The impact of the healthcare environment on patient experience in the emergency department: A systematic review to understand the implications for patient-centered design
2023
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 16
Pages 310-329
Author(s): Rowe, A, Knox, M.
Research shows that emergency departments (EDs) continue to be undersized, understaffed, and challenged with operational issues that cause decreased patient and provider satisfaction. The ED is at times the initial point of contact for a patient with the healthcare system and may be their first hospital experience
Added December 2022
Designing a cardiac intensive care unit by employing an evidence-based design approach
2022
The International Journal of Architectonic, Spatial, and Environmental Design
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 17
Pages 61-81
Author(s): Alansari, A., Quan, X.
Research shows that the design of the physical environment of cardiac intensive care units (CICUs) plays a significant role in patient outcomes, patient safety, and quality of care. Evidence-based design decisions further influence healthcare personnel well-being, such as reducing workplace injuries and workers’ compensation claims.
Added December 2022
The role of healthcare facility design on the mental health of healthcare professionals: A literature review
2022
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 16
Pages 270-286
Author(s): Jin, H.-Y., Gold, C., Cho, J., Marzban, F., Lim, L.
Research demonstrates that burnout is prevalent in healthcare workers and has been associated with negative consequences for patients, staff, and organizations. To date, initiatives to mitigate burnout and support staff well-being do not fully utilize the built environment.
Added August 2022
Mental health outcome measures in environmental design research: A critical review
2021
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 14
Pages 331-357
Author(s): Shin, J., Dennis, S., Mohammed, H.
While recent studies show a relationship between well-being and the built environment, few focus specifically on mental health. This study found that access to nature and other design elements of the built environment can improve positive affect (pleasurable feelings), vitality (energy or aliveness), executive functioning (memory, concentration), mood, and general well-being—while also decreasing cortisol (stress).
Added May 2021
Intensive care unit built environments: A comprehensive literature review (2005–2020)
2021
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 14
Pages 368-415
Author(s): Verderber, S., Gray, S., Suresh-Kumar, S., Kercz, D., Parshuram, C.
ICUs have been extensively studied regarding the role of the built environment in issues of patient safety and infection control, patient-staff outcomes, and the interventional role of the physical environment. The results of this comprehensive literature review (2005-2020) demonstrate an increase in design of single-bed ICUs, increase in the engagement of families in the ICU experience, acknowledgement of improving caregiver well-being, performance through designing staff amenities, increased attention to the therapeutic role of exposure to nature and lighting, and increased pandemic concerns related to containment of the COVID-19 virus.
Added May 2021
Technology integration in complex healthcare environments: A systematic literature review
2021
Applied Ergonomics
Journal Article
Author(s): Bayramzadeh, S., Aghaei, P.
Previous research shows that the way in which information displays and imaging technology are integrated into healthcare environments can impact staff workflows, patient safety, and perceptions of care. Caregivers working in trauma rooms, intensive care units (ICUs), and operating rooms (ORs) require frequent access to imaging technology; when these resources are located far away from patients, issues may arise with communication, coordination, and interruptions.
Added May 2021
Accessing green spaces within a healthcare setting: A mixed studies review of barriers and facilitators
2019
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 12
Pages 199-140
Author(s): Weerasuriya, R., Henderson-Wilson, C., Townsend, M.
Many previous studies have described the benefits of natural environments (or “green spaces”) on overall human well-being. Healthcare providers have increasingly drawn attention to how green spaces within healthcare environments may positively affect both patients and staff.
Added December 2018
Safety, Performance, and Satisfaction Outcomes in the Operating Room: A Literature Review
2018
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 11
Pages 137-150
Author(s): Joseph, A., Bayramzadeh, S., Zamani, Z., Rostenberg, B.
There are many operating rooms (ORs) constructed more than 30 years ago that remain operational today, and many of these spaces are inadequately designed to withstand the processes, equipment, and people needed for contemporary OR procedures. Even in developed countries, patients undergoing inpatient surgeries experience major complications 3-22% of the time.
Added February 2018
The Role of Environmental Design in Cancer Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Survivorship: A Systematic Literature Review
2018
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 11
Pages 18–32
Author(s): Gharaveis, A., Kazem-Zadeh, M.
Approximately 1.6 million new cancer cases are diagnosed annually in the United States. New techniques for treating cancer are constantly being developed, with many healthcare professionals and designers turning towards more patient-centered services and designs to achieve better patient outcomes.
Added February 2018
Qualitative ergonomics/human factors research in health care: Current state and future directions
2017
Applied Ergonomics
Journal Article
Author(s): Valdez, R. S., McGuire, K. M., Rivera, A. J.
This paper presents a systematic review of studies involving the application of ergonomics/human factors (E/HF) within healthcare environments. In ergonomics, the term “systems thinking” can be broadly interpreted as a way of organizing, managing, and improving different components of a given entity in order to achieve peak efficiency and usability.
Added June 2017
A systematic review of the psychometric properties of instruments for assessing the quality of the physical environment in healthcare
2017
Journal of Advanced Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 12
Volume 73
Pages 2796-2816
Author(s): Elf, M., Nordin, S., Wijk, H., McKee, K. J.
This review of published instruments was conducted to identify valid and usable tools that can evaluate the design of the healthcare environment.
Added February 2017
Environmental Variables That Influence Patient Satisfaction: A Review of the Literature
2016
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 10
Pages 155-169
Author(s): MacAllister, L., Zimring, C., Ryherd, E.
This paper is a literature review that compiles a number of studies investigating the layouts and designs of hospitals and work settings, and the influences that these environments have on health and behavioral outcomes in patients. More specifically, this review seeks to identify possible links between physical and social environmental influences to self-reported patient outcomes. The authors wish to more fully understand the elements that influence patient satisfaction, and then begin a discussion over how physical and social environments can be further analyzed to enhance satisfaction.
Added September 2016
Design in mind: eliciting service user and frontline staff perspectives on psychiatric ward design through participatory methods
2016
Journal of Mental Health
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 25
Pages 114-121
Author(s): Csipke, E., Papoulias, C., Vitoratou, S., Williams, P., Rose, D., Wykes, T.
Previous studies have shown repeatedly that the physical design of psychiatric wards has a significant impact on patient recovery and well-being. It has also been found that staff and patients often express conflicting expectations regarding the design of psychiatric wards. Therefore, it is important to better understand different stakeholder perceptions of the same environment so that the most effective design decisions can be made. One possible way of doing this would be using the “SURE model,” which is a participatory method involving collaborations with service users during all stages of the study.
Added June 2016
Healthcare Staffs’ Experiences and Perceptions of Caring for People with Dementia in the Acute Setting: Qualitative Evidence Synthesis
2016
International Journal of Nursing Studies
Journal Article
Author(s): Houghton, C., Murphy, K., Brooker, D., Casey, D.
Dementia is an international health issue that greatly impacts healthcare delivery systems. Individuals with dementia have specific needs when it comes to healthcare, and it seems that, generally, acute care environments aren’t suitable for these individuals. Considering how previous studies have shown that as much as a quarter of individuals utilizing acute hospital services are likely to have dementia, the authors posit that there needs to be a shift in ethos, organization, and environment in which more appropriate care is provided to patients with dementia in acute care settings.
Added June 2016
Impact of the Physical Environment of Residential Health, Care, and Support Facilities (RHCSF) on Staff and Residents A Systematic Review of the Literature
2015
Environment and Behavior
Journal Article
Issue 10
Volume 48
Pages 1203-1241
Author(s): Joseph, A., Choi, Y.-S., Quan, X.
Strategies related to the design of the built environment should be considered within the context of the culture of the organization and the resident population. This study of the physical environment of residential health, care, and support facilities addresses the range of settings and population, where other studies have been lacking. The literature review strongly suggests that the built environment is an important component of care provided in residential care settings.
Added May 2016
Review: The impact of art, design and environment in mental healthcare: A systematic review of the literature
2008
The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 128
Pages 85-94
Author(s): Daykin, N., Byrne, E., Soteriou, T., O'Connor, S.
There is increasing evidence that attractive environments can enhance the experiences of healthcare users. What creates attractive environments may be relative to the country where that healthcare is provided. This paper was written in the UK and was an attempt to find research that supports the use of art to create healing environments along with the role of art in encouraging civic pride. It was part of a two-year evaluation of a commissioned arts program in a UK mental health trust.
Added January 2016
Initiatives to reduce overcrowding and access block in Australian emergency departments: A literature review
2014
Collegian
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 21
Pages 359-366
Author(s): Crawford, K., Morphet, J., Jones, T., Innes, K., Griffiths, D., Williams, Allison
Australian emergency departments are experiencing an increasing demand for their services. Patient throughput continues to expand resulting in overcrowding and access block where patients cannot gain entry to appropriate hospital beds. This is despite both state and federal governments implementing numerous schemes to address the complex causes of stress on emergency departments. This paper...
Added December 2015
Outdoor Environments at Three Nursing Homes: Semantic Environmental Descriptions
2015
Journal of Housing For the Elderly
Journal Article
Issue 1-2
Volume 29
Pages 53-76
Author(s): Bengtsson, A., Hägerhäll, C., Englund, J.-E., Grahn, P.
The authors call attention to research that indicates the importance of outdoor environments to the lives of elderly people in nursing homes. Nursing homes vary in terms of outdoor environments – from none to very elaborate establishments, with no evidence as to whether these meet the needs and desires of their users.
Added October 2015
From “Baby Barn” to the “Single Family Room Designed NICU”: A Report of Staff Perceptions One Year Post Occupancy
2010
Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 10
Pages 97-103
Author(s): Cone, S. K., Short, S., Gutcher, G.
Single Family Rooms (SFRs) are becoming an increasingly popular design model in the care of critically ill preterm infants. The advantages of this physical environment to the infant, family and care providers is well documented.
Added July 2015
Developing a multi-systemic fall prevention model, incorporating the physical environment, the care process and technology: A systematic review
2011
Journal of Advanced Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 12
Volume 67
Pages 2501-24
Author(s): Choi, Y.-S., Lawler, E., Boenecke, C. A., Ponatoski, E. R., Zimring, C. M.
Falls are the most frequently reported negative events in hospitals in the United States and other countries, and about one-third of them result in injury of some type. Injury from falls can result in increased hospital stays, increased costs and litigation, among other problems. The authors reviewed the literature on falls, fall injuries, fall risk factors, and interventions to better understand the effectiveness of different methods for fall prevention in hospital settings.
Added December 2014
