Airflow patterns through single hinged and sliding doors in hospital isolation rooms – Effect of ventilation, flow differential and passage
2016
Building and Environment
Journal Article
Author(s): Kalliomäki, p., Saarinen, P., Tang, J. W., Koskela, h.
Patients with highly contagious diseases are often housed in negative pressure isolation rooms. These rooms attempt to reduce cross-infections within the hospital. However, airflows produced by healthcare worker movements and door opening motions pose the risk of spreading pathogen-laden air from negative pressure isolation rooms into other spaces. A significant number of previous studies have examined the impact of single-hinged door-generated airflows, but few have compared hinged doors with sliding doors.
Added December 2016
Low stimulus environments: reducing noise levels in continuing care
2016
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 5
Pages 1-4
Author(s): Brown, J., Fawzi, W., Shah, A., Joyce, M., Holt, G., McCarthy, C., Stevenson, C., Marange, R., Shakes, J., Solomon-Ayeh, K.
This article highlights a project that aimed to reduce levels of intrinsic background noise on an adult mental health ward. Following intervention, the ward was able to decrease the background noise decibel level from 60dB to 53dB (on average).
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
Surface Finish Materials: Considerations for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
2016
Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 16
Pages 203-207
Author(s): Harris, D.
In this literature review, it is shown that a growing body of research has been focusing on how surface material finishes within neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) can contribute to the operational, clinical, and social aspects of health outcomes.
Added September 2016
An Assessment of Levels of Safety in Psychiatric Units
2016
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 10
Pages 66-80
Author(s): Bayramzadeh, S.
As mental treatment facilities see increases in the number of patients seeking care, facilities face mounting pressure in their attempts to promote patient well-being and safety. The author suggests that there is a lack of systematic empirical studies that examine how the design of mental healthcare facilities contributes to patient care and safety.
Added September 2016
Mental and Behavioral Health Environments: Critical Considerations for Facility Design
2016
General Hospital Psychiatry
Journal Article
Author(s): Shepley, M. M., Watson, A., Pitts, F., Garrity, A., Spelman, E., Kelkar, J., Fronsman, A.
Mental and behavioral health (MBH) facilities are being built and renovated at an increasing rate, but research concerning best building practices has not kept pace with construction. Evidence-based design (EBD) involves the use of research to help multidisciplinary design teams create the most appropriate built environments.
Added July 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
Impact of a Comprehensive Workplace Hand Hygiene Program on Employer Health Care Insurance Claims and Costs, Absenteeism, and Employee Perceptions and Practices:
2016
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 58
Pages e231-e240
Author(s): Arbogast, J. W., Moore-Schiltz, L., Jarvis, W. R., Harpster-Hagen, A., Hughes, J., Parker, A.
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
Identifying Challenging Job and Environmental Demands of Older Nurses Within the National Health Service
2016
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 9
Pages 82-105
Author(s): Durosaiye, I. O., Hadjri, K., Liyanage, C. L.
Added April 2016
Nature Contacts: Employee Wellness in Healthcare
2016
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 9
Pages 47-62
Author(s): Trau, D., Keenan, K. A., Goforth, M., Large, V.
Added April 2016
Lighting and Nurses at Medical–Surgical Units: Impact of Lighting Conditions on Nurses’ Performance and Satisfaction
2016
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 9
Pages 17-30
Author(s): Hadi, K., DuBose, J. R., Ryherd, E.
Added April 2016
Evaluating Intention and Effect: The Impact of Healthcare Facility Design on Patient and Staff Well-Being
2016
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 9
Pages 82-104
Author(s): Alvaro, C., Wilkinson, A. J., Gallant, S. N., Kostovski, D., Gardner, P.
Added April 2016
Restorative Design Features for Hospital Staff Break Areas: A Multi-Method Study
2016
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 9
Pages 16-35
Author(s): Nejati, A., Shepley, M., Rodiek, S., Lee, C., Varni, J.
Added April 2016
