Acceptability of Wearable Chair Use of Scrub Nurse for Laparoscopic and Open Surgery

Abstract

Scrub nurses who assist surgeons during operations are exposed to considerable physical demands. We introduced Archelis^®, a futuristic wearable chair designed for healthcare providers. It allows them to sit during operations（the device supports a half-sitting posture） and reduces fatigue during prolonged and physically demanding procedures. We performed a postoperative questionnaire survey comprising 10 items, among scrub nurses who used Archelis^® during laparoscopic （n＝6） or open colorectal （n＝6） surgery. The original items with a visual analog scale for evaluating the acceptability of Archelis^® under each surgical condition included the overall experience associated with the use of this device, the desire to use the wearable chair, the ease of removing the appliance, and the sensation of stability. We used the Borg scale to evaluate physical discomfort experienced with/without the use of Archelis^®. Overall, Archelis^® was fairly well accepted by scrub nurses who assisted with laparoscopic colorectal surgery, particularly with regard to the sensation of stability provided by the device. However, further improvements are warranted to reduce its weight and the subjective discomfort accompanying its use.