Design and Product Development

Evaluating Pocket Needs of Healthcare Professionals for Application in a Scrub Design

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Abstract

A survey-based research approach was employed to gather both quantitative and qualitative insights into the pocket needs and preferences of healthcare professionals wearing scrubs. After a thorough market overview and design exploration, a structured questionnaire was developed and distributed to healthcare workers who actively wear scrubs. The most frequently carried item was pens, with 98% of respondents indicating they keep them in their pockets. Other commonly carried items included alcohol swabs (62%), tape (40%), lip balm (54%), notepads (28%), and scissors (54%). Qualitative insights provided a deeper understanding of functional limitations and unmet needs. The survey provided targeted insights into how healthcare professionals use their scrub pockets, the tools they carry most frequently, and the challenges they encounter with current designs, thereby enabling optimization of pocket placement for daily tasks. Design decisions integrating survey feedback demonstrate how user input can effectively guide functional apparel design rooted in real-world demands.

Keywords: pockets, user-centered design, scrub, survey

How to Cite:

Moretz, C. A., Rougeaux-Burnes, A., Carrico, M., McKinney, E., Dragoo, S. & Stannard, C. R., (2025) “Evaluating Pocket Needs of Healthcare Professionals for Application in a Scrub Design”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 82(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.21519