Abstract
The purpose of this study is to develop comfortable patient gown for spinal surgery patients. The results of the survey confirmed inconveniences and problems with the current gown, and a new gown style was recommended. The recommended changes addressed design, pattern, and materials. The final experimental design for the top of the new patient gown is a wrap style that moves the center opening of the gown to the side and enables patients to control the length of the sleeves by attaching two snaps. The cutting line is aligned with the back brace location, and the issue of repeated bunching of the gown material by the brace was solved by substituting 100% knitted structure fiber. The sleeve length can be adjusted with snaps on the sleeve cap and hem. When lifting up the gown for treatment on specific areas of the body, doctors open the edge of the right side of the gown in order to lift up the top. The bottom of the new patient gown was made from 100% cotton knitted structure fiber, and it enables patients to control the length of pants by attaching two snaps on the side. The results of an on-site dressing suitability evaluation and a flexibility evaluation with respect to dressing/undressing indicated that the new patient gown was much better received than the existing gowns (A and B). Our hypothesis regarding new patient gowns was supported in both the fit and design categories.