Public Health Care Centre Design and Stress in Female Patients

Abstract

BackgroundBased on the results of prior studies, the purpose of the present investigation was to identify relationships between environmental and physical variables and variables of perception of institutional image as generators of stress in female patients waiting for doctor appointments in waiting rooms in a public hospital. MethodThree waiting rooms with different design features and a sample of 253 women were evaluated: the physical variables measured were: noise, lighting, air speed, environmental humidity, temperature, suspended particles in air, and social density. Valid and reliable psychometric scales were developed to measure each socioenvironmental variable: Physical Comfort: Functionality, Physical Comfort: Spatial Perception, Wayfinding, Environmental meaning, Confidence and security in medical service, Human quality of care and Stress.

Psycho-environmental processes of hospital design and their role during the COVID-19 pandemic (Procesos psicoambientales del diseño de hospitales y su implicación durante la pandemia por COVID-19)

“…However, they occur within a secondary territory, one that the user does not own and has only partial control over. To try to minimize this discrepancy between the type of behaviour and territory, patients must be allowed to customize and control the environment as much as possible (Evans, 1982;Ortega-Andeane & Estrada-Rodríguez, 2010). In short, bright rooms, which contain natural elements and are flexible regarding the type of use, allowing for customization and control, are more beneficial for patients.…”

“…Elementos que facilitan una buena orientación en los grandes complejos arquitectónicos. Fuente: adaptado de (Carpman & Grant, 2002) Especial mención merecen las salas de espera y las zonas de admisión de los entornos sanitarios pues son espacios que incrementan el estrés de las personas y por lo que deben ser centrales en el diseño del hospital (Ortega-Andeane & Estrada-Rodríguez, 2010). Suelen ser lugares silenciosos, sin distracciones y en los que las personas no interactúan, esto es, extraños.…”

“…Closely related to the institutional character is the physical aspect of the hospital, which conveys a specific image or meaning of the hospital. Sometimes this environment has negative characteristics (e.g., run-down, disorderly or functionally impoverished) that can be interpreted by users as indicators of the quality of healthcare provided (Ortega-Andeane & Estrada-Rodríguez, 2010;Ortega-Andeane et al, 2005). However, if the facility communicates that staff are concerned about the physical appearance of the facility and that its design meets the patient's needs, the patient enters the facility with a positive image of healthcare (Arnell & Devlin, 2002).…”

“…Special mention should be made of waiting rooms and admission areas in healthcare settings as these are spaces that increase stress and must, therefore, be central to hospital design (Ortega-Andeane & Estrada-Rodríguez, 2010). They are often quiet places without distractions where people do not interact; in other words, they are strange places.…”

“…En las habitaciones se emiten conductas propias de los territorios primarios (Altman, 1975; e.g., dormir), aquellos que se consideran propiedad del usuario y sobre los que se tiene un control permanente y total; sin embargo, se dan en un territorio secundario , aquel del que el usuario no es propietario y sobre el que posee un control parcial. Para tratar de minimizar al máximo esta discrepancia entre el tipo de conducta y de territorio, hay que permitir a los pacientes personalizar y controlar lo máximo posible el entorno (Evans, 1982; Ortega-Andeane & Estrada-Rodríguez, 2010).…”