project. I've conducted more than 20 glove trials, and these are what
I found to be the 5 essential elements.
1. Set a goal for the trial. Why are we changing gloves and doing
this trial? That's the central question people want answered.
Determine from the outset what your goals are. Is it to settle on 3 or 4
different types of gloves? To only stock certain sizes (6.5 to 8, let's
say)? To go latex-free? Having clearly defined objectives and a goal
that you're working toward will help the glove trial stay on track and
on time. One of the quickest ways to derail a glove trial is by not hav-
ing a clearly defined path. What are the specific things you'd like to
learn about these gloves — fit, feel, hand fatigue, durability, breakage?
2. Identify a clinical champion. Do you have someone on staff who
feels passionately about the change being proposed? Whether it's
moving to synthetic gloves or to a new brand of gloves, having a clini-
cal champion who can work with his peers and influence staff from
within will help to ensure a smoother adoption process.
3. Realize not everyone will be happy. Gloves are highly personal
for surgeons and nurses. Some may even refuse to participate in the
trial. "I've been wearing the same glove for 20 years, and I'm not
changing!" That's okay — you're never going to get 100% approval.
Besides, you'll decide which gloves wind up on the shelves. One way to
soften resistance is to associate gloves with better protection. Then
people will start paying attention. Physicians don't change behavior, just
like nurses don't change behavior, so it's important to present some
data to demonstrate, for example, the dangers of latex (allergy), pow-
der (delayed wound healing and compromised skin health) and not
double-gloving (needlesticks).
4. Communicate before and after the trial. It's not enough to
define your trial goals. You need to clearly communicate these to
your staff. Ensuring everyone feels informed and involved will help
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