Study on Partial Bed Bathing Practices in a Non-Clinical Setting: Perception of Warmth and Comfortability by How to Handle Wash Cloths

Abstract

　This study was performed to examine differences in warmth and comfort caused by different usages of a washcloth in bed bathing practice using physiological and subjective indexes. For 12 healthy male and female subjects, a rolled, grabbed, or folded washcloth was used to clean the right forearm in order to measure the temperature at the skin surface, autonomic nerve activity, and warmth and comfort (VAS). With all methods, the temperature at the skin surface after cleaning was increased compared to before cleaning. This increase was maintained for 5 minutes after cleaning with a rolled or folded washcloth, but no significant increase was confirmed in some cases of cleaning with a grabbed washcloth. The temperature at the skin surface measured immediately after cleaning and at 5 seconds after cleaning with a folded washcloth was higher than that with the other methods. The VAS of warmth was 7-8 with all methods, showing no significant difference. In addition, none of the methods showed any significant difference in autonomic nerve activity. These three methods can all provide warmth to the person being bathed but should be used appropriately after understanding the characteristics of the individual methods.