Seasonal Differences in Light Exposure and the Associations With Health and Well-Being in Older Adults Living: An Exploratory Study
2017
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 10
Pages 64-79
Author(s): Nioi, A., Roe, J., Gow, A., McNair, D., Aspinall, P.
Exposure to appropriate levels of bright light directly affects human circadian rhythms. The circadian rhythm plays a key role in overall human well-being. Previous research suggests that elderly patients within residential care homes are often exposed to low levels of light, which can result in circadian misalignment and irregularities in sleep/wake cycles.
Added May 2017
The Influence of Environmental Factors on Sleep Quality in Hospitalized Medical Patients
2014
Frontiers in Neurology
Journal Article
Author(s): Bano, M., Chiaromanni, F., Corrias, M., Turco, M., De Rui, M., Amodio, P., Merkel, C., Gatta, A., Mazzotta, G., Costa, R., Montagnese, S.
Added April 2017
Patient room lighting influences on sleep, appraisal and mood in hospitalized people
2017
Journal of Sleep Research
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 26
Pages 236-246
Author(s): Giménez, M. C., Geerdinck, L. M., Versteylen, M., Leffers, P., Meekes, G. J. B. M., Herremans, H., de Ruyter, B., Bikker, J. W., Kuijpers, P. M. J. C., Schlangen, L. J. M.
Hospitalized patients often struggle with sleeping soundly due to various factors that arise within the hospital environment, such as noise, pain, general discomfort, and irregular and inappropriate light exposure. Because sleep is such an integral part of the healing process, healthcare designers should consider different ways to improve hospital sleep conditions.
Added April 2017
Hospital lighting and its association with sleep, mood and pain in medical inpatients
2014
Journal of Advanced Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 70
Pages 1164-1173
Author(s): Bernhofer, E. I., Higgins, P. A., Daly, B. J., Burant, C. J., Hornick, T. R.
Added April 2017
Daylighting simulation for the configuration of external sun-breakers on south oriented windows of hospital patient rooms under a clear desert sky
2017
Solar Energy
Journal Article
Author(s): Wagdy, A., Sherif, A., Sabry, H., Arafa, R., Mashaly, I.
Added April 2017
The Associations between Daylight Sufficiency in Hospital Wards and Patient Satisfaction with Mental Healthcare Services: An Egyptian Sample
2016
Acta Medica International
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 3
Pages 101-111
Author(s): Eldaly, K., Zaki, N., El-Gizawi, L.
Added February 2017
An investigation of light and sound levels on intensive care units in China
2016
Australian Critical Care
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 29
Pages 62-67
Author(s): Hu, R.-F., Hegadoren, K. M., Wang, X.-Y., Jiang, X.-Y.
Added December 2016
Customizing sustainable evidence based design: A daylight study in south semi-private patient rooms
2016
Journal of Buildings and Sustainability
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 1
Pages 1-18
Author(s): Sklavoua, E., Tzouvadakis, I.
Added December 2016
Energy Efficient Lighting System Design for Hospitals Diagnostic and Treatment Room—A Case Study
2012
Journal of Light & Visual Environment
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 36
Pages 23-31
Author(s): Alzubaidi, S., Soori, Prashant Kumar
Added December 2016
Methodological challenges in studies of bright light therapy to treat sleep disorders in nursing home residents with dementia
2014
Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
Journal Article
Issue 11
Volume 68
Pages 777-784
Author(s): van der Ploeg, E. S., O'Connor, D. W.
Research studies conducted in the past 20 years have failed to validate the effectiveness of bright white light treatment of sleep disorders in nursing home or long-stay hospital residents with dementia. This trend is documented in a Cochrane Collaboration meta-analysis of 10 selected studies where problems in the research methodologies were identified. The prevalence of sleep disorders among residents diagnosed with dementia varies from 40% to 70%.
Added November 2016
Light at Night and Measures of Alertness and Performance: Implications for Shift Workers
2016
Biological Research For Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 18
Pages 90-100
Author(s): Figueiro, M. G., Sahin, L., Wood, B., Plitnick, B.
Rotating-shift workers, particularly those working at night, are likely to experience sleepiness, decreased productivity, and impaired safety while on the job. Light at night has been shown to have acute alerting effects, reduce sleepiness, and improve performance. However, light at night can also suppress melatonin and induce circadian disruption, both of which have been linked to increased health risks. Previous studies have shown that long-wavelength (red) light exposure increases objective and subjective measures of alertness at night, without suppressing nocturnal melatonin.
Added November 2016
Analysis of circadian stimulus allowed by daylighting in hospital rooms
2017
Lighting Research and Technology
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 49
Pages 49-61
Author(s): Acosta, I, Leslie, R. P., Figueiro, M. G.
Light is the major synchronizer of circadian rhythms to the 24-hour solar day. Compared to the visual system, the circadian system requires more light to be activated and is more sensitive to short-wavelength light. For those confined indoors, such as patients or residents in care facilities, the lack of access to daylight, or electric lighting providing a comparable amount, spectrum, distribution, duration, and timing, may compromise their human health and well-being.
Added November 2016
Systematic light exposure in the treatment of cancer-related fatigue: a preliminary study: Systematic light exposure in the treatment of cancer-related fatigue
2014
Psycho-Oncology
Journal Article
Issue 12
Volume 23
Pages 1431-1434
Author(s): Redd, W. H., Valdimarsdottir, H., Wu, L. M., Winkel, G., Byrne, E. E., Beltre, M. A., Liebman, E. S., Erazo, T., Hayes, J. A., Isola, L., Scigliano, E., Meschian, Y., Lutgendorf, S., Ancoli-Israel, S.
Patients with cancer frequently report the side effect of fatigue, which is described as distressing, persistent, and related to physical, emotional, and cognitive tiredness or exhaustion. Patients report feeling tired after resting during their treatments and long after the treatment has ended.
Added November 2016
Shift work: health, performance and safety problems, traditional countermeasures, and innovative management strategies to reduce circadian misalignment
2012
Nature and Science of Sleep
Journal Article
Author(s): Eastman, C. I., Smith, M. R.
This paper is a review of the literature related to health, performance, and safety problems associated with night shift work. The review of articles and research papers focused on circadian misalignment between the individual’s internal circadian clock and activities such as work, sleep, and eating. There is also discussion about chronic partial sleep deprivation and melatonin suppression at night. The articles reviewed include theory papers and research papers.
Added November 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
Quality of Lighting in Hospital Environments: A Wide Survey Through in Situ Measurements
2017
Journal of Light & Visual Environment
Journal Article
Author(s): Leccese, F., Montagnani, C., Iaia, S., Rocca, M., Salvadori, G.
Added July 2016
The ability of environmental healthcare design strategies to impact event related anxiety in pediatric patients: A comprehensive systematic review
Author(s): Norton-Westwood, D.
Healthcare settings such as hospitals or dentists’ offices have been known to contribute to the anxiety often experienced by patients receiving treatment. Anxiety has been linked to various health concerns, manifesting both physiologically and psychologically, that can result in prolonged hospital stays and other complications.
Added June 2016
A nursing home staff tool for the indoor visual environment: The content validity
2016
Journal of Nursing Education and Practice
Journal Article
Issue 11
Volume 6
Pages 25-33
Author(s): Sinoo, M. M., Kort, H. S. M., Loomans, M. G. L. C., Schols, J. M. G. A.
Visual impairments affecting residents of nursing homes can arise from numerous causes, and they can directly affect these residents’ quality of life by jeopardizing their ability to participate in daily activities such as reading, watching television, or even interacting with others. The physical makeup of the nursing home itself can work to either help or hinder its residents, and in cases in which the environment is beneficial, the nursing home can be called an “environmental fit.
Added June 2016
Understanding Green Building Design and Healthcare Outcomes: Evidence-Based Design Analysis of an Oncology Unit
2016
Journal of Architectural Engineering
Journal Article
Author(s): Campion, N., Thiel, C. L., Focareta, J., Bilec, M. M.
The United States healthcare industry is a major part of the economy as well as a significant contributor to carbon dioxide emissions and other environmental issues. Green building design (GBD) attempts to offset environmental impacts of buildings, and recently designers have been combining GBD with evidence-based design (EBD) in order to create facilities that positively impact both the external and internal environment.
Added June 2016
Ergonomical aspects of anaesthetic practice
2016
Indian Journal of Anaesthesia
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 60
Pages 306
Author(s): Raghavendra, R.S.
Anesthesiologists typically act as data analyzers, investigators, and planners for forthcoming surgical events, but only after patients and their families have been convinced that the procedure is appropriate. With the field of anesthesiology rapidly developing, it is imperative that workstations are optimized so that procedures can be conducted efficiently and safely. Ergonomics is defined as a discipline that explores and applies information regarding human characteristics, requirements, limitations, and abilities to the development, design, engineering, and testing of equipment, systems, and occupations.
Added June 2016
