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Knowledge Repository

A complete, user-friendly database of healthcare design research references MoreLess about the Knowledge Repository

The Knowledge Repository is a complete, user-friendly database of healthcare design research references that continues to grow with the latest peer-reviewed publications. Start with our Knowledge Repository for all of your searches for articles and research citations on healthcare design topics. Access full texts through the source link, read key point summaries, or watch slidecasts. Expand your search and find project briefs, interviews, and other relevant resources by visiting our Insights & Solutions page.

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 171

A review on factors related to patient comfort experience in hospitals

Author(s): Tian, Y.
Added November 2023

Background music’s impact on patients waiting in surgery and radiology clinics

Author(s): Yeoh, J. P. S., Spence, C.
The use of background music in healthcare environments has steadily increased over the last 20 years; previous research indicates it may help reduce patient anxiety and improve perceptions of the healthcare environment. The use of background music as an intervention in waiting rooms, specifically, has been unexplored.
Key Point Summary
Added April 2023

Neighbourhood environment and dementia in older people from high-, middle- and low-income countries: Results from two population-based cohort studies

Author(s): Wu, Y.-T., Brayne, C., Liu, Z., Huang, Y., Sosa, A. L., Acosta, D., Prina, M.
Added February 2023

Effects of the physical environment on children and families in hospital-based emergency departments: A systematic literature review

Author(s): Gripko, M., Joseph, A., MohammadiGorji, S.
The emergency department (ED) environment is often a very stressful place, especially for young children and their families. Previous studies show that highly stimulating environments may increase anxiety. There are many complex relationships among the physical environment and healthcare outcomes in the emergency department, and themes in this study include control, positive distractions, family and social supports, and designing for a safe and comfortable experience.
Key Point Summary
Added February 2023

Aesthetics and dementia: exploring the role of everyday aesthetics in dementia care settings

Author(s): Fleetwood-Smith, R., Tischler, V., Robson, D.
Research shows that dementia, an umbrella term for diseases that affect the brain, is characterized as a condition that causes problems with memory, cognition, and function with activities of daily living. In the United Kingdom, approximately 70% of the population identifying with a form of dementia are residing in a care home environment.
Key Point Summary
Added January 2023

Environmental transformations enhancing dignity in an acute psychiatric ward: Outcome of a user-driven service design project

Author(s): Faerden, A., Rosenqvist, C., Håkansson, M., Strøm-Gundersen, E., Stav, Å., Svartsund, J., Røssæg, T., Davik, N., Kvarstein, E., Pedersen, G., Dieset, I., Nyrud, A. Q., Weedon-Fekjær, H., Kistorp, K. M.
Research shows that the concept of dignity within psychiatric health seclusion is reflected mainly in patient care delivery rather than the environmental components of a healthcare setting. Still common are sparsely furnished rooms, white paint, and limited access to natural light or views of the outdoors.
Key Point Summary
Added December 2022

The Role of the Physical Environment in the Hospital of the 21st Century: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity

Author(s): Ulrich, R. S., Zimring, C., Quan, X., Joseph, A., Choudhary, R.
Added December 2022

Research methods used in evidence-based design: An analysis of five years of research articles from the HERD Journal

Author(s): Battisto, D., Li, X., Dong, J., Hall, L., Blouin, J.
Few studies report on the current state of research in health environment studies. Understanding common research methods can help inform future studies and identify best practices.
Key Point Summary
Added November 2022

The role of healthcare facility design on the mental health of healthcare professionals: A literature review

Author(s): Jin, H.-Y., Gold, C., Cho, J., Marzban, F., Lim, L.
Research demonstrates that burnout is prevalent in healthcare workers and has been associated with negative consequences for patients, staff, and organizations. To date, initiatives to mitigate burnout and support staff well-being do not fully utilize the built environment.
Key Point Summary
Added August 2022

Cross-cultural design and healthcare waiting rooms for indigenous people in regional Australia

Author(s): O’Rourke, T., Nash, D., Haynes, M., Burgess, M., Memmott, P.
There is a lack of research exploring how modern medical waiting areas are perceived by Indigenous populations, and how these spaces might be improved to enhance the delivery of care.
Key Point Summary
Added August 2022

The healthcare workspace: Understanding the role of decentralized nursing stations, corridors, and huddle spaces as locations for teamwork in a neonatal intensive care unit

Author(s): Fay, L., Real, K., Haynes, S.
Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) host fragile and vulnerable patients. Research studies on NICUs with a single-family room (SFR) layout demonstrate benefits to both neonates and their parents but the impact on staff remains unclear. The decentralization associated with SFRs may impair teamwork.
Key Point Summary
Added June 2022

The demand for specialization and its influence on the design of inpatient nursing units: Can standardized design be done once and for all?

Author(s): Xuan, X., Duan, X., Feng, Z.
Research shows that specialized units, such as psychiatry and intensive care, require built environments that are specific to their patient populations. Medical-surgical units within the same facility typically have similar physical layouts even though they often serve distinct patient populations.
Key Point Summary
Added April 2022

Emergency psychiatric assessment, treatment, and healing (EmPATH) unit decreases hospital admission for patients presenting with suicidal ideation in rural America

Author(s): Kim, A. K., Vakkalanka, J. P., Van Heukelom, P., Tate, J., Lee, S.
The number of patients in Emergency Departments (EDs) with mental health issues and suicide ideation has been on the rise, and studies outline the impact on outcomes such as delays in care and ED overcrowding and boarding. Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment, and Healing (EmPATH) units support increased access to mental healthcare with reduced burdens on EDs.
Key Point Summary
Added February 2022

Patient and clinician engagement with health information in the primary care waiting room: A mixed methods case study

Author(s): Penry Williams, C., Elliott, K., Gall, J., Woodward-Kron, R.
Health literacy (i.e., the ability to understand medical information) is a big part of how people make decisions about their health. The availability of health information in waiting rooms has the potential to provide education to people who may not otherwise have access.
Key Point Summary
Added February 2022

Designing palliative care facilities to better support patient and family care: A staff perspective

Author(s): McLaughlan, R., Richards, K., Lipson-Smith, R., Collins, A., Philip, J.
There are several factors that make palliative care unique, including longer lengths of stay, the number of visitors, and considerations around end-of-life care. Staff perceive that privacy, a homelike environment, and safety are important for their ability to provide comfort and support to both patients and families.
Key Point Summary
Added February 2022

A study of workspace design characteristics exemplified by nurses’ satisfaction within three intensive care units in a university hospital

Author(s): Obeidat, B., Younis, M. B., Al-Shlool, E., Alzouby, A.
Nursing job satisfaction can be influenced by the healthcare system, organizational factors, job requirements, and individual characteristics. This study focuses on nursing satisfaction within three different ICU layouts in a Jordanian healthcare facility.
Key Point Summary
Added November 2021

The continuous learning cycle: A multi-phase post-occupancy evaluation (POE) of decentralized nursing unit design

Author(s): Cai, H., Spreckelmeyer, K.
Post-occupancy evaluation (POE) is viewed as a valuable component of the healthcare design process and can be used in the evidence-based research process to make design decisions. Research is limited that documents findings of POEs to make informed decisions for future projects.
Key Point Summary
Added November 2021

Experiences of sensory overload and communication barriers by autistic adults in health care settings

Author(s): Strömberg, M., Liman, L., Bang, P., Igelström, K.
Autistic adults have an elevated risk for health problems that can be further exacerbated by stressful and inefficient healthcare experiences. The goal of this study was to identify problematic patterns of sensory and communication experiences for autistic adults. Intense, unpredictable, and uncontrollable environments present barriers to communication and contribute to overstimulation.
Key Point Summary
Added October 2021

Preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the emergency department by implementing a separate pathway for patients with respiratory conditions

Author(s): Alqahtani, F., Alanazi, M., Alassaf, W., Aleanizy, F. S., Aljahany, M., Joseph, M., AlRaye, M.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, healthcare facilities have provided services to patients with suspected or confirmed cases of this and other highly contagious respiratory illnesses. In some areas, emergency departments (EDs) have become important resources for patient populations without other ways to access medical care.
Key Point Summary
Added June 2021

Mental health outcome measures in environmental design research: A critical review

Author(s): Shin, J., Dennis, S., Mohammed, H.
While recent studies show a relationship between well-being and the built environment, few focus specifically on mental health. This study found that access to nature and other design elements of the built environment can improve positive affect (pleasurable feelings), vitality (energy or aliveness), executive functioning (memory, concentration), mood, and general well-being—while also decreasing cortisol (stress).
Key Point Summary
Added May 2021