised in 2009 for its reversible design, plastic poppers, and side pockets for drips or catheters.
In addition to preserving dignity and comfort, hospital gown designs also consider practical aspects such as ease of dressing and undressing, especially for patients with physical limitations. Adaptive clothing options are available for individuals with physical or cognitive challenges, making it easier for them to dress independently. These designs also benefit healthcare workers by saving time and improving efficiency.
While traditional hospital gowns may still be the norm in many places due to cost and organisational inertia, the importance of patient comfort, dignity, and ease of access for healthcare workers is increasingly being recognised, driving the development of more innovative and patient-centred gown designs.
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Alternatives to gowns include T-shirts, robes, and wraparounds
Generally known as "hospital gowns", these garments are also referred to as patient gowns or medical gowns. They are designed to preserve patient dignity and provide coverage, while also giving medical staff access to the patient's body. However, traditional hospital gowns have been criticised for exposing patients' buttocks and causing embarrassment and discomfort. As such, alternatives to the traditional gown include T-shirts, robes, wraparounds, and adaptive clothing.
T-shirts were adapted for children undergoing cancer treatment, using snap tape on the sides. These provided a more positive experience for the children, and were also distributed by the organisation Luke's FastBreaks.
Robes and wraparounds are another alternative to the traditional hospital gown. These designs offer more coverage and dignity for patients, while still providing medical staff with access to the patient's body. The Cleveland Clinic, for example, offers gowns that open at the back for patients whose procedures require that access, while their standard gown features a V-neck for easier access to the neck area.
Adaptive clothing is designed to be particularly easy and quick to put on and take off for people with physical or cognitive disabilities. These alternatives include the Dignity Giving Suit, which features Velcro fasteners on the seams, and the Faith Gown, which has a detachable headscarf and long sleeves.
In addition to these alternatives, there are various types of hospital gowns that cater to different patient needs. For example, snap-front gowns provide convenient access to the chest and abdominal area, while maintaining patient dignity. Wrap-style gowns provide more coverage, but can make it harder for clinicians to access patients.
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Frequently asked questions
Hospital clothing for patients is generally known as ''hospital gowns'', but they are also referred to as patient gowns or medical gowns.
Surgical scrubs are sanitary clothing worn by physicians, nurses, surgeons, and other medical professionals. They are designed to be simple, easy to clean, and cheap to replace.
Traditional hospital gowns were designed when patients spent most of their time in bed. The open back made it easier for hospital staff to dress and undress patients and facilitated the use of a bedpan.
No, there are alternative designs that offer more dignity and comfort to patients. These include wraparound styles that resemble robes, snap fastenings, and pockets for medical devices.
Examples include the Dignity Giving Suit, which features Velcro fasteners on the seams, and the DCS (dignity, comfort, safety) gown, which has plastic poppers and side pockets for drips or catheters.
