Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Impact of Innovative Clothing Design on Caregivers’ Workload

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Proceedings of the 20th Congress of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA 2018) (IEA 2018)

Part of the book series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing ((AISC,volume 818))

Included in the following conference series:

  • 2392 Accesses

Abstract

Background: Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in nurses is the highest for the back, followed by the shoulders and the neck. ‘Dressing and undressing of patients’ is experienced as a physically-demanding task by caregivers. But also for the patient: it is often uncomfortable and sometimes even painful. Due to many variations in patterns and fastening systems, the existing custom-clothing is not in accordance with the ergonomic rules. Objective: This study aimed at (1) investigating the impact of innovative custom-clothing on caregivers’ physical workload (i.e. percentage of harmful postures at the neck, back and shoulders and duration of exposure to the physically-demanding task) and (2) examining its usability and comfort for caregivers as well as patients. Methodology: Eight caregivers and one healthy, elderly person (as patient) were included in the study. An innovative custom-clothing design with magnetic buttons was used to test the study hypothesis. Caregivers were asked to dress the patient (i.e. a pair of trousers, undershirt and shirt) according to 3 conditions: (1) with traditional clothing (control group), (2) with custom-clothing using press buttons (press button group) and (3) with innovative custom-clothing using magnetic buttons (magnetic button group). Duration of the dressing task was evaluated and postures of neck, back and shoulders were measured using Tea CAPTIV instrument. A structured questionnaire was used to evaluate its usability and feasibility. Results: Dressing time was significantly reduced in the magnetic and press button group compared to the control group (respectively p = .003 and p = .013). For postures of the back (i.e. rotation and forward flexion), neck (i.e. flexion) and shoulders (i.e. flexion), no significant differences were found between control, press button and magnetic button group (p > .05). The caregivers agreed that the innovative custom-clothing using magnetic buttons was easier and smoother in use.

V. Hermans—Department Head of Ergonomics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Davis KG, Kotowski SE (2015) Prevalence of Musculoskeletal disorders for nurses in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health care: a comprehensive review. Hum Factors 57(5):754–792

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Owen BD (2000) Preventing injuries using an ergonomic approach. Assoc Perioper Regist Nurses 72(6):1031–1036

    Google Scholar 

  3. Nevala N, Holopainen J, Kinnunen O, Hänninen O (2003) Reducing the physical work load and strain of personal helpers through clothing redesign. Appl Ergon 34(6):557–563

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Freitag S, Ellegast R, Dulon M (2007) Quantitative measurement of stressful trunk postures in nursing professions. Ann Occup Hyg 51(4):385–395

    Google Scholar 

  5. Knibbe JJ, Knibbe NE (2012) Static load in the nursing profession; the silent killer? Work 41:5637–5638 LOCOmotion, Research in Health Care, Brinkerpad 29, 6721 WJ Bennekom, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  6. Brinkhoff A, Knibbe NE (2003) The ErgoStat Program Pilot study of an ergonomic intervention to reduce static loads for caregivers. Prof Saf 48:32–39

    Google Scholar 

  7. Zwakhalen SMG, Koopmans RTCM, Geels PJEM, Berger MPF, Hamers JPH (2009) The prevalence of pain in nursing home residents with dementia measured using an observational pain scale. Pain 13(1):89–93

    Google Scholar 

  8. Knibbe JJ, Knibbe NE (2005) Ergonomische aspecten van aangepaste kledij. LOCOmotion Bennekom. Onderzoek in opdracht van het ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid

    Google Scholar 

  9. Iltanen S, Topo P (2007) Ethical implications of design practices: the case of industrially manufactured patient clothing in Finland. In: Proceedings of design inquiries: 2nd Nordic design research conference, Konstfack 27–30 May 2007

    Google Scholar 

  10. Clothing design: Attractive2Wear (A2W). http://attractive2wear.com

  11. Captiv Tea, France. http://teaergo.com/wp/

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University College Odisee, Brussels, Belgium

    Karlien Van Cauwelaert

  2. Department of Ergonomics, Group IDEWE (External Service for Prevention and Protection at Work), Brussels, Belgium

    Karlien Van Cauwelaert & Kristien Selis

  3. Group IDEWE, Louvain, Belgium

    Veerle Hermans

  4. Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Work and Organisational Psychology (WOPS), Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

    Veerle Hermans

  5. Knowledge, Information and Research Center, Group IDEWE, Louvain, Belgium

    Liesbeth Daenen

  6. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy (KIMA), Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

    Liesbeth Daenen

Authors
  1. Karlien Van Cauwelaert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Veerle Hermans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kristien Selis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Liesbeth Daenen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karlien Van Cauwelaert .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of the Republic of San Marino, San Marino, San Marino

    Sebastiano Bagnara

  2. Centre for Clinical Risk Management and Patient Safety, Tuscany Region, Florence, Italy

    Riccardo Tartaglia

  3. Centre for Clinical Risk Management and Patient Safety, Tuscany Region, Florence, Italy

    Sara Albolino

  4. Fraunhofer FKIE, Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

    Thomas Alexander

  5. International Ergonomics Association, Tokyo, Japan

    Yushi Fujita

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Van Cauwelaert, K., Hermans, V., Selis, K., Daenen, L. (2019). Impact of Innovative Clothing Design on Caregivers’ Workload. In: Bagnara, S., Tartaglia, R., Albolino, S., Alexander, T., Fujita, Y. (eds) Proceedings of the 20th Congress of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA 2018). IEA 2018. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 818. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96098-2_36

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation