Patient Needs and Environments for Cancer Infusion Treatment

Abstract

More than 50% of cancer patients receive chemotherapy by infusion, which is typically delivered in ambulatory healthcare settings. Influences of the built environment on inpatient care are well documented, but environmental research focusing on ambulatory healthcare is lacking. This empirical research focuses on cancer infusion environments and reveals important patient needs linking the built environment to infusion care. A survey of 166 patients and observations of 252 patients were conducted in an academic cancer center to explore patient preferences on private, semiopen, or open environments for infusion treatment and the reasons for their preferences. The observations investigated patient interactions with the environments during infusion treatment. Findings from qualitative and quantitative data analyses showed that private, semiopen, or open spaces were generally equally popular among patient participants. Needs for high-level privacy, quiet places to nap or sleep, social interaction, patient-nurse access, sunshine, and views to the outside were identified as major reasons for patient preferences. Items important to patients during treatment included patient chair tablets, guest chairs, personal televisions, nap blankets, food or beverages, window views, and sunshine. Participants with access to positive window views reported significantly lower levels of stress and greater hope for successful treatment than their counterparts (p < .05). Findings suggest that important environmental features of ambulatory healthcare settings are both similar to and different from that of inpatient environments in the way they significantly impact the quality and experience of care.

Cancer Treatment Facilities: Using Design Thinking to Examine Anxiety and the Patient Experience

“…According to Wang and Pukszta (, p. 1), “Empirical research focusing on ambulatory cancer care settings is lacking.” While top health care interior design firms, such as Perkins and Will () and Cannon Design (–2017), publish whitepapers, we found few that follow the research process and only one article on outpatient cancer care.…”

“…Both of these studies address aspects of the built environment for oncology units, and both point to the importance of patient, staff, and family control. Wang and Pukszta () found no patient preference for public, semipublic, or private treatment infusion spaces, but giving patients a choice on which they preferred increased control and reduced stress. Carmel‐Gilfilen and Portillo's () student solutions, inspired by using a design‐thinking approach (narrative inquiry) with traditional evidence‐based design strategies (e.g., interviews, observations), also advocated for patient choice through a variety of space options that optimized healing, advocacy, education, and preference.…”

“…(2017) and Cannon Design (2016)(2017), publish whitepapers, we found few that follow the research process and only one article on outpatient cancer care. Wang and Pukszta (2017) surveyed 166 individuals and observed 252 patients who were receiving chemotherapy in a cancer treatment facility to determine their preferences for private, semipublic, or public spaces and "environmental items" important when receiving infusion treatments. Relevant to this research, patients who could choose the space where they received chemotherapy felt less stress.…”

“…Design thinking is allowing health care to create services that better meet the needs and desires of end users (Brown, 2008), yet there is little research on patients' perceptions of health care built environments specifically, the things they consider to be most important to their health and well-being (Douglas & Douglas, 2005;Wang & Pukszta, 2017). The relationship between humans and their environment is symbiotic, meaning the environment influences their behaviors (Sherman-Bien et al, 2011).…”

Translating across Disciplines: On Coding Interior Architecture Theory to Advance Complex Indoor Environment Quality

“…The interior architecture knowledge base comes from a wide range of research methods and knowledge claims, such as, but not limited to, theoretical approaches [79], including envronmental psychology theory [20]; empirical approaches, such as controlled experimentation, e.g., [39], historical, e.g., [80], and social sciences, e.g., [81]; and practiced-based research by design [82].…”