Effects of low humidity and high air velocity in a heated room on physiological responses and thermal comfort after bathing: An experimental study

摘要

Objective: In the present study we investigated the effects of low relative humidity (RH) and high air velocity (VA) onphysiological and subjective responses after bathing in order to present the evidence for required nursing intervention afterbathing.Methods: Eight healthy male subjects participated in this experiment. There were four thermal conditions which combined RH(20% of 60%) and VA (low: less than 0.2 m/s or high: from 0.5 to 0.7 m/s). After taking a tub bath, subjects sat for 80 min in thetest room under each condition. In addition, one condition under which the subjects were exposed to 20% RH and high VAcondition for 80 min without bathing condition was conducted.Results: A decrease in mean skin temperature (Tsk), dryness of the skin and eyes were observed, though thermal comfort andwarmth retained, due to spending time after bathing in a low RH and high VA environment, compared to the condition withoutbathing. Moreover, dryness of the skin, a decrease in hydration of the skin and an increase in transepidermal water loss (TEWL)after bathing were significantly affected by RH levels, on the other hand subjective coolness, discomfort and perception ofdryness in the eye were significantly affected by VA levels. The decrease in Tsk after bathing was significantly affected by bothRH and VA.Conclusion: From our findings we concluded that low RH and high VA have negative effects on humans after bathing, forexample a decrease in body temperature and dryness of the skin and eyes. Moreover, it was indicated that the negative effectscould be kept to a minimum and thermal comfort remain higher, if RH and VA levels were controlled within the optimum ranges.