A new design of safety vests was developed for patients with uncontrollable behaviour or altered conscious level in this study. A comprehensive approach for designing functional textile and apparel products was adopted. The design request and exploration of the design situation and problem were identified. The settings in the general and psychiatric wards and the traditional ways of the use of safety vests on patients were examined. Problems of the traditional safety vests were identified, such as loose fitting design and large armholes, tight neckline which may result in unexpected accidents such as strangulation, difficulty of wearing, limited mobility, and obsolete functional design.
A new set of design criteria and specifications were then developed. An interaction matrix of design specification for safety vests was formulated since some of the design specifications are in conflict with each other. For instance, a tight fit design could optimize the level of restraint, but it may result in patients' psychological and physiological discomfort due to limited mobility. Supported by the evaluation of fabric materials and fastening systems, a new design of safety vests was then developed and evaluated.
