Comparison of Physical Contamination Resulting from Different Undressing Methods for a Plastic Apron with Sleeves

Abstract

　This study was conducted to clarify the status of physical contamination resulting from two different undressing methods (a sleeve-first method and a waist-first method) for a plastic apron with sleeves (hereinafter referred to as a “gown”) . Nineteen nursing college students who had already learned gowning techniques were asked to take off a gown according to two different methods after undergoing prior training. The gown was sprayed with an aqueous fluorescent paint as a contaminant before undressing. Areas where the fluorescent paint had adhered to the nurse’s uniform or body after the gown was taken off were designated as contamination sites. The body was divided into 20 different sections and the number of contaminated sections and the presence or absence of contamination after gown removal in each section were compared between the two undressing methods. The results revealed no significant differences in the number of contaminated sections between the two methods, but both methods had a high likelihood of causing contamination to the insides of the left and right forearms and to the left and right palms and backs of the hands. These findings suggested the need to sanitize the hands up to the forearm immediately after removing a gown.