Surgical Scrubbing and Attire in the Operating Room and ICU: A Multicultural Guide

Abdelwahab, Rewan; Aden, Aisha; Bearden, Brenda A; Sada, Alaa; Bostwick, John

doi:10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2021.05.005

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…(28) More recently, descriptions of culturally appropriate surgical head coverings have been published in the surgical literature. (29) In historical depictions and photos of epidemics, health care workers can be seen with some type of head covering dating back to the 17th century plague doctor (Figure 1).…”

Section: Capsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Plague Doctor, the Pandemic Doctor, and Surgical Protective Clothing

Steinmetz¹,

Rabinowitz²

2023

IJUH

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Objectives Infectious diseases have tormented humans for thousands of years, and severe outbreaks have led to the devastation of entire communities. Even before globalization, parasites and pathogens traveled along trade routes with their human hosts. The protective clothing worn by physicians during epidemics serves as a powerful historical record chronicling accepted theories of disease transmission and treatments. The materials and designs of modern-day protective equipment reflect the contributions of surgeons to the ways doctors protected themselves and their patients during epidemics. Methods Historical texts and journal articles were reviewed regarding the history, epidemiology, and pathophysiology of epidemics of plague, influenza, and coronavirus. Results The Justinian Plague of the 540s CE was the first pandemic to be fully documented and began the long history of plagues through the Black Death of the Middle Ages. Believing that the etiology was foul-smelling bad air (miasma), doctors protected themselves by wearing dramatic head-to-toe coverings. Heavy boots, pants, long coats, gloves, and brimmed hats were made of leather sealed with animal fat. Most important was the infamous face mask with glass eye coverings and a long beak filled with aromatics intended to purify disease-causing vapors. An appreciation of droplet theory in the 19th century made beaked masks obsolete, replacing them with cloth face masks. Surgeons continued to pioneer the development of gloves and gowns, initially to protect themselves and later to protect their patients. Their outfits were worn by healthcare workers during the epidemics of the 20th century. Similar to the plague doctors, present-day physicians treating patients suffering from COVID-19 don themselves in head-to-toe protective outwear, although heavy leather and beaked-masks have long since been replaced by disposable fabrics and the N95 respirator. Conclusions The evolution of physicians’ protective clothing from the iconic beaked mask of the 17th century plague doctor to the hazmat-esque suits of the COVID-19 pandemic doctor reflects the substantial advancements in the detection, treatment, and containment of communicable diseases. Much of this is due to the dedicated efforts of surgeons to better safeguard their patients as well as protect themselves against diseases contained in bodily fluids.

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Section: Capsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Plague Doctor, the Pandemic Doctor, and Surgical Protective Clothing

Steinmetz¹,

Rabinowitz²

2023

IJUH

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“…13,14 Additionally, sterility accommodations are available for various religious views to prevent embarrassment due to inadequate preparation. 15 The surgical theatre is perceived as uncomfortable by medical students due to pre-established relationships among surgical team members. [16][17][18] Additionally, students report fear of contaminating sterile equipment 19 and feeling insecure about their behavior during theatre.…”

Section: The Sterility Procedures and The Surgical Experiencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Participation aids learning during theatre. Abdelwahab R. et al 15 USA Sterility accommodations for students of various religions to prevent embarrassment due to inadequate preparation. Hunukumbure AD.…”

Section: Kent F Et Al 10 Scotlandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Walking the Walk: A Review of Medical Students’ Perspective of a Surgical Theatre as the New Classroom

Mallia,

Cuschieri

2023

Int J Med Stud

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Medical school trains eligible students for a medical degree (MD). As part of the clinical years in the MD program, students attend surgical theatre sessions to learn medical concepts from hands-on experience in the theatre. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the role surgical theatre plays in the learning process and clinical experience of medical students. Google Scholar, PubMed and NCBI databases were searched for articles from 1990 to March 2022 using the search terms ‘Operating Room’ or ‘Operating Theatre’ or ‘Surgical Theatre’ and ‘Learning’, ‘Medical Students’ and ‘Surgeons’. Only articles on medical students’ perceptions on their learning experience in the surgical theatre were included. Thirty-four articles were eligible for inclusion. Unpreparedness, anxiety, lack of clear learning outcomes, fear and intimidation were the most common reported experiences by students. These demotivate medical students from attending theatre, along with poor surgical field visibility, resulting in a negative learning experience. Positive experiences during theatre time were more likely to attract students to choose a future surgical career. Limitations include the inclusion of surgical residents’ perspectives and the exclusion of other surgical team members’ perspectives. Studies included students across different clinical years, and results were primarily based on subjective perceptions. Evidently, the surgical theatre is a great learning opportunity for medical students. However, for this learning environment to be beneficial, students need to be included during surgical discussions and procedures. Additionally, clear learning outcomes need to be present whilst adequately training students prior to their first surgical attendance.

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“…As I struggled to find someone who could teach me how to scrub in so that I could literally and figuratively get my foot in the operating suite door, I was fortunate to connect with a hijab-observing surgical resident. With help from her, other mentors, and a fellow hijabi peer, I wrote a multicultural surgical guide 1 outlining how to scrub in safely and comfortably for anyone—male or female—wearing religious garb. Subsequently, the Association of Perioperative Nurses updated its national guidelines 2 according to our recommendations.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%