While reusable surgical scrub caps are associated with lower carbon emissions compared to single-use scrub caps, many hospital systems prohibit reusable scrub caps in the OR. Between 11/5/24 and 3/26/25, an evaluation of scrub cap usage was performed while OR sustainability lectures were delivered to perioperative staff and surgical specialty departments. Pre- and post-lecture Likert surveys assessed OR sustainability knowledge, motivation to improve, and scrub cap preference. Overall, 255 pre- and 230 post-lecture surveys were analyzed. Of pre-lecture respondents, 57. 4% felt knowledgeable, 90. 8% felt motivated to improve OR sustainability, and 40. 2% preferred single-use scrub caps. Pre-lecture odds ratios showed younger respondents (vs older, OR 2. 27, 95% CI 1. 28-4. 04, P = 0. 006) and surgeons (OR 3. 77, 95% CI 2. 01-7. 06, P P = 0. 007) than nursing staff. Surgeons felt less motivated than nursing staff (OR 2. 60, 95% CI 1. 33-5. 09, P = 0. 006), and younger respondents were less likely to prefer single-use scrub caps (vs older, OR 2. 06 95% CI 1. 16-3. 64, P = 0. 01). Post-lecture, 87. 9% felt knowledgeable, 94. 4% felt motivated to improve OR sustainability, and 42. 5% preferred single-use scrub caps. No differences were noted among comparison groups post-lecture. At the end of the study period, official hospital policy was revised to allow use of reusable scrub caps. Comparing the 6 months before and after the policy change, 31, 200 fewer disposable scrub caps were purchased at a cost savings of 976. 22.
Nguyen et al. (Fri,) studied this question.