Abstract
The purpose of this study was to develop functional lab gowns in the view of safety and work efficiency. As the first step of this study, we surveyed on satisfaction rates, preferences and inconvenience items in regard of lab gowns. The data was obtained from 138 graduate students specialized in science and 113 medical students. Respondents answered that the first purpose of wearing lab gown was to protect body from danger. Wearing frequency followed with ‘always’, ‘as possible as’, and then ‘sometimes’. Forty-five percentage of respondents answered that they didn't wear lab gowns often in summer because of hot weather. The contaminated or damaged parts of lab gowns followed with cuffs, abdomen, thigh, lower part, and then chest. Washing frequency followed with ‘once a month’, ‘once per six months’, and then ‘more than once a week’ There were significant differences in normal wearing frequency, wearing frequency by season and washing frequency due to major. There were no significant difference by sex and major in all questions. In regard of the protective capacity of current lab gowns, most respondents answered that ‘It's normal’(60%), ‘It's enough’(21%), so that they didn't show much dissatisfaction. Forty-three percentage of respondents were not satisfied with cuffs. Respondents answered that the cuffs were in danger and inconvenient because of broad cuffs. In regard of color, preference for white were high and followed with ivory, light sky, light green. and then light pink. Materials of current lab gowns were cotton/polyester or polyester 100%. Sixty-eight percentage of respondents were satisfied with that and others were not. The reasons for dissatisfactions were as follows; those materials were not protective to chemicals thoroughly enough. Cotton/polyester materials were heavy. Wearing sensation of polyester 100% was not good.
