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- Talk
- 18/09/2024
- UK
Radiation PPE and Surgical Performance A Study Using a Simulated DHS Model
Description
In this presentation, Francesca, a trainee from the Welsh Deanery, discusses her research project focusing on radiation exposure, personal protective equipment (PPE), and surgical performance in the context of orthopedic surgery. Fran highlights the essential role of radiation PPE for staff safety amid the identified risks of solid malignancies, notably breast cancer, particularly affecting female orthopedic surgeons. She mentions recent guidance on optimal PPE specifications and outlines her study objective to investigate how different types of radiation PPE impact surgical performance metrics.
Fran conducted a controlled simulation involving 14 participants, who performed simulated Dynamic Hip Screw (DHS) surgeries while wearing either a one-piece tabard gown or a two-piece gown. The participants' vital signs, including heart rate and temperature, were continuously monitored alongside subjective assessments of comfort and fatigue.
The results indicated significant differences in physiological parameters between the two gown types, with data analyzed using statistical methods, such as the Shapiro-Wilk test and a two-tailed t-test. Notably, there were marked changes in temperatures and heart rates, along with subjective feelings of comfort and fatigue, suggesting that gown type may affect surgical performance.
However, Fran acknowledges the limitations of her small cohort study, including considerations about the applicability and replicability of the findings across other medical specialties that utilize radiation PPE. She concludes by inviting questions from the audience and expressing gratitude to her research team and volunteers.