Effectiveness of installing overhead ceiling lifts: Reducing musculoskeletal injuries in an extended care hospital unit.
2002
American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Journal
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 50
Pages 120-127
Author(s): Ronald, L. A., Yassi, A., Spiegel, J., Tate, R. B., Tait, D., Mozel, M. R.
High rate of musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) among healthcare workers is well documented. Lifetime prevalence rates of back pain greater than 70 percent have been reported and higher incidence rates of MSI have been observed in healthcare workers compared to the general population and two other occupation groups. Mechanical lifting equipment has been recommended as an effective tool for decreasing the rate and severity of MSI in healthcare workers.
Added November 2014
Can flooring and underlay materials reduce hip fractures in older people?
2004
Nursing Older People
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 16
Pages 16-20
Author(s): Minns, J.
Falls resulting in fracture of the hip in older people are a major health problem worldwide. Flooring that is slippery and unsuitable footwear are other major factors contributing to the onset of fractures in the home. Building design should incorporate measures to minimize the risk of falls.
Added November 2014
An analysis of falls in the hospital: Can we do without bedrails?
1999
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 47
Pages 529-531
Author(s): Hanger, H. C., Ball, M. C., Wood, L. A.
Falls and injuries from falls are common in older patients in institutions, evoking a common response of using restraints, such as bedrails or cot sides, to further prevent harm. However, there is no compelling evidence that restraints reduce the risk of falls and/or injuries.
Added November 2014
Pilot cluster randomised controlled trial of flooring to reduce injuries from falls in wards for older people.
2013
Age and Ageing
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 42
Pages 633-640
Author(s): Drahota, A. K., Ward, D., Udell, J. E., Soilemezi, D., Ogollah, R., Higgins, B., Dean, T. P., Severs, M.
Inpatient falls are a major issue for hospitals and are associated with mortality, morbidity and financial costs. Falls are particularly prevalent in elderly care environments, where patients have more risk factors for both falls and injury. With an aging society, this is an issue of increasing concern.
Added November 2014
Sustained reduction in serious fall-related injuries in older people in hospital.
2006
The Medical journal of Australia
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 184
Pages 379-382
Author(s): Fonda, D., Cook, J., Sandler, V., Bailey, M.
Falls are the leading cause of injury in Australian hospitals, with 38 percent of all hospital incidents related to falls. In hospital settings, single interventions have not been proven successful in preventing or reducing falls, whereas multisystem or multi-strategy approaches have shown to be more effective.
Added November 2014
NICU redesign from open ward to private room: A longitudinal study of parent and staff perceptions
2013
Journal of Perinatology
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 33
Pages 466-469
Author(s): Swanson, J. R., Peters, C., Lee, B. H.
For the past 20 years, floor plans incorporating single-patient room designs have been growing in popularity, especially in the context of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The differences between private-room (PR) floor plans and open-ward (OW) floor plans have been thoroughly studied, with previous research showing how OW NICUs can limit privacy and generate other negative environmental effects for patients and family members.
Added November 2014
Linking acoustics and floor-plate shape qualities of healthcare settings
2012
Architectural Science Review
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 56
Pages 315-332
Author(s): Okcu, S., Shpuza, E., Ryherd, E., Zimring, C.
Added November 2014
Does a mobile laminar airflow screen reduce bacterial contamination in the operating room? A numerical study using computational fluid dynamics technique
2014
Patient Safety in Surgery
Journal Article
Author(s): Sadrizadeh, S., Tammelin, A., Nielsen, P. V., Holmberg, S.
Surgical-site infections (SSIs) can increase patient morbidity and mortality and extend hospitalization time. Operating room (OR) personnel are the main source of airborne bacteria; a person releases roughly 104 skin scales per minute while walking, 10% of which carry bacteria, although up to 12 times as many microorganisms may be discharged depending on the individual and situation. Bacteria in the OR might contaminate a surgical wound through contact with the air or through contaminated surgical instruments.
Added November 2014
Creating spaces in intensive care for safe communication: a video-reflexive ethnographic study
2014
BMJ Quality & Safety
Journal Article
Author(s): Hor, S.-Y., Iedema, R., Manias, E.
According to the authors, the design of the built environment is a relatively recent foray for patient safety research. They refer to different research studies that report that the physical environment of healthcare facilities affects patient safety.
Added November 2014
Hospital bathroom ergonomics: Safety, usability and accessibility issues
2014
Clinical Nursing Studies
Journal Article
Author(s): Capodaglio, E. M.
The design of a hospital bathroom is important in terms of its usability and accessibility and crucial for patient and staff safety. A bathroom’s design and layout becomes more important in a rehabilitation unit, where patient mobility is restricted for various reasons.
Added November 2014
Building design and performance: A comparative longitudinal assessment of a children's hospital
2014
Building and Environment
Journal Article
Author(s): Thiel, C. L., Needy, K. L., Ries, R., Hupp, D., Bilec, M. M.
The aesthetics and design of a medical treatment facility can influence energy consumption, staff performance, and patient recovery. Evidence-Based Design (EBD) has been cited in many studies as an effective way to improve healthcare outcomes and hospitals’ performance, but further investigation is needed. This is particularly true at a whole-building level, to reveal the relationship between building design and health, and to observe the performance of newer building designs, especially with regard to green healthcare buildings.
Added November 2014
Chemical Hazards Analysis of Resilient Flooring for Healthcare
2010
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 3
Pages 97-117
Author(s): Lent, T., Silas, J., Vallette, J.
Added September 2014
The Effect of Hospital Unit Layout on Nurse Walking Behavior
2012
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 6
Pages 66-82
Author(s): Yi, L., Seo, H.-B.
Over the course of a typical shift, nurses spend a lot of time on their feet, walking back and forth on the unit to take care of patients' needs. The long distances that nurses walk is a topic of concern in the industry. Some believe it may potentially impact the amount of time spent with patients and also because of the physical toll on nurses, day after day. Researchers are attempting to understand whether unit layout and design might be revised to reduce walking distances and create efficiencies that enhance patient care.
Added September 2014
Environmental Affordances: Designing for Family Presence and Involvement in Patient Care
2013
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 6
Pages 53-75
Author(s): Choi, Y.-S., Bosch, S. J
One of the ways that hospitals strive to provide patient-centered care is by altering the physical facility to incorporate larger visitor and family space within patient rooms. It is believed that this space increases comfort and allows family members to spend more time with and better support their loved one in the hospital, impacting patient care.
Added September 2014
The Role of Flooring as a Design Element Affecting Patient and Healthcare Worker Safety
2013
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 6
Pages 95-119
Author(s): Harris, D. D., Detke, L. A.
Added September 2014
Associations of exposure to noise with physiological and psychological outcomes among post-cardiac surgery patients in ICUs
2010
Clinics (Sao Paulo)
Journal Article
Issue 10
Volume 65
Pages 985-9
Author(s): Hsu, S. M., Ko, W. J., Liao, W. C., Huang, S. J., Chen, R. J., Li, C. Y., Hwang, S. L.
Noise can be an impediment to the sleep and recovery of a patient. An ICU has several instruments and devices that monitor a patient’s vitals as they recover from a surgery. The authors suggest that these essential ICU devices can produce substantial sounds that potentially impact a patient’s outcome.
Added September 2014
Detecting potential pathogens on hospital surfaces: An assessment of carpet tile flooring in the hospital patient environment
2010
Indoor and Built Environment
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 19
Pages 239-249
Author(s): Harris, D. D., Pacheco, A., Lindner, A. S.
Several studies demonstrate a connection between the hospital environment and hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). The bacterial pathogens more frequently associated with HAIs include Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).
Added September 2014
Functional Outcomes of Nursing Home Residents in Relation to Features of the Environment: Validity of the Professional Environmental Assessment Protocol
2012
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 13
Pages e1-7
Author(s): Slaughter, S. E., Morgan, D. G.
Research conducted in different settings shows that specialized environments designed for people with dementia may reduce the rate of functional loss. Different measures have been developed to assess the nursing home environments focused on the features of specialized dementia units. Among them, the Professional Environmental Assessment Protocol (PEAP) was developed to assess the quality of dementia care environments on nine dimensions. Assessment involves subjective evaluation of the physical and social environment on a 5-point scale for each dimension.
Added September 2014
In home or at home? How collective decision making in a new care facility enhances social interaction and wellbeing amongst older adults
2010
Ageing & Society
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 30
Pages 1393-1418
Author(s): Knight, C., Haslam, S. A., Haslam, C.
Added September 2014
Influence of pavement design parameters in safety perception in the elderly
2008
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
Journal Article
Issue 11-12
Volume 38
Pages 992-998
Author(s): Zamora, T., Alcantara, E., Artacho, M. A., Cloquell, V.
Added September 2014
