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@article{201059,
        author = {Aditi Jayaswal and Goutham N},
        title = {Design and Development of Functional & Protective Medical Wear},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {12},
        pages = {3373-3378},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=201059},
        abstract = {Medical professionals endure physically demanding 8–12hour shifts with constant exposure to bodily fluids, chemicals and infectious agents. Current hospital uniforms, predominantly poly-cotton scrubs, fail to provide adequate protection, breathability, and ergonomic comfort. This paper presents the design and development of SHIFT-ARMOR, a functional and protective medical uniform that integrates antimicrobial and liquid-repellent finishing treatments with ergonomic panel construction. An ethnographic study was conducted across four hospitals to identify specific comfort, hygiene, and mobility deficiencies in existing workwear. Based on these findings, five concept scrub designs were proposed; the Flow Flex Scrub design was developed through participatory evaluation. Fabric testing confirmed the effectiveness of a neem-extract antimicrobial combined with Nikwax TX Direct Wash-In liquid repellent finishing. Wear tests with nine medical interns and nurses validated improved comfort, fabric performance, and overall design functionality. The study demonstrates that integrating protection, breathability, and ergonomic design into a single medical uniform system is feasible and highly desirable for healthcare professionals.},
        keywords = {Antimicrobial finishing, ergonomic design, functional workwear, healthcare uniforms, liquid repellency, medical scrubs, protective textiles.},
        month = {May},
        }