Evidence-Based Design in the Hospital Environment: A Staff’s Burnout Study in the COVID-19 Era

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the evidence-based design of the hospital physical space effect on the burnout of nurses and physicians during COVID-19. The research question was to identify the connection between daylight, nature-view windows, and hospital staff burnout during Covid-19. Background: The evidence-based design in the hospital environment affects the health of the medical staff. The promotion of the hospital environment has a significant effect on healthcare system improvement. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 406 nurses and physician’s burnout in Guilan province in 2020. Three questionnaires were used: demographic, physical space of the hospital, daylight, nature-view windows, and Maslach Burnout Inventory. Logistic regression (LR) analysis was used to determine the association between burnout and the hospital environment. The significance level was considered with p < .05. Results: The results showed statistically significant correlations between patient units and the environmental characteristics of the hospitals with staff’s burnout ( p < .001). Of note, 62.9% of physicians and 71.9% of nurses had moderate work-related burnout. The highest burnout score was seen among staffs of emergency departments adjusted multivariate LR model revealed that 27.1% of work-related burnout in nurses and physicians was predictable with age, light, marital status, and hospitals. Our results showed that accessing more daylight could reduce burnout ( p = .018, odds ratio [ OR] = 0.910). Conclusion: Based on the result, the daylight impact on burnout reduction is more significant than other factors. It is suggested that adequate lighting, proper environmental design, and nature-view windows could create appropriate space for enhancing medical staff satisfaction and reducing burnout.

From Stressful to Mindful: Reactions to a Proposed Emergency Department Design for Enhancing Mindfulness and Stress Reduction Among Healthcare Clinical Staff

“…This is an essential factor to consider, especially in designing EDs where patients are not supposed to stay for more than a day. Instead, what is gained is boosted energy and stress relief (Golvani et al, 2021), improved sleep quality leading to increased alertness and productivity (Hittle & Wong, 2022; Zadeh et al, 2014), and burnout reduction among staff (Ziabari et al, 2023), leading to quality care for patients. Simulated daylight and natural views might be used for similar positive impacts where the actual interventions, such as windows, skylights, or outdoor patios, are impossible to be implemented (Engwall et al, 2015; Pati et al, 2016).…”

Happiness in the urban built environment, people, and places

“…Also, the quality of the neighborhood which provides a good reputation, sense of belonging, and identity will help in citizens' encouragement and empowerment to want to be more social and increase happiness (S03, S04, S07, S09, S12, S13). Societies are affected by the sense of belonging both to their environment and social connections which could be considered by different stakeholders in city development [30][31][32]. Providing an environment that could strengthen the sense of belonging and the identity of people will lead to encouraging social activity and social inclusivity.…”

Caring for Caregivers: Access to Nature for Healthcare Staff

“…More recently, a study on caregivers during COVID-19 found that greater amounts of daylight could reduce burnout (Ziabari et al, 2023). An opinion paper by Iqbal and Abubakar (2022) makes a strong case for provision of hospital outdoor spaces as respite areas for care providers.…”