title: Shampoo after craniotomy: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary goal of this study was to assess the effect of postoperative hair-washing on incision infection and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in craniotomy patients. The objectives of this study were to 1) determine the effect of postoperative hair-washing on incision infection and HRQOL, 2) provide evidence to support postoperative patient hygienic care, and 3) develop neurosurgical nursing research capacity
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Does hair-washing 72 hours after craniotomy and before suture or clip removal influence postoperative incision infection and postoperative HRQOL?
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort of 100 adult patients was randomized to hair-washing 72-hours postoperatively (n = 48), or no hair washing until suture or clip removal (n = 52). At five to -10 days postoperatively, sutures or clips were removed, incisions were assessed using the ASEPSIS Scale (n = 85) and participants were administered the SF-12 Health Survey (n = 71). At 30 days postoperatively, incisions (n = 70) were reassessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences were found between hair-washing and no hair-washing groups for ASEPSIS scores at five to 10 days and 30 days, and total SF-12 scores at five to 10 days postoperatively (p > or = 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postoperative hair-washing resulted in no increase in incision infection scores or decrease in HRQOL scores when compared to no hair-washing in patients experiencing craniotomy.
authors.affiliation: Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton General Hospital, ON. irelasan@hhsc.ca
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ireland
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Carlino
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gould
authors.forename: Fran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Frazier
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Haycock
authors.forename: Suzin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ilton
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deptuck
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bousfield
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Verge
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Antoni
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: MacRae
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Renshaw
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bialachowski
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chagnon
authors.forename: Kesava
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001494:Baths; D003399:Craniotomy; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013527:Perioperative Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000451:nursing*; D012915:Soaps; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D012915:Soaps