Are traditional head size and shape measurements useful in modern medical design? A literature review

Abstract

Scalp cooling is a clinically proven treatment for addressing chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA). Previous studies show that the efficacy of this treatment relies on accurate cranial data so that designers can produce close-fitting scalp cooling caps. The cephalic index is often used, but are that data still accurate? In this literature review, we identified and explored previous studies concerning head size and shape with the goal of identifying shortcomings for design purposes. The literature review indicates that a more suitable method is needed to collect data to enable mass customisation of scalp cooling caps. Head data are more complex for design.