Comprehensive design considerations for a new hospital gown: a patient-oriented qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Design
• Patient Experience Research
• Qualitative Health Research

Background:

• Standard hospital gowns have seen little innovation despite persistent patient complaints regarding comfort, dignity, and embarrassment.
• Existing gown designs often fail to meet the needs of patients and healthcare providers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences and perspectives of diverse stakeholders involved in the hospital gown lifecycle.
• To identify key themes influencing hospital gown design and utility from patient and provider viewpoints.

Main Methods:

• A constructivist, qualitative interview study was conducted with a patient-oriented approach.
• Interviews were held with adult patients, family members, interdisciplinary clinicians, and system stakeholders (designers, manufacturers, textile experts).
• A hybrid deductive-inductive coding approach was used to analyze data from 40 interviews.

Main Results:

• Four major themes emerged: utility, economics, comfort and dignity, and aesthetics.
• Patients and clinicians highlighted significant functional limitations of current hospital gowns.
• System stakeholders prioritized cost-effectiveness and integration with healthcare processes, often overlooking patient needs.

Conclusions:

• The standard hospital gown inadequately serves the needs of patients and healthcare providers, negatively impacting the care experience.
• Redesigning hospital gowns is crucial for enhancing person-centered care.
• Successful redesign necessitates collaborative partnerships across all stakeholder groups to address implementation barriers and prioritize patient needs.