A survey of glove preferences of general and orthopaedic surgeons in North West Thames Regional Health Authority

The glove preferences of all the consultant surgeons and consultant orthopaedic surgeons in North West Thames were surveyed by questionnaire. Responses were received from 59 of 78 general surgeons and 47 of 55 orthopaedic surgeons. Twenty-two percent of general surgeons never double gloved compared with 4% of orthopaedic surgeons ( P < 0·01). Seventy-three percent of general surgeons double gloved for ‘high risk’ patients compared with 17% of orthopaedic surgeons ( P < 0·001). When double gloving the majority of surgeons (67%) used their normal sized glove inside and half a size larger on the outside.