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PubMed · 7633060

What cost ritual?

C Ross
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Abstract

Following the 1991 Nuffield Theatre Nurses Award, I was encouraged to pursue further research into the scrub procedure. My interest had originally started when looking at the possibility of installing electronic eye taps into the theatres. I reasoned that by reducing the amounts of heated water flowing unused during the scrub procedure I would be able to justify the cost of these taps. A pilot survey I undertook showed that on costs alone this was not proven. A more logical and research based approach to the subject was required. My main objectives were to ascertain costs and timings of the traditional scrub; compare the costs with other acceptable alternatives; explore 'costs' relating to wider environmental concerns; examine the effectiveness of current practice. I looked at the Government statistics for England during 1990/91. It showed an annual total of 741,393 operating sessions with a total of 3,353,797 operations performed. The total of cases in orthopaedic, opthalmic, general and gynaecological operations totalled 2,301,272 cases. These four categories were the ones I chose to research.

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C Ross. 1994. What cost ritual?. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7633060/

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