Evaluating the Built Environment in Inpatient Psychiatric Wards
2013
Psychiatric Services
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 64
Pages 789-795
Author(s): Sheehan, B., Burton, E., Wood, S., Stride, C., Henderson, E., Wearn, E.
The authors allude to the dearth of research on the built environment in psychiatric wards and emphasize that the significance of the impact of the physical environment on the mental health and well-being of patients cannot be overlooked. This research involved examining the physical aspects of 98 psychiatric wards in urban and rural England and identifying those aspects associated with staff satisfaction.
Added October 2018
Does the redesign of a psychiatric inpatient unit change the treatment process and outcomes?
2013
Psychiatric Services
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 64
Pages 804-807
Author(s): Urbanoski, K. A., Mulsant, B. H., Novotna, G., Ehtesham, S., Rush, B. R.
The overall “atmosphere” of a psychiatric treatment facility could be defined through the availability of patient autonomy and support from peers, the presence of aggressive behavior within the ward, and the general sense of ward organization and rule enforcement.
Added August 2018
How Strongly Programmed is a Strong Programme Building? A Comparative Analysis of Outpatient Clinics in Two Hospitals
Author(s): Sailer, K., Pachilova, R., Kostopoulou, E., Pradinuk, R., MacKinnon, D., Hoofwijk, T.
The spatial configuration of a given building can be classified into one of two popular theoretical categories: weakly programmed or strongly programmed. These terms have become increasingly more commonly used when analyzing the spatial syntax of buildings; however, the authors suggest that their definitions and criteria are not clearly defined.
Added May 2017
Different Types of Door-Opening Motions as Contributing Factors to Containment Failures in Hospital Isolation Rooms
2013
PLOS ONE
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 8
Pages e66663
Author(s): Tang, J. W., Nicolle, A., Pantelic, J., Klettner, C. A., Su, R., Kalliomaki, P., Saarinen, P., Koskela, H., Reijula, K., Mustakallio, P., Cheong, D. K. W., Sekhar, C., Tham, K. W., Costa, C.
When under negative pressure, hospital isolation rooms are essential for both the containment of patients emitting airborne infectious agents as well as the protection of other patients from these agents. A plethora of different doors are used in the construction of these rooms, but relatively few studies have analyzed how certain door-opening motions and the passage of healthcare workers through these doors can affect the overall performance of isolation rooms.
Added December 2016
Objective and subjective assessments of lighting in a hospital setting: implications for health, safety and performance
2013
Ergonomics
Journal Article
Issue 10
Volume 56
Pages 1535-1545
Author(s): Dianat, I., Sedghi, A., Bagherzade, J., Jafarabadi, M. A., Stedmon, A. W.
Poor lighting conditions in workplaces, particularly healthcare environments, can cause discomfort for both patients and staff members, while also negatively affecting the performance of standard tasks. Ailments such as eyestrain, headaches, and indigestion may evolve from low lighting levels, high amounts of glare, and even flickering light sources.
Added October 2016
Copper Surfaces Reduce the Rate of Healthcare-Acquired Infections in the Intensive Care Unit
2013
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology
Journal Article
Issue 05
Volume 34
Pages 479-486
Author(s): Salgado, C. D., Sepkowitz, K. A., John, J. F., Cantey, J. R., Attaway, H. H., Freeman, K. D., Sharpe, P. A., Michels, H. T., Schmidt, M. G.
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) have been known to substantially increase patient morbidity and mortality, while also creating considerable financial burdens on patients and healthcare providers. Patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are at higher risk for HAI due to the nature of the ICU environment. Metallic copper surfaces have been known to substantially reduce bacterial concentrations; however, the clinical efficacy of these surfaces in ICUs has not been previously measured.
Added October 2016
Lost in space: The place of the architectural milieu in the aetiology and treatment of schizophrenia
2013
Facilities
Journal Article
Issue 9/10
Volume 31
Pages 427-448
Author(s): Golembiewski, J.
This article is a theoretical discussion concerning how designed and constructed environments can be significant factors in the psychogenesis of mental illnesses, particularly with non-affective psychoses. The authors believe that the current body of literature is lacking in resources that could help direct design decision-making to positively influence the well-being of mentally ill individuals. Discussing this matter may help identify specific qualities of the built environment that appear to be aetiologically related to psychosis.
Added June 2016
The effect of hospital layout on caregiver-patient communication patterns
Author(s): Pachilova, R., Sailer, K.
This article suggests that the field of evidence-based design (EBD), which considers information from case evaluations and credible research during design-related decision processes, has only marginally examined hospital layouts and their effects. As a result, this study attempts to build on the tradition of “Space Syntax” research, which is a theory that explores how space controls and generates encounters between inhabitants and visitors of certain spaces and how these two groups engage in communication.
Added June 2016
Designing a “Think-Along Dwelling” for People with Dementia: A Co-Creation Project Between Health Care and the Building Services Sector
2013
Journal of Housing for the Elderly
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 27
Pages 299-332
Author(s): Van Hoof, J., Blom, M. M., Post, H. N. A., & Bastein, W. L
Many of the elderly prefer to age-in-place. However, if one of the elderly developments dementia, particular challenges may be posed when designing, constructing, or retrofitting an existing home environment. In the Netherlands about two-thirds of the people with dementia live at home. This is the setting for this study.
Added January 2016
Specialized Design for Dementia
2013
Perspectives in Public Health
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 133
Pages 151-158
Author(s): Habell, M.
Designing for people with dementia is a major need in elderly care buildings. However, it is difficult to design for this population, as the parameters of dementia itself are often vague. The author also notes that the registration requirements in the UK for a care home make no distinction between the type of dementia or the severity of the dementia.
Added January 2016
Building and Testing a Patient-centric Electronic Bedside Communication Center
2013
Journal of Gerontological Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 30
Pages 15-19
Author(s): Dykes, P. C., Carroll, D. L., Hurley, A. C., Benoit, A., Chang, F., Pozzar, R., and Caligtan. C. A.
This study builds upon previous research that demonstrated improved outcomes when patients had access to tailored information related to falls.
Added January 2016
Computer Aided Lighting Requirement Analysis and Design for a Better Health Care Facility
2013
International Journal of Computer Applications
Journal Article
Issue 11
Volume 78
Pages 12-18
Author(s): Tanuja, S. & Shailesh, K.R.
This project pertains to assessing the lighting requirements of a super specialty/teaching hospital and generating lighting solutions that are also energy efficient for some of the key spaces in the facility.
Added January 2016
Impact of the physical environment of psychiatric wards on the use of seclusion
2013
The British Journal of Psychiatry
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 202
Pages 142-149
Author(s): van der Schaaf, P. S., Dusseldorp, E., Keuning, F. M., Janssen, W. A., Noorthoorn, E. O.
Disturbed behavior and patient aggression within psychiatric wards can threaten both patient and staff safety. To manage these patients, psychiatric wards often will use coercive measures such as solitary confinement. Patient aggression arises from a complex interaction between patient characteristics, staff characteristics, and the characteristics of the physical environment of the psychiatric ward itself. Most studies have focused on the dynamics between patient and staff characteristics; little research has been done to investigate how the physical environment of psychiatric wards might influence patient aggression and subsequently the use of coercive measures.
Added October 2015
Healing environments in cancer treatment and care. Relations of space and practice in hematological cancer treatment
2013
Acta Oncologica
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 52
Pages 440-446
Author(s): Høybye, M. T.
The author refers to the growing contribution of design in shaping hospitals that are environments of healing. This study aims to widen the understanding of these healing environments in the context of its social dynamics. The research involved an ethnographic study of patients undergoing treatment for hematological cancer in a hospital in Denmark.
Added May 2015
The role of the surface environment in healthcare-associated infections:
2013
Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 26
Pages 338-344
Author(s): Weber, D. J., Anderson, D., Rutala, W. A.
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are associated with morbidity and mortality in hospitals in the USA. Sources and transmission of contamination can be several. Contamination of hospital surfaces is a common occurrence.
Added April 2015
Ambient light levels and critical care outcomes
2013
Journal of Critical Care
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 28
Pages 110.e1-110.e8
Author(s): Verceles, A. C., Liu, X., Terrin, M. L., Scharf, S. M., Shanholtz, C., Harris, A., Ayanleye, B, Parker, A., Netzer, G.
Several U.S. healthcare agencies endorse a guideline that requires the construction of windows in patient care rooms so that naturally regulated sunlight can contribute to interior ambient lighting. This recommendation has been adopted by agencies in 46 U.S. states. Few studies have analyzed the association between light levels and intensive care unit (ICU) outcomes. No previous studies have quantitatively measured light levels or assessed intermediate factors such as analgesic use.
Added March 2015
Impact of daylight illumination on reducing patient length of stay in hospital after coronary artery bypass graft surgery
2013
Lighting Research and Technology
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 45
Pages 435-449
Author(s): Joarder, A. R., Price, A. D. F.
Array
Added March 2015
Measurement of ventilation and airborne infection risk in large naturally ventilated hospital wards
2013
Building and Environment
Journal Article
Author(s): Gilkeson, C. A., Camargo-Valero, M. A., Pickin, L. E., Noakes, C. J.
In healthcare environments, the transmission of airborne pathogens is a matter of concern. Ventilation has been identified as one of the key factors in the risk of infection. The authors indicate that most of the evidence on ventilation and infection risk has been in controlled spaces like operating rooms and isolation rooms, and that naturally ventilated spaces like wards have not been studied. They conducted a series of experiments in an unused ward to measure the transmission of pathogens in conditions of natural ventilation, mechanical ventilation, and no ventilation.
Added March 2015
HVAC filtration for controlling infectious airborne disease transmission in indoor environments: Predicting risk reductions and operational costs
2013
Building and Environment
Journal Article
Author(s): Azimi, P., Stephens, B.
The airborne transmission of infectious pathogens in indoor environments is a matter of concern. The authors refer to different operational and design strategies being used in different buildings to control/limit the spread of these pathogens.
Added March 2015
Realizing improved patient care through human-centered operating room design: A human factors methodology for observing flow disruptions in the cardiothoracic operating room
2013
Anesthesiology
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 119
Pages 1066-1077
Author(s): Palmer, G., Abernathy, J. H., Swinton, G., Allison, D., Greenstein, J., Shappell, S., Juang, K., Reeves, S. T.
The authors indicate that disruptions in the workflow of surgeries can extend surgery times and contribute to the escalation of healthcare costs.
Added March 2015
