Lost in Translation: Bridging Gaps between Design and Evidence-Based Design

Abstract

The healthcare design community is adopting evidence-based design (EBD) at a startling rate. However, the role of research within an architectural practice is unclear. Reasons for the lack of clarity include multiple connotations of EBD, the tension between a research-driven market and market-driven research, and the competing expectations and standards of design practitioners and researchers. Research as part of EBD should be integral with the design process so that research directly contributes to building projects. Characteristics of a comprehensive programming methodology to close the gap between design and EBD are suggested.

Users' views of hospital environmental quality: Validation of the Perceived Hospital Environment Quality Indicators (PHEQIs)

“…Therefore, we believe that the process of monitoring the reactions of users toward different design solutions might be facilitated by the availability of a practical and relevant self-report measure on hospital environmental quality perception. The implementation of research-based solutions should be complemented by the assessment of the perceptions of the users of the targeted hospital care unit (e.g., Watkins & Keller, 2008).…”

Kids’ Perceptions toward Children’s Ward Healing Environments: A Case Study of Taiwan University Children’s Hospital

“…Evidence-based design is a theoretical concept applied for creating healing environments [ 8 , 9 ]. In healing processes, actual environments are related to the well-being of patients, their family members, and healthcare staff [ 8 , 13 ]; however, the perspectives of these people regarding healthcare design are often neglected during decision-making [ 9 ]. A study reported that nursing staff members' self-care was negatively correlated with their compassion fatigue and burnout [ 44 ].…”

“…The designs of numerous hospitals have been based on experts' perspectives and have prioritized cost efficiency and clinical functionality; specifically, only the perspectives of management staff, architects, and policymakers have been considered in such designs [ 46 ]. Therefore, evidence-based healthcare design should consider hospital users' perception of a care unit [ 9 ].…”

“…An evidence-based healthcare design should be based on the evaluation of the perceptions of hospital care unit users [ 9 ]; this design strategy was used in the current study, and the results are as follows: This study proposed qualitative and quantitative analyses and systematically summarized essential factors for designing and evaluating a healing environment in a children's hospital. Questionnaires about the design of a healing environment in a children's hospital were collected and analyzed, and related elements are summarized in this paper ( Table 2 and Supplementary Material E).…”

“…In contrast to medical treatment, healing is a psychological concept of health [ 7 ]. Evidence-based design has become a theoretical concept in the creation of healing environments [ 8 , 9 ]; healthcare providers prefer using evidence-based information to make decisions. Children and adolescents are often neglected in fields such as architectural and urban planning, although they are typically more sensitive to environments compared with adults [ 10 ].…”