Reusable Scrub Cap Attitudes and Hospital Policy Change With Operating Room Sustainability Education

While reusable surgical scrub caps are associated with lower carbon emissions compared to single-use scrub caps, many hospital systems prohibit reusable scrub caps in the OR. Between 11/5/24 and 3/26/25, an evaluation of scrub cap usage was performed while OR sustainability lectures were delivered to perioperative staff and surgical specialty departments. Pre- and post-lecture Likert surveys assessed OR sustainability knowledge, motivation to improve, and scrub cap preference. Overall, 255 pre- and 230 post-lecture surveys were analyzed. Of pre-lecture respondents, 57.4% felt knowledgeable, 90.8% felt motivated to improve OR sustainability, and 40.2% preferred single-use scrub caps. Pre-lecture odds ratios showed younger respondents (vs older, OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.28-4.04, P = 0.006) and surgeons (OR 3.77, 95% CI 2.01-7.06, P < 0.0001) felt less knowledgeable and other perioperative staff felt more knowledgeable (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.27-0.82, P = 0.007) than nursing staff. Surgeons felt less motivated than nursing staff (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.33-5.09, P = 0.006), and younger respondents were less likely to prefer single-use scrub caps (vs older, OR 2.06 95% CI 1.16-3.64, P = 0.01). Post-lecture, 87.9% felt knowledgeable, 94.4% felt motivated to improve OR sustainability, and 42.5% preferred single-use scrub caps. No differences were noted among comparison groups post-lecture. At the end of the study period, official hospital policy was revised to allow use of reusable scrub caps. Comparing the 6 months before and after the policy change, 31,200 fewer disposable scrub caps were purchased at a cost savings of $976.22.