Predesign and Post-occupancy Analysis of Staff Behavior in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
2002
Children’s Health Care
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 31
Pages 237-253
Author(s): Shepley, M.M.
Advances in technology have resulted in an increase in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) population; allowing care for newborn babies who might have died in the absence of advanced medical care. The design of NICUs has therefore become an important concern in healthcare, and an ongoing debate is the merit of open bays over closed bays. s. Changes in design have a direct impact on staff experience, and potentially staff behavior, which in turn can impact patient care.
Added October 2012
Impact of Environmental Factors on Efficacy of Upper-Room Air Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation for Inactivating Airborne Mycobacteria
2005
Environmental ScienceTechnology
Journal Article
Issue 24
Volume 39
Pages 9656-9664
Author(s): Xu, P., Kujundzic, E., Peccia, J., Schafer, M., Moss, G., Hernandez, M., Miller, S.
Hospitals are high exposure environments where transmission of infectious diseases is a large concern. To prevent this Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) systems are used as an engineering control. A common application is upper-room irradiation for which germicidal lamps are suspended from ceilings/ attached to walls, while the bottom of the lamps are shielded to direct radiation. The principle is to maximize UV radiation exposure to airborne microorganisms in the upper part of the room while minimizing radiation exposure to patients in the lower part.
Added October 2012
Effects of different interior decorations in the seclusion area of a psychiatric acute ward
2005
Nordic Journal of Psychiatry
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 59
Pages 19-24
Author(s): Vaaler, A.E., Morken, G., Linaker, O.M.
Seclusion, or containment of a patient in an enclosed area, is a common practice in psychiatric acute wards. Traditionally such areas have been used for the dual purpose of meeting the safety and containment needs of behaviorally disturbed patients, and obtaining a decrease in sensory and emotional input (based on the belief that external stimuli would cause patients to suffer excessive mental anxiety). The design and furnishings of the seclusion area are influenced by this need to reduce external stimuli and maintain safety. They are typically sparsely furnished minimizing risk of any physical harm.
Added October 2012
Cost effectiveness of a medical vigilance system to reduce patient falls
2007
Nursing Economic$
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 25
Pages 333-338, 352
Author(s): Spetz, J., Jacobs, J., Hatler, C.
Patient falls refer to patients’ unplanned descent to the floor with or without injuries to the patients. Patient falls are a leading cause of injuries and death and contribute to healthcare cost increase. The prevention of patient falls is especially important in certain patients and settings such as post-neurosurgery units where patients are often confused. A variety of fall-prevention programs have been implemented by many hospitals. Some of such programs include environmental modifications in addition to educational and operation al changes.
Added October 2012
Designed sound and music environment in postanaesthesia care units—–a multicentre study of patients and staff
2005
Intensive and Critical Care Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 21
Pages 220-225
Author(s): Thorgaard, P., Ertmann, E., Hansen, V., Noerregaard, A., Spanggard, L.
Music is arguably the non-pharmocological intervention with the most evidence to support it. It has been succesfully used to ease patient pain perception, anxiety and distress for many pre and post procedure settings. However, a majority of the studies implement music intervention at one on one level (providing patients with headphones etc to listen to music). Little research has investigated the design significance of improving the sound environment through music.
Added October 2012
Does the type of flooring affect the risk of hip fracture?
2004
Age and Ageing
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 33
Pages 242-246
Author(s): Simpson, A. H. R. W. , Lamb, S. , Roberts, P. J. , Gardner, T.N. , Grimley, E.J.
Hip fractures are a serious consequence of falls, especially for aging populations. Number of hip fractures occuring worldwide is estimated to reach 6.3 million worldwide, by the year 2050. Conventionally the issue of fractures has been looked at in terms of intrinsic factors related to the patient. Extrinsic factors that could affect the impact, such as the floor (or surface of the impact) have not been investigated in great details. This UK based study seeks to fill this gap in the research.
Added October 2012
Effects of waiting on the satisfaction with the service: Beyond objective time measures
1998
International Journal of Research in Marketing
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 15
Pages 321-334
Author(s): Pruyn, A., Smidts, A.
Wait times are a persistent concern in healthcare today. It is a concern that healthcare shares with other service industries. To counter this waiting areas provide numerous distractions- TVs, magazines, vending machines, computer kiosks etc. The efficacy of these distractions is beginning to be studied in greater detail today.
Added October 2012
The impact of ward design on the behaviour, occupational satisfaction and well-being of psychiatric nurses
2002
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 11
Pages 94–102
Author(s): Tyson, G. A. , Lambert, G., Beattie, L.
Studies have shown that modifications to the physical environment of psychiatric institutions are associated with positive changes in patient behavior, attitudes and perceptions, but less attention has been paid to the impact of these changes on the nursing staff.
Added October 2012
Patient satisfaction in an acute medicine department in Morocco
2010
BMC Health Services Research
Journal Article
Issue 149
Volume 10
Pages 1-12
Author(s): Soufi, G., Belayachi, J., Himmich, S., Ahid, S., Soufi, M., Zekraoui, A., Abouqal, R.
Patients' satisfaction is an important indicator for quality of care. Measuring healthcare quality and improving patient satisfaction have become increasingly prevalent, especially among healthcare providers and purchasers of healthcare. This is mainly due to the fact that consumers are becoming increasingly more knowledgeable about healthcare. This Open Source study focuses on inpatient satisfaction with hospital care in an Arabic culture in Morocco.
Added October 2012
Single Room Maternity Care and Client Satisfaction
2000
Birth
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 27
Pages 235-243
Author(s): Janssen, P.A., Klein, M.C., Harris, S.J., Soolsma, J., Seymour, L.C.
Maternity care has evolved from the traditional practice of admitting women to labor rooms, moving them to delivery rooms, and then transferring them to postpartum wards, to a family-centered model where intrapartum and post partum care is provided in a single room, under the care of one nurse. The traditional model was directed at economy for the institution, however, for the mother, this could result in feelings of disorientation, anxiety, lack of space, and repeated adjustment to new caregivers.
Added October 2012
Evaluation of the built environment at a Children's Convalescent Hospital: Development of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (TM) parent and staff satisfaction measures for pediatric health care facilities
2004
Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 25
Pages 10-20
Author(s): Varni J. W., Burwinkle T. M., Dickinson P., Sherman S. A., Dixon P., Ervice J. A., Leyden P. A., Sadler B. L.
The expectation that the hospital built environment may affect the health and satisfaction of patients and their families continues to interest health care providers and hospital administrators as they differentiate and distinguish the quality and health outcomes of their services. In preparation for the design, construction, and postoccupancy evaluation of a new Children’s Convalescent Hospital, focus groups were conducted and measurement instruments were developed to quantify and characterize parent and staff satisfaction with the built environment of an existing pediatric health care facility, a 30-year-old, 59-bed, long-term, skilled nursing facility dedicated to the care of medically fragile children with complex chronic conditions. The measurement instruments were designed in close collaboration with parents, staff, and senior management involved with the existing and planned facility.
Added October 2012
Does flooring type affect risk of injury in older in-patients?
1994
Nursing Times
Journal Article
Issue 27
Volume 90
Pages 40-41
Author(s): Healey, F.
Falls and injury are of great concern in healthcare institutions, even more so in wards which are likely to have older patients who are at higher fall risk. While falls can be prevented by careful treatment of intrinsic factors (to do with the patients' own health), extrinsic factors in the environment, that could increase the likelihood of falls such as poor lighting, clutter etc. must also be concerned. Of particular relevance is the issue of flooring which is a large investment for the hospital and sets the stage for patients and staff to move upon.
Added October 2012
The effect of bedrails on falls and injury: a systematic review of clinical studies
2008
Age and Ageing
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 37
Pages 368-378
Author(s): Healey, F., Oliver, D. , Milne, A., Connelly, J.B.
Falls and injury are a significant concern in healthcare and are linked to the never events. Around 1/4th of the falls in healthcare settings are from the bed. However, the literature on the role of bedrails in fall prevention is controversial and the prevailing opinion is that bedrails can be harmful and ineffective.
Added October 2012
Lumbar spine forces during manoeuvring of ceiling-based and floor-based patient transfer devices
2009
Ergonomics
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 52
Pages 384-397
Author(s): Marras, W.S., Knapik, G.G., Ferguson, S.
Patient handling is an important concern in healthcare facilities linked to patient falls, as well as staff injury. It continues to represent a high risk for low back pain among caregivers. Research shows that manual transfer of patients can impose unacceptable loads on the spine (even when the task is shared by two caregivers). Due to this, patient lift devices have gained popularity and are frequently used. However the merits and demerits between the different systems continues to be explored.
Added October 2012
Natural Ventilation for the Prevention of Airborne Contagion
2007
PlOS Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 4
Pages e68
Author(s): Escombe, R.R., Oeser, C.I., Gilman, R.H., Navincopa, M., Martinez, C., Chacaltana, J., Rodriguez, R., Moore, D.J., Friedland, J.S., Evans, C.A.
Controlling the break of nosocomial infections is arguably the highest priority in hospitals. Institutional transmission of airborne infections, such as Tubercolosis (TB) are, additionally, a public health concern. This is particularly true for developing countries, or other resource-limited settings where protective measures such as negative-pressure isolation rooms, which have become the norm in more modern settings, are difficult to implement. The global statistics on TB are staggering at 1.8 million dealths a year.
Added October 2012
Distraction therapy with nature sights and sounds reduces pain during flexible bronchoscopy: A complementary approach to routine analgesia
2003
Chest
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 123
Pages 941-948
Author(s): Diette, G.B., Lechtzin, N, Haponik, E, Devrotes, A, Rubin, H
The demand for better healthcare includes the demand for proper treatment of pain. Joint commission standards for maintaining accreditation also apply to chronic medical conditions and the management of pain. Non-pharmacological methods of managing pain have gained popularity because patients can continue to experience pain despite the use of premedication analgesics and sedatives. Besides there are often side-effects associated with any use of medication. This is of particular concern for invasive procedures such as Flexible Bronchoscopy (FB) that can be frightening and painful for patients.
Added October 2012
Impact of visual art in patient waiting rooms: survey of patients attending a transplant clinic in Dumfries
2010
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine Short Reports
Journal Article
Issue 52
Volume 1
Pages 1-5
Author(s): Cusack, P, Lankston, L., Isles, C.
Waiting is a core component of the healthcare experience which can induce stress and anxiety in patients and their caregivers. In a Quality Improvement Survey conducted across nine adult renal units the clinic waiting area at Cumfried received the highest score. This study evaluates which aspects of the waiting area were important to the patients and could have impacted their satisfaction scores.
Added October 2012
Handwashing patterns in two dermatology clinics
2002
Dermatology
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 205
Pages 358-361
Author(s): Cohen, H.A., Kitai, E., Levy, I., Ben-Amitai, D.
Handwashing has been identified as one of the most critical elements of controlling risk of hopital acquired infections. Healthcare workers hands can be a source of nosocomial infections. Adherance to hand hygience protocols is important to prevent the spread of health care-associated infections.
Added October 2012
Impact of Visual Art on Patient Behavior in the Emergency Department Waiting Room
2012
The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 43
Pages 172–181
Author(s): Nanda, U., Chanaud, C, , Nelson, M., Zhu, X., Bajema, R., Jansen, B. H.
Wait times have been reported to be one of the most important concerns for people visiting emergency departments (EDs). Additionally, distrust between the patients and staff of the hospital, patients’ consistent focus on their status, and an uncertainty about the waiting time have been identified as contributors to patient anxiety, fear, confusion, and annoyance. Affective states significantly impact perception of wait time and may be impacted by environmental interventions, such as art depicting nature that has been shown to reduce stress levels and anxiety.
Added October 2012
Decreasing Airborne Contamination Levels in High-Risk Hospital Areas Using a Novel Mobile Air-Treatment Unit
2007
Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
Journal Article
Volume 28
Pages 1181-1186
Author(s): Bergeron, V., Reboux, G., Poirot, J.L., Laudinet, B.S.
To evaluate the performance of a new mobile air-treatment unit that uses nonthermal-plasma reactors for lowering the airborne bioburden in critical hospital environments and reducing the risk of nosocomial infection due to opportunistic airborne pathogens, such as Aspergillus fumigatus. Tests were conducted in 2 different high-risk hospital areas: an operating room under simulated conditions and...
Added October 2012
