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Impact of heat stress and protective clothing on healthcare workers: health, performance, and well-being in hospital settings.

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Title: Impact of heat stress and protective clothing on healthcare workers: health, performance, and well-being in hospital settings.
Authors: Wibowo, Razan1, Satow, Malte1, Quartucci, Caroline1,2, Weinmann, Tobias1, Koller, Daniela3, Daanen, Hein A M4, Nowak, Dennis1, Bose-O´Reilly, Stephan1,5, Rakete, Stefan1
Source: Annals of Work Exposures & Health. Jul2025, Vol. 69 Issue 6, p665-675. 11p.
Subjects: Environmental health, Medical personnel, Seasons, Research funding, Academic medical centers, Air conditioning, Personal protective equipment, T-test (Statistics), Physiological effects of heat, Work environment, Scientific observation, Statistical sampling, Questionnaires, Psychological well-being, Descriptive statistics, Wearable technology, Mann Whitney U Test, Body temperature, Protective clothing, Intensive care units, Analysis of variance, Data analysis software, Psychosocial factors, Job performance, Industrial hygiene
Geographic Terms: Germany
Abstract: Introduction Heat stress poses a recognized threat to human health. Despite growing evidence, its impact on healthcare workers (HCWs) remains underexplored. This study evaluates occupational heat stress in HCWs, assessing physiological responses and subjective well-being. Methods Twelve HCWs from a German university hospital were monitored in non-air-conditioned intensive care units (ICU) and non-ICU settings during the summer of 2022 (mean indoor temperature of 26.5 °C) and again in the autumn of the same year or in March 2023 (mean indoor temperature of 23.6 °C). Physiological data (core body temperature, heart rate, and skin temperature) and subjective perceptions were measured using wearable sensors and questionnaires. Results In summer, mean core body and skin temperatures were higher by 0.4 °C and 0.3 °C, respectively. ICU workers exhibited higher heart rates and reported greater mental demands, frustration, and discomfort, particularly when using personal protective equipment (PPE). Common symptoms included sweating, fatigue, and headaches. Conclusion We observed some evidence suggesting that elevated indoor temperatures and reported PPE usage contribute to increased HCWs' heat strain, which could potentially affect health, safety, and performance. Given the observed trends, we recommend considering cooling vests and revising workplace standards to mitigate heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Annals of Work Exposures & Health is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Impact of heat stress and protective clothing on healthcare workers: health, performance, and well-being in hospital settings.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Germany%22">Germany</searchLink>
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  Data: Introduction Heat stress poses a recognized threat to human health. Despite growing evidence, its impact on healthcare workers (HCWs) remains underexplored. This study evaluates occupational heat stress in HCWs, assessing physiological responses and subjective well-being. Methods Twelve HCWs from a German university hospital were monitored in non-air-conditioned intensive care units (ICU) and non-ICU settings during the summer of 2022 (mean indoor temperature of 26.5 °C) and again in the autumn of the same year or in March 2023 (mean indoor temperature of 23.6 °C). Physiological data (core body temperature, heart rate, and skin temperature) and subjective perceptions were measured using wearable sensors and questionnaires. Results In summer, mean core body and skin temperatures were higher by 0.4 °C and 0.3 °C, respectively. ICU workers exhibited higher heart rates and reported greater mental demands, frustration, and discomfort, particularly when using personal protective equipment (PPE). Common symptoms included sweating, fatigue, and headaches. Conclusion We observed some evidence suggesting that elevated indoor temperatures and reported PPE usage contribute to increased HCWs' heat strain, which could potentially affect health, safety, and performance. Given the observed trends, we recommend considering cooling vests and revising workplace standards to mitigate heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Annals of Work Exposures & Health is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1093/annweh/wxaf026
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 11
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Environmental health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Medical personnel
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Seasons
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic medical centers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Air conditioning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Personal protective equipment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: T-test (Statistics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Physiological effects of heat
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Work environment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Scientific observation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Statistical sampling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Questionnaires
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological well-being
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Wearable technology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mann Whitney U Test
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      – SubjectFull: Body temperature
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Protective clothing
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      – SubjectFull: Intensive care units
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      – SubjectFull: Analysis of variance
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      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
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      – SubjectFull: Psychosocial factors
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      – SubjectFull: Job performance
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      – SubjectFull: Industrial hygiene
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      – SubjectFull: Germany
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              Text: Jul2025
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