Quotes supporting the theme “gown comfort and patient dignity”
| Primary stakeholder group (primary domain) | Participant quote |
|---|---|
| Patient or family member no. 3 (bariatric) | They weren’t fitting me, and they were uncomfortable because of my size … I am a large fellow … I am covered with a sheet most of the time … Majority of the time is spent in the buff … Gowns don’t do anything … One-size-fits-all is not a good mindset. |
| Patient or family no. 2 (emergency care, surgical) | The hospital gowns are not physically comfortable. They are uneasy and awkward. They take away your esteem. Do you know what I mean? Like, you go in there and you know how you feel, you are worried and anxious, and then you put this gown on and it’s dreadful and terrible … It is awful … Make sure your butt is covered, and it is all twisted and it is extremely uncomfortable. |
| Patient or family no. 4 (surgery) | A side opening. One piece, but with the side opening. I came to the conclusion that would be the best for me, personally. |
| Clinician no. 8 (nurse in emergency care) | The side [opening] might actually might be ideal because a) it’s easier to tie and b) I’d probably rather have some of my side exposed rather than my entire back … They are kind of bleak looking, to be honest — maybe if the material was nicer and they had a little more dignity in terms of coverage, it might be a bit better. |
| Clinician no. 9 (occupational therapist in multiple units) | Especially men will request pants, maybe because they don’t feel comfortable [in] something like a dress and most floors don’t have the hospital pants available. |
| Clinician no. 6 (nurse in obstetrics) | They are ill designed because they don’t look comfortable, they don’t look cozy, they are open — you have to wear 2 … People can be comfortable and more human and less like “here we are all like prisoners wearing the same orange jumpsuit.” I know that sounds extreme but [it] is a real big thing for me. I have been a patient in a gown before, so I can speak to that — you feel exposed. It is flimsy, it’s not comfortable, there is not a lot of security in it, and I think a lot of the time when people are in hospitals, they want to feel comfortable. |
| System stakeholder no. 8 (fashion and design) | I think generally the most significant concerns of people are the modesty concern, how uncomfortable the fabric is, the fact that it is not attractive, it doesn’t keep you warm and those ties are uncomfortable when you are lying on them or are trying to do them up. It’s flawed in multiple ways. |
| System stakeholder no. 1 (researcher in geriatric medicine) | There are a lot of negative things associated with the gowns — definitely from the patient’s and family’s perspective around dignity, it’s limited, it has created a stigma. |
| System stakeholder no. 4 (hospital leadership) | Feeling vulnerable and they are already in a position where they’re in pain or uncomfortable or frightened and this adds to that power imbalance with health care providers and patients. |
| System stakeholder no. 9 (health care leadership) | It says one size fits all, but it doesn’t fit obese patients. |
| System stakeholder no. 10 (health care leadership) | With all communities, modesty is coming up more often. People want more coverage. Mostly females or males speaking on behalf of Muslim females regarding coverage. May cost more, but trade-off, if right thing for patients. |