To limit infections, healthcare workers generally wear tight protective surgical scrubs. Increased physical demands while caring for patients coupled with discomfort from protective scrubs can therefore expose healthcare workers to occupational heat stress 1.
According to research, prolonged exposure to heat stress can disrupt the body’s thermoregulation and potentially cause dehydration, fatigue, headaches, and dizziness.1 This raises concerns about healthcare workers’ health, performance, and well-being.
Moreover, medical clothing, such as medical scrubs and aprons, routinely worn by doctors, traditionally focuses only on infection control. However, temperature regulation of scrub fabrics is equally important to ensure thermal comfort of healthcare staff.2
Modern medical clothing must therefore meet a dual purpose of 1:
Protection: acting as a barrier against microbial contamination, fluids, and pathogens.
Comfort: Maintaining fabric breathability, promoting heat exchange, and maintaining core body temperature to reduce heat buildup.
Redefining medical comfort with dual-action thermoregulating scrubs
To bridge this gap, Thermaissance has developed dual-action thermoregulating medical scrubs for healthcare professionals.
Unlike other available antimicrobial scrubs, ‘Smart Scrubs’ feature continuous thermoregulation technology that dynamically responds to body heat. Smart Scrubs provide 54% faster sweat absorption and drying rate compared to cotton and 2 times faster heat dissipation 3.
The moisture-wicking fabric also provides 4.5 times 3 more breathability compared to regular scrub fabrics, thereby providing comfort during long shifts.
This makes Smart Scrubs adaptable to all seasons by offering better insulation in cool weather and effective heat dissipation in warmer conditions.
The intelligent technology in Thermaissance Smart Scrubs has been extensively tested in extreme climates across the USA, India, and Italy. 3
In conclusion, managing heat stress is not just a comfort factor; it is also essential for sustaining focus, safety, and performance among healthcare workers. Thermaissance Smart Scrubs address this critical need by blending advanced thermoregulation and antimicrobial protection, allowing healthcare professionals to stay cool, dry, and protected even during the most demanding shifts.
References:
- Wibowo R, Satow M, Quartucci C, Weinmann T, Koller D, Daanen HAM, Nowak D, Bose-O Reilly S, Rakete S. Impact of heat stress and protective clothing on healthcare workers: health, performance, and well-being in hospital settings. Ann Work Expo Health. 2025 Jul 15;69(6):665-675. doi: 10.1093/annweh/wxaf026. PMID: 40448948; PMCID: PMC12262050.
- Zwolińska M, Bogdan A. Impact of the medical clothing on the thermal stress of surgeons. Appl Ergon. 2012 Nov;43(6):1096-104. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2012.03.011. Epub 2012 May 9. PMID: 22575493.
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