RESEARCH
Comfort in Care Study examines patient modesty concerns and a novel approach to solving them
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By Brian Sodoma
or as long as most of us can probably remember, it’s been standard practice to remove all street clothes, including underwear, before surgery. Patients are then asked to wear a loose-fitting gown into surgery with an open back that allows a surgeon easy access to all surgical regions. The removal of street clothes is one of the ways hospitals and surgery centers help reduce infection risk during procedures. However, this long-time practice has created anxiety in some patients who would prefer to wear their underwear into surgery for privacy and dignity. Some even forego care. In a British Journal of Anesthesia-published study, gown use induced preoperative anxiety in 45.2% of inpatients and 38.3% of outpatients. In another study at Samara State University, anxiety around potential exposure even had an adverse effect on outcomes.
ARIZONA STUDY SEEKS SOLUTIONS
This spring, the MORE Foundation, in cooperation with The CORE Institute, will conduct a study involving 200 orthopedic surgery patients to gather
the impact of the coverings offered on more perspective on the subject of the entire surgery experience. patient modesty and to test a potential “We may be surprised by the number solution: surgical underpants that are of people who actually want the manufactured to medical equipment garment when it’s offered to them,” Dr. grade hygiene and quality standards. Marc Jacofsky added. “Some may turn it “Some of the reasons for this anxiety down, too.” can be gender bias — a female patient, for example, with a male surgeon. Some of it might be religious in nature, or the PATIENT ADVOCACY belief you should only expose yourself Dr. Jacofsky said that while the issue to your spouse or to parents. We know of patient modesty might not be top this is important for of mind for everyone, a growing number of the growing discussion people, and we want to warrants research. The learn more and explore subject has spurred patient a possible solution,” said advocacy organizations Marc Jacofsky, Ph.D., the into action. study’s lead investigator “Because we have the and Executive Director for partnership with The Research and Education CORE Institute Specialty at the MORE Foundation. Hospital, where it’s a very Marc Jacofsky, Ph.D. Dr. Marc Jacofsky controlled environment, says the research is randomized and it’s easy for us to run a study like this,” single-blinded, so patients won’t know he added. “This used to be a very topahead of time if they will be offered down ‘surgeon says’ issue, but as people the underpants or not. The study will push back from that norm and feel more evaluate responses from pre- and postempowered, we want to explore the surgery patient surveys about the topic best alternatives and not be resistant to of patient modesty in general, as well as change.”
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