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
The energy saving potential of wide windows in hospital patient rooms, optimizing the type of glazing and lighting control strategy under different climatic conditions
2020
Energies
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 13
Pages 2116
Author(s): Cesari, S., Valdiserri, P., Coccagna, M., Mazzacane, S.
The heating and cooling of patient rooms creates extremely high energy demands, especially since these rooms typically are located around building perimeters to provide natural daylight, and therefore are most affected by the condition of the building’s envelope.
Added October 2020
Facilities for palliative care: Patterns and contrasts
Author(s): Martens, R. M. G., Lechner, S. C. M., Bruintjes, S. A. M., Roodbol, P. F., Mobach, M. P.
Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life for patients and families who face problems associated with life-threatening illnesses. Previous studies have found that facility designs which allow for patient and family privacy, overnight stays, a sense of homeliness, and space for spiritual practices can positively influence the delivery and perception of palliative care.
Added October 2020
Physical environments that support the mental health of staff and families in the NICU
2020
Journal of Perinatology
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 40
Pages 16-21
Author(s): Shepley, M. M., Sachs, N. A.
NICU staff members and patient families are potentially psychologically challenged and/or experiencing high levels of stress. Built environment design interventions that support well-being in mental and behavioral health (MBH) settings may also be applicable to NICU environments.
Added September 2020
Exploring the spatial arrangement of patient rooms for minimum nurse travel in hospital nursing units in Korea
2020
Frontiers of Architectural Research
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 9
Pages 711-725
Author(s): Lee, J., Lee, H., Shepley, M. M.
Studies have shown that when nurses have to walk long distances, time at the patient bedside is reduced and nursing fatigue and stress increase. The arrangement of patient rooms within a nursing unit can impact nurse well-being and optimize patient care.
Added September 2020
Designing for efficiency: Examining the impact of centralized and decentralized nurse stations on interdisciplinary care processes
2020
JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 50
Pages 335–342
Author(s): Fay, L., Santiago, J. E., Real, K., Isaacs, K.
Between 1980 and 2008, adult inpatient units increased in size by 118%. Size increases on this scale may negatively impact operational efficiency, waste reduction efforts, and workplace safety.
Added June 2020
Safe and supportive neurorehabilitation environments: Results of a structured observation of physical features across two rehabilitation facilities
2020
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 13
Pages 115-127
Author(s): Colley, J., Zeeman, H.
Neurorehabilitation inpatient facilities need to carefully manage occupational safety and risk management while also encouraging positive patient experiences. More information is needed on how inpatient neurorehabilitation facilities can most effectively support people recovering from spinal cord or acquired brain injuries, i.e., how they can be both safe and supportive for patients.
Added April 2020
Air Care: an ‘aerography’ of breath, buildings and bugs in the cystic fibrosis clinic
2020
Sociology of Health and Illness
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 42
Pages 972-986
Author(s): Brown, N., Buse, C., Lewis, A., Martin, D., Nettleton, S.
Research in medical humanities works on hospital architecture demonstrates the historical significance of spatial design for airflow and air exchange from the pre-antibiotic period until the present. The spatial and atmospheric design of hospitals is conceived while paying attention to the prevention of the spread of airborne infections, e.g., cystic fibrosis (CF).
Added April 2020
Characterizing the acoustic environment in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
2020
Applied Acoustics
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 165
Pages 107301
Author(s): Hernández-Molina, R., Beira Jiménez, J. L., Rodriguez-Montaño, V., Zacarías, F. F., Bienvenido-Huertas, D., Lubián López, S., Cueto-Ancela, J. L.
Previous research shows that the acoustic environment of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) plays a significant role in the development of neonates; however, there is a lack of research exploring the different types and impacts of specific noise sources. The results of this study affirm that equipment alarms profoundly influence NICU noise levels, while staff conversations, telephone use, and equipment movement also contribute.
Added March 2020
Healing spaces: Exploring therapeutic concept for breast cancer clinic
Author(s): Sarjani, M., Saragih, J. F. B., Soebiyan, V.
Research demonstrates that due to the prevalence of depressive symptoms among cancer patients, healthcare facilities (here, breast cancer clinics) can benefit from the application of healing environmental features to reduce patient stress and anxiety.
Added March 2020
Application of different circadian lighting metrics in a health residence
2020
Journal of Daylighting
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 7
Pages 13-24
Author(s): Busatto, N., Mora, T. D., Peron, F., Romagnoni, P.
Previous studies have established that indoor illuminance must reach certain levels for proper visual performance, and should also work to enhance spatial perception, security, and well-being. Insufficient indoor lighting can adversely influence patient health outcomes, particularly patient circadian rhythms. The circadian rhythms of elderly patient populations may be especially sensitive to illuminance levels.
Added March 2020
An assessment of a hybrid lighting system that employs ultraviolet-A for mitigating healthcare-associated infections in a newborn intensive care unit
2020
Lighting Research & Technology
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 52
Pages 704-721
Author(s): Brons, J. A., Bierman, A., White, R., Benner, K., Deng, L., Rea, M. S.
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) affect approximately one in 25 patients in the US. One study found that an average of fewer than 50% of patient room surfaces are properly cleaned, making infection spread more easily. This study explores the use of a no-touch decontamination method that employs hybrid lighting technology with both white light and UV-A optical radiation.
Added February 2020
Particle control reduces fine and ultrafine particles greater than HEPA filtration in live operating rooms and kills biologic warfare surrogate
2020
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Author(s): Ereth, M. H., Hess, D. H., Driscoll, A., Hernandez, M., Stamatatos, F.
Modern buildings tend to feature more insulation and tighter building envelopes, which can increase concentrations of indoor pathogens, particles, and pollutants. This can lead to higher rates of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), making the control of indoor air quality critically important.
Added January 2020
Use of an automated hand hygiene compliance system by emergency room nurses and technicians is associated with decreased employee absenteeism
2020
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 48
Pages 575-577
Author(s): Strauch, J., Braun, T. M., Short, H.
The relationship between hand hygiene intervention and absenteeism has been studied in other contexts besides healthcare. Researchers examined how improving hand hygiene practices among emergency room (ER) nurses and technicians affected their absenteeism and overtime hours worked by substitute staff.
Added December 2019
