The impact of sensory stimuli on healthcare workers and outcomes in trauma rooms: A focus group study
2023
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Author(s): Bayramzadeh, S., Ahmadpour, S.
Research demonstrates that excessive sensory stimuli in healthcare settings can negatively impact patient, staff, and organizational outcomes. Because emergency department (ED) trauma areas can be especially chaotic, understanding issues related to noise, lighting, and temperature is the first step toward addressing the problem.
Added December 2023
Designing healing environments: A literature review on the benefits of healing gardens for children in healthcare facilities and the urgent need for policy implementation
2023
Land
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 12
Pages 971
Author(s): Din, S. K.-J., Russo, A., Liversedge, J.
Numerous studies have shown the benefits of nature in healthcare environments. Healing gardens have been of particular interest in healthcare design, but research on these settings tends to focus on outcomes for older adults. Healing gardens may support positive outcomes for children as well, including physical, mental, and emotional health.
Added May 2023
Utility of a “lavender lounge” to reduce stress among critical care registered nurses: A cross-sectional study
2023
American Journal of Critical Care
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 32
Pages 198-204
Author(s): Smith, S. A., Kokoczka, L., Cottrell, C
Research demonstrates potential benefits of restorative break rooms to mitigate nurse stress. Intentionally designed break rooms may benefit nurses if room use is feasible. The results of this descriptive study suggest that organizational-level policy and cultural support must accompany the provision of restorative break rooms in order for nurses to benefit from the design.
Added May 2023
Coping and caregiving: Leveraging environmental design to moderate stress among healthcare workers in the emergency department setting
2023
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 16
Pages 261-277
Author(s): Bosch, S. J., Valipoor, S., Alakshendra, A., De Portu, G., Mohammadigorji, S., Rittenbacher, D., Black, K., Calienes, E.
Research demonstrates that healthcare work is demanding and emergency departments (EDs) are known to be particularly stressful. There is a lack of information about relationships between the built environment and the behaviors clinicians use to cope with work-related stress.
Added February 2023
Environmental transformations enhancing dignity in an acute psychiatric ward: Outcome of a user-driven service design project
2023
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 16
Pages 55-72
Author(s): Faerden, A., Rosenqvist, C., Håkansson, M., Strøm-Gundersen, E., Stav, Å., Svartsund, J., Røssæg, T., Davik, N., Kvarstein, E., Pedersen, G., Dieset, I., Nyrud, A. Q., Weedon-Fekjær, H., Kistorp, K. M.
Research shows that the concept of dignity within psychiatric health seclusion is reflected mainly in patient care delivery rather than the environmental components of a healthcare setting. Still common are sparsely furnished rooms, white paint, and limited access to natural light or views of the outdoors.
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 effect of sound in the dental office: Practices and recommendations for quality assurance: A narrative review
2022
Dentistry Journal
Journal Article
Issue 12
Volume 10
Pages 228
Author(s): Antoniadou, M., Tziovara, P., Antoniadou, C.
Research shows that the dental office environment exposes individuals to a high degree of sound during care. Sound can be perceived negatively, called noise, or can be considered positive, such as music therapy. The dental office can be an environment of high anxiety for patients.
Added December 2022
Impact of the soundscape on the physical health and the perception of senior adults in senior care facilities
2023
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 16
Pages 155-173
Author(s): Mu, J., Wu, Y., Wang, T.
Research shows that conditions of the indoor environment can affect human perception, satisfaction, and health. Senior adults tend to spend more time indoors such that the soundscape of the indoor environment (acoustics), may influence their health.
Added November 2022
Noise exposure and quality of life among nurses
2022
Workplace Health & Safety
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 70
Pages 207-219
Author(s): McCullagh, M. C., Xu, J., Dickson, V. V., Tan, A., Lusk, S. L.
Research shows that the effects of high-noise environments extend beyond hearing damage. Excessive noise levels can negatively impact cardiovascular health, mental health, sleep, and lead to tinnitus. Healthcare work environments are inherently noisy due to paging systems, telephones, monitor alarms, treatment equipment, and ice machines.
Added November 2022
Strategies to evaluate the quality of hospital design with clinical data
2023
Journal of Hospital Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 18
Pages 538-543
Author(s): Mead, M., Ibrahim, A. M.
Healthcare design research engages multidisciplinary stakeholders who are often driven by competing agendas. The authors of this article discuss the challenges in evaluating hospital design, describe design features, which are often considered important to clinical care, and recommend strategies to enhance rigor into the evaluation process.
Added November 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
Patient and clinician engagement with health information in the primary care waiting room: A mixed methods case study
2019
Journal of Public Health Research
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 8
Pages 1476
Author(s): Penry Williams, C., Elliott, K., Gall, J., Woodward-Kron, R.
Health literacy (i.e., the ability to understand medical information) is a big part of how people make decisions about their health. The availability of health information in waiting rooms has the potential to provide education to people who may not otherwise have access.
Added February 2022
A study of workspace design characteristics exemplified by nurses’ satisfaction within three intensive care units in a university hospital
2022
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 15
Pages 49-62
Author(s): Obeidat, B., Younis, M. B., Al-Shlool, E., Alzouby, A.
Nursing job satisfaction can be influenced by the healthcare system, organizational factors, job requirements, and individual characteristics. This study focuses on nursing satisfaction within three different ICU layouts in a Jordanian healthcare facility.
Added November 2021
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
Patients’ experiences of place and space after a relocation to evidence-based designed forensic psychiatric hospitals
2021
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 30
Pages 1210-1220
Author(s): Olausson, S., Wijk, H., Berglund, I. J., Pihlgren, A., Danielson, E.
Literature shows that using evidence to inform decision making when designing healthcare settings can result in improved care outcomes. This research focuses on the purpose-built evidence-based design (EBD) of three forensic psychiatric hospitals.
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
Staff perspectives on the role of physical environment in long-term care facilities on dementia care in Canada and Sweden
2021
Dementia
Journal Article
Issue 7
Volume 20
Pages 2558-2572
Author(s): Lee, S. Y., Hung, L., Chaudhury, H., Morelli, A.
Physical environment design interventions are used to benefit people with dementia living in care settings, but the influences on those providing care is unknown. Care settings that support care practices for people living with dementia have both positive and negative effects on social interaction and care practice.
Added April 2021
Comparing light and noise levels before and after a NICU change of design
2021
Journal of Perinatology
Journal Article
Volume 41
Pages 2235-2243
Author(s): Aita, M., Robins, S., Charbonneau, L., Doray-Demers, P., Feeley, N.
Previous studies have found that small changes in lighting and sound can create adverse health effects in preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Many NICUs are shifting from open ward (OW) designs to single-family rooms (SFRs) and multi-bed pods, allowing for better control over lighting and sound levels while promoting familial involvement.
Added March 2021
Environmental noise in hospitals: A systematic review
2021
Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Journal Article
Issue 16
Volume 28
Pages 19629-19642
Author(s): de Lima Andrade, E., da Cunha e Silva, D. C., de Lima, E. A., de Oliveira, R. A., Zannin, P. H. T., Martins, A. C. G.
Noise in healthcare environments can aggravate patient health issues and impair the performance of healthcare professionals. The World Health Organization (WHO) has suggested that hospital sound levels should not exceed 35 decibels during the day and 40 decibels at night.
Added March 2021
