Improved medical protective clothing comfort for medical staff facing high-intensity infectious diseases
IntroductionDuring outbreaks of respiratory infectious diseases such as the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers are frequently required to wear medical protective clothing (MPC) for prolonged periods. Traditional MPC, however, prioritizes protective efficacy while neglecting wearer comfort. Its po...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1643043/full |
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| author | Cheng-teng Jiang Cheng-teng Jiang Dong-yu Chen Rong Zhang Fei Ren Han-wen Zheng Yuan Yue Shi-quan Xing Chuang Nie Jian-wen Gu |
| author_facet | Cheng-teng Jiang Cheng-teng Jiang Dong-yu Chen Rong Zhang Fei Ren Han-wen Zheng Yuan Yue Shi-quan Xing Chuang Nie Jian-wen Gu |
| author_sort | Cheng-teng Jiang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionDuring outbreaks of respiratory infectious diseases such as the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers are frequently required to wear medical protective clothing (MPC) for prolonged periods. Traditional MPC, however, prioritizes protective efficacy while neglecting wearer comfort. Its poor air permeability can induce physical fatigue and dehydration in medical staff during extended use, thereby exacerbating their burden when managing severe infectious diseases. Accordingly, this study aims to enhance the comfort of existing MPC, which holds significant implications for improving the working conditions of medical staff in protracted infectious disease scenarios.MethodsTo address this challenge, a novel integrated MPC was developed through the recombination of mainstream materials. A total of 208 volunteers participated in the experiment, yielding 196 valid data points (81 males and 115 females).ResultsComparative assessments revealed that the new MPC enhanced air permeability to 120 mm/s, reduced sweating by 30%, decreased skin temperature by 1.2°C, and lowered the incidence of skin maceration by 45%. Furthermore, it shortened donning and doffing time from 5 to 3 minutes.DiscussionThese findings offer a practical strategy for improving MPC comfort without compromising its protective capabilities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9f108d31fd9e44559cd746b0ab7c7de8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-9f108d31fd9e44559cd746b0ab7c7de82025-08-20T03:40:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-08-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.16430431643043Improved medical protective clothing comfort for medical staff facing high-intensity infectious diseasesCheng-teng Jiang0Cheng-teng Jiang1Dong-yu Chen2Rong Zhang3Fei Ren4Han-wen Zheng5Yuan Yue6Shi-quan Xing7Chuang Nie8Jian-wen Gu9The Ninth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaMedical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaStrategic Support Force Xingcheng Special Duty Sanatorium, Huludao, ChinaThe Ninth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaThe Ninth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaStrategic Support Force Xingcheng Special Duty Sanatorium, Huludao, ChinaThe Ninth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaThe Ninth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaThe Ninth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaThe Ninth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaIntroductionDuring outbreaks of respiratory infectious diseases such as the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers are frequently required to wear medical protective clothing (MPC) for prolonged periods. Traditional MPC, however, prioritizes protective efficacy while neglecting wearer comfort. Its poor air permeability can induce physical fatigue and dehydration in medical staff during extended use, thereby exacerbating their burden when managing severe infectious diseases. Accordingly, this study aims to enhance the comfort of existing MPC, which holds significant implications for improving the working conditions of medical staff in protracted infectious disease scenarios.MethodsTo address this challenge, a novel integrated MPC was developed through the recombination of mainstream materials. A total of 208 volunteers participated in the experiment, yielding 196 valid data points (81 males and 115 females).ResultsComparative assessments revealed that the new MPC enhanced air permeability to 120 mm/s, reduced sweating by 30%, decreased skin temperature by 1.2°C, and lowered the incidence of skin maceration by 45%. Furthermore, it shortened donning and doffing time from 5 to 3 minutes.DiscussionThese findings offer a practical strategy for improving MPC comfort without compromising its protective capabilities.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1643043/fullmedical protective clothingcomfortnew integrated designphysiological testconvenience |
| spellingShingle | Cheng-teng Jiang Cheng-teng Jiang Dong-yu Chen Rong Zhang Fei Ren Han-wen Zheng Yuan Yue Shi-quan Xing Chuang Nie Jian-wen Gu Improved medical protective clothing comfort for medical staff facing high-intensity infectious diseases Frontiers in Public Health medical protective clothing comfort new integrated design physiological test convenience |
| title | Improved medical protective clothing comfort for medical staff facing high-intensity infectious diseases |
| title_full | Improved medical protective clothing comfort for medical staff facing high-intensity infectious diseases |
| title_fullStr | Improved medical protective clothing comfort for medical staff facing high-intensity infectious diseases |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improved medical protective clothing comfort for medical staff facing high-intensity infectious diseases |
| title_short | Improved medical protective clothing comfort for medical staff facing high-intensity infectious diseases |
| title_sort | improved medical protective clothing comfort for medical staff facing high intensity infectious diseases |
| topic | medical protective clothing comfort new integrated design physiological test convenience |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1643043/full |
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