748 Views of Theatre Staff Regarding Reusable Gowns and Sustainability

Aim

The three Colleges of Surgeons declared a climate emergency. Reusable gowns are suggested to improve sustainability in theatres.

Method

Reusable gowns were made available to explore the interest of staff in using them. Staff were encouraged to answer a questionnaire about their attitude towards sustainability, their view on the impact of using reusable gowns, and whether they would be prepared to approach a colleague wearing a single use gown for a non-clinical reason (feeling cold).

Results

30 staff members agreed with global warming being important to them, with 4 staff members being indifferent. The same proportion agreed with theatres being an important area of net zero opportunities. 10 staff members consider changes in theatres to only play a minor role in relation to the magnitude of global warming.

26 of 34 colleagues would voluntarily wear reusable gowns, 8 would prefer single-use gowns given a choice.

Replying to the scenario of a staff member not being scrubbed up wearing a single-use gown feeling cold 7 would do the same, 9 would disapprove and raise this to the staff member, 8 would disapprove but not raise this, 3 would disapprove and raise this if there was a hospital policy in place to challenge 'it is ok to ask'.

Conclusions

Most staff (30/34) recognise opportunities in theatre to become carbon neutral. A considerable proportion (26/34) would use reusable gowns if available. We have started work on a logo for a code of conduct of respectful conversations regarding wasteful behaviour (e.g. wearing disposable gowns for non-clinical reasons).