Lighting and perceptual cues: Effects on gait measures of older adults at high and low risk for falls
2011
BMC Geriatrics
Journal Article
Issue 49
Volume 11
Pages 1471-2318
Author(s): Figueiro, M., Plitnik, B., Rea, M., Gras, L., Rea, M. S.
The visual system plays an important role in maintaining balance while navigating the environment. Older adults often depend heavily on visual information to maintain balance and orientation due to age related changes that affect their vestibular system (contributes to balance and spatial orientation) and somatosensory system (that moderates sensations of touch, smell etc.). Even small reductions in visibility could severely impact their gait and balance and potentially result in a fall. Even in healthy older adults, gait becomes slower and step lengths become shorter under dim lighting conditions.
Added November 2012
Influence of nursing unit layout on staff communication and interaction patterns
2008
Doctoral Dissertation: Cornell University,
Thesis
Author(s): Dutta, R.
The quality and design of the built environment has acquired a very significant role in improving patient and staff satisfaction in terms of overall healthcare experience. There is evidence from health care and beyond that working in teams enhances an organization’s effectiveness, produce a better patient care both in terms of improving health delivery and staff motivation, and in superior patient outcomes. Communication among all team members of the groups is essential for the success of delivering healthcare services.
Added November 2012
Physical Work Environment: Testing an Expanded Model of Job Satisfaction in a Sample of Registered Nurses
2010
Nursing Research
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 59
Pages 441-451
Author(s): Djukic, M., Kovner, C., Budin, W. , Norman, R.
Retaining an adequate registered nurse (RN) workforce is critical for hospitals because it ensures delivery of quality patient care. The impact of personal, organizational, and economic factors on nurses’ job satisfaction has been extensively studied, however very few studies examined the effect or physical work environment, including perceptions of architectural, interior design and ambient features on job satisfaction. Rebuilding of U.S. hospitals without considering the impact of physical environment on RN job satisfaction, threatens to worse RN turnover.
Added November 2012
The sickening rug: A repeating static pattern that leads to motion-sickness like symptoms
2011
Perception
Journal Article
Author(s): Bonato, F., Bubka, A., Graveline, V.
Flooring is a prominent component of hospital design, with surprisingly little research on the subject. An issue that has not been researched is the impact of patterns on health and perception related issues. This paper undertakes a simulated exercise on the impact of viewing specific patterns on motion-sickness like symptons. Although there is some research on the impact of visual patterns on epilepsy patients, the effect on people without neurological disorders has not been explored.
Added November 2012
Outbreak of Invasive Aspergillus Infection in Surgical Patients, Associated with a Contaminated Air-Handling System
2003
Clinical Infectious Diseases
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 37
Pages 786-793
Author(s): Lutz, B. D., Jin, J., Rinaldi, M. G., Wickes, B. L., Huycke, M.
Surgical Site Infections are a prominent concern Operating Room design. In this study a specific outbreak of aspergillus infection in a hospital was investigated and linked back to the air quality conditions in the O.R. The study is significant because typically Aspergillus species are ubiquitous thermotolerant molds that rarely cause invasive infection.
Added November 2012
Enhancing a primary care environment: a case study of effects on patients and staff in a single general practice
2008
British Journal of General Practice
Journal Article
Issue 552
Volume 58
Pages 465-470
Author(s): Rice, G., Ingram, J., Mizan, J.
The stress and satisfaction of patients and staff are important healthcare outcomes. Patient satisfaction and stress strongly impacts patient health, the images of healthcare organizations, patient loyalty, patient retention and attraction, operating revenue, and profit margin. Staff stress and job satisfaction directly impacts the quality of patient care, work efficiency, and staff turnover intent.
Added November 2012
Physical Environment and Job Satisfaction in a Community Mental Health Center.
1977
Community Mental Health Journal
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 13
Pages 24-30
Author(s): Folkins, C., O’Relly, C., Roberts, K., Miller, S.
Psychological evidence suggests that behavior is affected by situational and environmental settings. The health care satisfaction with physical environment contributes to overall job satisfaction of medical staff. Physical surroundings in a community mental health center may be a mediating variable for staff morale and effectiveness. Environmental effects could have dramatic implication for a mental health professionals who constantly must make decisions about patients on the basis of subjective impressions of appearance and behavior. The study deals with staff attitudes in the outpatient clinics of a community mental health center.
Added November 2012
Do absorption and realistic distraction influence performance of component task surgical procedure?
2010
Surgical Endoscopy
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 24
Pages 902-907
Author(s): Pluyter, J. R., Buzink, S. N., Rutkowski, A. F., Jakimowicz, J. J.
Surgeons’ ability of focusing their attention on surgical tasks directly impacts their performance on surgical operations, which is an important factor influencing quality of care, work efficiency, patient satisfaction, and many other healthcare outcomes. Attention or concentration is more important for performing minimal invasive surgeries which involve complex technologies and put high physical and cognitive demands on surgeons.
Added November 2012
Developing architectural lighting designs to improve sleep in older adults
2008
The Open Sleep Journal
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 1
Pages 40-51
Author(s): Figueiro, M., Saldo, E., Rea, M., Kubarek, K., Cunningham, J., Rea, M. S.
Light affects human health and well-being by affecting our ability to see the world, perceive distances and spatial relationships as well as modulating our circadian system. The circadian system which maintains the body's 24-hour cycle is entrained by the light and dark cycles of day and night as well as an internal oscillator located in the brain and a hormone melatonin. The circadian system regulates many of the bodies activities including sleep. A majority of older adults in long term care facilities suffer from sleep problems.
Added November 2012
Single Room Maternity Care: The Nursing Response.
2001
Birth
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 28
Pages 173-179
Author(s): Janssen, P. A., Harris, S. J., Soolsma, J., Klein, M., Seymour, L. C.
Single room maternity care focused on family-centered experience, has gained popularity in recent times. However, this model necessitates new demands on nursing which requires competence across the spectrum of labor, delivery, postpartum and newborn care. In another study authors of this paper have established client satisfaction with the new model of maternity care.
Added November 2012
Direct cellular vs. indirect pager communication during orthopaedic surgical procedures: A prospective study
2009
Technology and Health Care
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 17
Pages 149-157
Author(s): Ortega, G. R., Taksali, S., Smart, R., Baumgaertner, M. R.
Staff-to-staff communication is critical to quality and efficient healthcare. Physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers all use various methods of communication in their daily work. Difficulties in staff communication often lead to interruptions and delays in patient care, variation in response time, medical errors, violation of privacy, and dissatisfaction in patient and staff.
Added October 2012
Randomized controlled trial investigating the effect of music on the virtual reality laparoscopic learning performance of novice surgeons
2008
Surgical Endoscopy
Journal Article
Issue 11
Volume 22
Pages 2416-2420
Author(s): Miskovic, D., Rosenthal, R., Zingg, U., Oertli, D., Metzger, U., Jancke, L.
The acoustic environment in operating rooms has significant impact on the performance of surgeons, anesthetists, and other staff who need high cognitive attention on the tasks they are performing. Music is often played in operating rooms during surgical procedures even though mixed results have been reported from research around music’s effects on healthcare work performance. Research from other settings showed that certain type of music might help improve human cognition.
Added October 2012
Effect of ultraviolet germicidal lights installed in office ventilation systems on workers' health and well-being: Double-blind, multiple crossover trial
2003
The Lancet
Journal Article
Issue 9398
Volume 362
Pages 1785-1790
Author(s): Menzies, D., Popa, J., Hanley, J.A., Rand, T., Milton, D. K.
Most commercial buildings in North America are mechanically ventilated with sealed exterior shells. In this type of highly automatically controlled indoor environment, microbial contamination of the HVAC system often contributes to building-related illness and symptoms in building occupants, such as outbreaks of rhinitis, humidifier fever, asthma, hypersensitivity problems, and so on. Contamination of bacteria, fungi, and protozoa has been found on various parts of HVAC systems such as air cooling units, cooling coils, and drip pans.
Added October 2012
Antimicrobial drug use and infection control practices associated with the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in European hospitals
2007
Clinical Microbiology and Infection
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 13
Pages 269-276
Author(s): MacKenzie, F. M., Bruce, J., Struelens, M. J., Goossens, H., Mollison, J., Gould, I. M.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics such as methicillin and cephalosporins. MRSA may cause serious infections to patients with open wounds, invasive devices, and weakened immune systems, which are in some cases extremely difficult to treat. In recent years, the rate of MRSA infections has been increasing globally and causing high morbidity, mortality, and healthcare cost.
Added October 2012
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
