Research note: Physical Activity in Pediatric Healing Gardens
2013
Landscape and Urban Planning
Journal Article
Issue October
Volume 118
Pages 53-58
Author(s): Pasha, S., Shepley, M., M.
Research has shown that frequency and duration of garden use within urban and hospital settings can be hindered through barriers such as uncomfortable seating and lack of shade. However, once barriers like these are removed, it is unknown if an increase in frequency and duration of garden use has an impact on the level of physical activity during garden visitation.
Added May 2014
The healthcare environment through the eyes of a child - Does it soothe or provoke anxiety?
2012
International Journal of Nursing Practice
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 18
Pages 7-11
Author(s): Norton-Westwood, D.
Research has shown that the hospital environment can be distressing to a child. However, introducing design features that spark a child’s imagination can help to reduce anxiety.
Added May 2014
Using external memory aids to increase room finding by older adults with dementia
2001
American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 16
Pages 251-254
Author(s): Nolan, B. A., Mathews, R. M., Harrison, M.
Memory deficits are commonly experienced by seniors with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Disorientation is a memory-related skill deficit that leads to reduced mobility and inhibits independence. Further, it is upsetting for residents when they can't find their rooms and often repeatedly ask staff to help them. Some research suggests that display cases with the residents’ personal memorabilia can help those with moderately severe dementia locate their rooms.
Added May 2014
Life Safety Code Comparison
2013
American Society for Healthcare Engineering
Journal Article
Author(s): Crowley, M. A., Harper, J. E.
Added May 2014
Multisensory Stimulation to Improve Functional Performance in Moderate to Severe Dementia—Interim Results
2010
American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 25
Pages 698–703
Author(s): Collier, L., McPherson, K., Ellis-Hill, C., Staal, J., Bucks, R.
One of the innovative interventions for dementia care is the use of multisensory environments (MSEs). It is designed to stimulate senses, providing an activity-based intervention and is argued to address imbalance in sensory stimulation by pacing sensory-stimulating activity with sensory-calming activity. This sensory pacing may assist people with dementia in coping with confusion and behavior changes that are the consequences of this progressive, debilitating illness. However, the value of MSEs for people with dementia has yet to be established. Therefore, this study aimed to explore to what extent the sensory components of MSEs influence functional performance in people with moderate to severe dementia.
Added May 2014
Physical Restraint Initiation in Nursing Homes and Subsequent Resident Health
2008
Gerontologist
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 48
Pages 442–452
Author(s): Engberg, J., Castle, N. G., McCaffrey, D.
Previous studies have shown that restraint use may be associated with mental health problems, including increased social isolation and decreased cognitive function. Social isolation negatively affects the health of elders. Facilities with restrained residents also have poor restraint-management practices. Two other well-known consequences of immobility are pressure ulcers and contractures. Pressure ulcers affect both the comfort and the medical outcomes of nursing home residents with impaired mobility.
Added May 2014
Traffic Flow in the Operating Room: An Explorative and Descriptive Study on Air Quality During Orthopedic Trauma Implant Surgery
2012
Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 40
Pages 750-755
Author(s): Andersson, A.E., Bergh, I., Karlsson, J., Eriksson, B.I. MD, Nilsson,K.
Three main strategies exist to prevent surgical site infections following surgery: 1) the patient, 2) the surgical technique, 3) the surgical environment. This study focuses on optimizing the effect of the surgical environment in preventing SSIs (surgical site infections). The authors attempt to understand that the protective potential of operating room (OR) ventilation under different conditions is crucial to optimizing the surgical environment.
Added April 2014
Suicide in Older Adults in Long-Term Care: 1990 to 2005
2008
Journal of American Geriatric Society
Journal Article
Issue 11
Volume 56
Pages 2107-11
Author(s): Briana Mezuk, Marta R. Prescott, Kenneth Tardiff, David Vlahov, Sandro Galea
Few studies have examined the intersection between suicide risk and residency in long term care settings. This study attempts to describe the characteristics associated with suicide in older persons residing in long-term care (LTC) facilities, to compare the characteristics of suicide cases in LTC with those of cases in the community, and to evaluate trends in suicide in these settings over the past 15 years.
Added April 2014
Physical Environment: The Major Determinant Towards the Creation of a Healing Environment?
2011
Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences
Journal Article
Volume 30
Pages 1951-1958
Author(s): Abbas, M. Y., Ghazali, R.,
Prior research suggests that the pediatric population’s heightened perception of the quality of the physical environment can have an impact on the creation of a healing environment.
Added April 2014
Quality Improvement Practices: Enhancing Quality of Life During Mealtimes
2001
Journal for Nurses in Staff Development
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 17
Pages 131-136
Author(s): Evans, B. C., Crogan, N. L.
Studies identified that malnutrition affects up to 54% of the 1.5 million Americans over age 65 who reside in the nation’s 20,000 nursing homes and can lead to death or chronic disability. Physical causes of malnutrition include altered sensation, medication effects, and impaired feeding ability. Psychological causes include cognitive impairment, depression, and social isolation. Mealtime is also a very important time of day for residents of nursing homes since it is a time for socialization, remembering family and past events, and enjoying the sensory experience of eating. The mealtime experience can enhance the quality of life for residents in nursing homes.
Added April 2014
Quality Physical Environment in Paediatric Wards: Designer’s Creation Versus Users’ Satisfaction
2012
Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences
Journal Article
Author(s): Ghazali, R., Abbas, M. Y.
Prior research has revealed that an optimal healing environment can enhance a child’s quality of life by supporting the healing process. However, little has been done to identify specific design features within an optimal healing environment that either impede or aid the healing process.
Added April 2014
Nurses’ Perception of Single-Occupancy Versus Multioccupancy Rooms in Acute Care Environments: An Exploratory Comparative Assessment
2006
Applied Nursing Research
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 19
Pages 118-125
Author(s): Chaudhury, H., Mahmood, A., Valente, M.
As people are living longer and the baby boomers age, the demand for hospital beds will increase. As new facilities are built to handle this influx of patients, the challenge for hospital designers and administrators is to design patient rooms that promote therapeutic goals, foster positive patient outcomes, and function as intensive care rooms. Recent research suggests that single-occupancy rooms are more suitable for infection control and patient care than multioccupancy rooms. However, no research has been done about nursing staff members’ perception of single-occupancy and multioccupancy patient rooms in acute care settings as it relates to patient care.
Added April 2014
Environmental evaluation for workplace violence in healthcare and social services
2008
Journal of Safety Research
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 39
Pages 237-50
Author(s): McPhaul, K.M. , Murrett, K., Flannery, K. , Rosen, J., Lipscomb, J., London, M.
The purpose of this project was to contribute specific, evidence–based guidance to the healthcare and social services employer communities regarding the use of environmental design to prevent violence.
Added April 2014
Noise and related events in neonatal intensive care unit
2001
Acta Paediatrical Taiwanica
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 42
Pages 212-217
Author(s): Chang, Y. J., Lin, C. H., Lin, L. H.
Noise contributes to environmental stress to premature infants, who often spend long periods of time in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Some research indicates that noise contributes to higher incidences of hearing loss, as well as cardiovascular, respirator, endocrine, and behavioral deficits. Some of the noise might be reduced by studying different aspects of NICU settings (i.e., wards, personnel, equipment, and procedures).
Added April 2014
Incidents relating to the intra-hospital transfer of critically ill patients
2004
Intensive Care Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 30
Pages 1579-1585
Author(s): Beckmann, U., Gillies, D. M., Berenholtz, S. M., Wu, A. W., Pronovost, P.
Transportation of critically ill patients between hospitals can increase complications. Intrahospital transportation poses many of the same risks. Examining these incidents could uncover ways to improve patient safety during transportation.
Added April 2014
Effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention on falls in nursing home residents
2003
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 51
Pages 306–313
Author(s): Becker, C., Kron, M., Lindemann, U., Sturm, E., Eichner, B., Walter-Jung, B., Nikolaus, T.
Older people are particularly susceptible to falls and fractures due to mobility limitations and physical instability. Falls and fractures commonly result in functional deterioration, increased medical costs, and increased burden for all involved in the care setting. Attempts to prevent falls and reduce fall and fracture incidence rates both at home and in long-term care facilities span from educational interventions to adjustments of medication intake to environmental adaptations.
Added March 2014
Music and its effect on anxiety in short waiting periods: a critical appraisal
Issue 2
Volume 14
Pages 145-155
Author(s): Cooke, M., Chaboyer, W., Hiratos, M.
The authors review research on the influence of listening to music on anxiety levels among patients having day surgery and found that, indeed, music does seem effective in reducing anxiety among day-surgery patients.
Added March 2014
Medical Gas Cylinder and Bulk Tank Storage
2012
American Society for Healthcare Engineering
Monograph
Author(s): McLaughlin, S., Dagenais, D.
There are particular requirements for storing medical gas cylinders as well as requirements for bulk tank storage in healthcare settings; these regulatory requirements exist specifically for cylinders that are not in use. In use refers to cylinders being used by a patient, or attached to equipment and ready for immediate use, or located in patient rooms about to be used. Requirements vary depending on the total amount of cubic feet of gas needing to be stored, with the most stringent regulations for more than 3,000 cubic feet of gas, less stringent requirements for 300-3,000 cubic feet of gas, and the least stringent requirements for less than 300 cubic feet of gas. These requirements are in place to reduce the risk of accident and injury.
Added March 2014
Converting Medical/Surgical Units for Safe Use by Psychiatric Patients: The Physical and Fiscal Risks
2011
American Society for Healthcare Engineering
Monograph
Author(s): Hunt, J. M., Sine, D. M.
When repurposing medical/surgical units as behavioral health units, there are a significant number of elements within the physical environment that must be modified to support the specialized needs of the patients and reduce the risk of self-harm and harm to others. While intention for self-harm cannot be reliably assessed, suicide is a major concern on psychiatric units, and therefore there is a need to design the unit as if all patients may be at risk for self-harm.
Added March 2014
Health Care Wayfinding Integrates Four Aspects to Become Carefinding
2010
American Society for Healthcare Engineering
Monograph
Author(s): Cooper, R.
Carefinding is a term that refers to an evidence-based approach to designing wayfinding systems in healthcare settings, catering to the needs of the users of those spaces, particularly patients and their caregivers. Successful wayfinding in healthcare facilities requires consideration of the user experience, the wayfinding process, the wayfinding plan, and implementation of the plan.
Added March 2014
