Bearing Bear Jumpsuit
Care Process & Redesign
National Healthcare Group Quality Improvement
National Healthcare Group
To eliminate stripping and digging behaviour to at least 90% among patients in the Adult Neurodevelopmental service(ANDS). The Bearing Bare Jumpsuit was developed to address the challenge of chronic stripping and indiscriminate elimination in psychiatric.
Year Submitted: 2026
Published Date:
Tags: Care Process ＆ Redesign, Quality Improvement, Design Thinking, Value Based Care, Safe Care
About this Content
Aims
To eliminate stripping and digging behaviour to at least 90% among patients in the Adult Neurodevelopmental service(ANDS) fostering a calmer and more therapeutic environment for psychiatric clients while significantly reducing caregiver burden.
Background
In ANDS ward, patients who exhibit stripping and diaper‑digging behaviours pose ongoing challenges to patient dignity, hygiene, infection control, and nursing workload. A nurse‑led intervention introduced a SecureFit anti‑stripping jumpsuit with a two‑way zipper system to restrict unsupervised access to diapers while remaining comfortable and non‑stigmatizing. The design enables faster, safer, and more discreet diaper changes, aiming to reduce disruptive behaviours, improve efficiency of care, and support person‑centred, least‑restrictive nursing practice.
Conclusion
The Bearing Bare Jumpsuit was developed to address the challenge of chronic stripping
and indiscriminate elimination in psychiatric settings, specifically for clients with
intellectual disabilities and autism. Utilizing an iterative design methodology, the
project transitioned through five prototypes to achieve a secure, back-entry garment
with a specialized locking mechanism. Clinical implementation resulted in a staggering
90% reduction in stripping and digging incidents, significantly enhancing patient
dignity and ward hygiene. The project’s ultimate aim is to achieve a 100% elimination
rate of stripping behaviors within the ANDS ward over a six-month period. By balancing
security with breathable cotton comfort, this jumpsuit provides a humane and
effective alternative to traditional behavioral interventions.
Lessons Learnt
The journey from concept to award-winning innovation highlighted the critical importance of persistence and bedside-led design. Navigating five versions of the prototype taught me that "failure" in early designs is simply necessary data; Prototype #5 only succeeded because the first four exposed specific vulnerabilities in the locking system and fabric durability. Furthermore, I learned that nursing-led innovations are uniquely effective because they are born from daily clinical friction—understanding the balance between patient dignity and staff safety is something that can only be mastered through hands-on experience in the ward. Finally, the project reinforced that a simple, well-executed design can have a more profound impact on patient outcomes than complex, high-tech interventions.
Additional Information
#opencall. The project is currently in mass trial
Keywords
Jumpsuit, Diaper
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | National Healthcare Group |
Organization(s) Involved | Institute of Mental Health, Centre for Healthcare Innovation |
Platform(s) | National Healthcare Group Quality Improvement |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Allied Health, Medical, Ancillary Care, Nursing |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | Neurology |
Project Lead(s) | Pascual Kathrine Joy |
Project Member(s) | Sheeba Nithya Nirubama |
Connect with this contributor!
KATHRINE JOY PASCUAL - kjb.tangonan@nhghealth.com.sg
Sheeba nithya nirubama - Sn.nirubama@nhghealth.com.sg