A comparison of floor surfaces for injury prevention in care settings: impact forces and horizontal pulling force required to move wheeled equipment
2020
Osteoporosis International
Journal Article
Issue 12
Volume 31
Pages 2383-2394
Author(s): Keenan, B. E., Hallas, K., Drahota, A. K., Evans, S. L.
Injury-inducing falls frequently occur in both care homes and hospitals. One way to prevent fall-related injuries is shock-absorbing flooring. The authors of this study note that at the time of writing, there are no established standards for what type of flooring is most effective for injury prevention.
Added July 2022
Effects of Impact-Absorbing Flooring in Residential Care from the Perspectives of Enrolled Nurses
2017
Journal of Housing For the Elderly
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 31
Pages 367-381
Author(s): Gustavsson, J., Rahm, G., Jernbro, C., Nilson, F.
Despite the fact that patient falls happen on a daily basis, there are few effective solutions for reducing fall-related injuries.
Added April 2018
Do Carpets Impair Indoor Air Quality and Cause Adverse Health Outcomes: A Review
2018
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 15
Pages 184
Author(s): Becher, R., Øvrevik, J., Schwarze, P. E., Nilsen, S., Hongslo, J. K., Bakke, J. V.
Previous studies have found that carpets are capable of collecting more dust and allergens than non-carpeted surfaces, highlighting further studies that suggest that the presence of carpets can worsen indoor air quality and certain respiratory conditions.
Added February 2018
Reduction of Environmental Contamination With Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria by Copper-Alloy Coating of Surfaces in a Highly Endemic Setting
2017
Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
Journal Article
Issue 7
Volume 38
Pages 765-771
Author(s): Souli, M., Antoniadou, A., Katsarolis, I., Mavrou, I., Paramythiotou, E., Papadomichelakis, E., Drogari-Apiranthitou, M., Panagea, T., Giamarellou, H., Petrikkos, G., Armaganidis, Apostolos
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are often caused by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). This is especially problematic in intensive care units (ICUs) due to the vulnerable nature of both patients and staff in these environments.
Added June 2017
Reducing hospital noise with sound acoustic panels and diffusion: a controlled study
2016
BMJ Quality & Safety
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 25
Pages 644
Author(s): Farrehi, P. M., Nallamothu, B. K., Navvab, M.
Ambient noise is a well-known source of stress in healthcare environments. Hospitals have employed methods such as shielding patients with closed doors, altering staff behaviors, and moving equipment, but these approaches can disrupt workflows and do not address the realities of sound generation within hospitals.
Added March 2017
Acoustic assessment of speech privacy curtains in two nursing units
2016
Noise & Health
Journal Article
Issue 80
Volume 18
Pages 26-35
Author(s): Pope, D. S., Miller-Klein, E. T.
Hospitals are environments with complex soundscapes, and some elements of these soundscapes can impede upon patient health and overall communication. Numerous sources of noise from equipment, movement, and increased speaking volumes combine with high reverberation rates, resulting in the need to speak increasingly louder.
Added March 2017
Post-Occupancy Evaluation of a Mental Healthcare Facility Based on Staff Perceptions of Design Innovations
2017
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 10
Pages 121-135
Author(s): Kalantari, S., Snell, R.
Post-occupancy evaluation (POE) is a research method for gathering information on the effectiveness of new architectural designs in healthcare environments. POE can help healthcare providers and designers gauge whether or not a given design is achieving its intended purpose. Since evidence-based designs are becoming more widely implemented in a variety of healthcare environments, POE could prove useful in many different departmental contexts. The authors note that the application of POE in research focusing on mental healthcare facilities is rare, signaling a need for exploration
Added February 2017
Compliant flooring to prevent fall-related injuries in older adults: A scoping review of biomechanical efficacy, clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and workplace safety
2017
PLOS ONE
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 12
Pages 1-23
Author(s): Lachance, C. C., Jurkowski, M. P., Dymarz, A. C., Robinovitch, S. N., Feldman, F., Laing, A. C., Mackey, D. C., Tranah, G.
Compliant flooring may be broadly defined as any floor covering or flooring system with some degree of shock absorbency. Numerous previous studies have shown that different forms of compliant flooring can reduce the severity and incidence of fall-related injuries in older adult patients.
Added February 2017
Investigation of Eligible Picture Categories for Use as Environmental Cues in Dementia-Sensitive Environments
2016
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 10
Pages 64-73
Author(s): Motzek, T., Bueter, K., Marquardt, G.
Dementia often manifests in populations of elderly people who are admitted to acute care facilities. The disorienting nature of hospital environments can exacerbate the condition of dementia, leading to challenging behavior from patients that can affect staff, other patients, and the patients themselves. Previous studies have found that personalized labels and signs, such as photographic portraits of residents themselves, are effective environmental markers in long-term healthcare facilities.
Added December 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
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
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
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
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
The design and initial evaluation of visual cues in carpets to assist walking
2016
The Journal of The Textile Institute
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 107
Pages 376-385
Author(s): McNeil, S. J., Tapp, L. S.
One way to reduce the occurrence of indoor falls for both elderly people and other individuals is to improve the design of floor coverings so that they can help create a safer walking environment. A growing number of studies are showing that the design of products such as carpets can specifically help older people lead more productive and independent lives by empowering them through safer opportunities for mobility.
Added May 2016
Adapting to Family-Centered Hospital Design: Changes in Providers’ Attitudes over a Two-Year Period
2009
Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 3
Pages 79-96
Author(s): France, D., Throop, P., Joers, B., Allen, L., Parekh, A., Rickard, D., Deshpande, J.
Although hospitals are being designed based on evidence-based design principles, it’s unclear how working in such an environment influences providers’ attitudes and professional performance.
Added January 2016
Developing the Birth Unit Design Spatial Evaluation Tool (BUDSET) in Australia: A Qualitative Study
2010
Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 3
Pages 43-57
Author(s): Foureur, M., Leap, N., Davis, D., Forbes, I., & Homer, C.
To develop a tool to assess the “optimality” of birth unit design. This is important because “Optimal birth spaces are likely to enable women to have physiologically normal labor and birth.”
Added January 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
Decreasing Spatial Disorientation in Care-Home Settings: How Psychology can Guide the Development of Dementia-Friendly Design Guidelines
2015
Dementia
Journal Article
Author(s): O’Malley, M., Innes, A., & Wiener, J. M.
People who have Alzheimer’s disease (AD) will eventually face a decline in navigation and orientation skills. Most, if not all, people with AD, will move to a care home. The dilemma for many is finding their way around a new environment.
Added January 2016
Home Modification and Prevention of Frailty Progression in Older Adults: A Japanese Prospective Cohort Study
2014
Journal of Gerontological Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 40
Pages 40-46
Author(s): Mitoku, K., Shimanouchi, S.
In a study involving 574 Japanese adults 65 years or older who required a low or moderate level of care, 34% modified their homes over the course of the study. Modification of these older adults’ homes prevented the progression of frailty (requiring higher level of care).
Added January 2016