Abstract
Hairwashing is an important activity of daily living for removing dirt and maintaining physiological functions of the scalp．However, it cannot remove bacteria. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a hairwashing technique that reduces bacteriaon the hair and scalp of bedridden patients. This study aimed to evaluate hairwashing methods and dirt-removing tools. The participants were nurses who routinely wash the hair of bedridden patients in the intensive care units of 900 hospitals nationwide. The collection rate was 391（43.4%）, and the number of valid responses was 379（96.9%）. Moreover, 283 (74.7%) participants used shampoo sheets and diapers, 190 (50.1%) used Kelly pads, and 99 (26.1%) used hair wash carts. “Consideration of patient’s physical burden,” “Ensuring patient’s positional safety when washing hair,” and “Ensuring patient’s comfort when washing hair” were identified as factors determining the choice of hairwashing tools. Contamination of night clothes and wounds and insufficient washing were the most common problems, followed by the condition of the hairwashing tools. For hairwashing on the bed, a hairwashing sheet was used considering the patient’s physical invasiveness and the nurse’s convenience. The nurses understood that there is a limit to the amount of hot water that can be used with the shampooing sheet, so the Kelly pad was also utilized. Thus, it is necessary to consider not only the amount of hot water but also the hairwashing method and tool used.
