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A View Of Sunshine Was Also Related With Shorter Hospital Stays And ...


A view of sunshine was also related with shorter hospital stays and decreases in depressive symptoms. Ulrich et al. (2004) note that both natural and artificial light show improvements in patient health, suggesting that bright light should be used in wards, particularly for combating patient depression. These researchers further highlight the cost effectiveness of using light to reduce depression, decrease patient length of stay and the intake of pain medication.
Rubin et al. (1998) found contradicting results with regards to single versus multiple bed units. Those advocating for multiple bed units highlight that there is limited research indicating a higher rate of infection in multiple bed units and by sharing a room, patients receive both emotional and social support. They also benefit in terms of cost reductions. Conversely, those in favour of single bed units highlight the distress felt by patients who are forced to share a room with people of conflicting personalities, as well as the disruption to sleep and lack of privacy experienced in a multiple bed unit.
Finally Rubin et al. (1998) found differences in flooring material and furniture arrangement as influencing patient well-being and staff work satisfaction. Carpet was found be these researchers as being the preference, over harder flooring options, for patients. Carpet was associated with a greater sense of comfort and older people reportedly felt more secure walking on carpet. Movable furniture and furniture arranged in a way so as to encourage social engagement was found to increase healthy social interaction.
Feeling lost and disorientated in a hospital is another aspect identified by environmental psychologists as not only leading to frustration, but often results in missed appointments and increased feelings of distress and anxiety. Wayfinding, which is a hospital orientation system, is set in place in many modern healthcare settings so as to decrease these instances. According to researchers (Carpman, Grant & Simmons, 1984), finding one's way around a hospital is compounded by the complexity of layout, sameness of environment and the lack of a central point. Wayfinding has been identified as a useful approach to overcoming confusion by confronting these obstacles through color-coding of wards, opting for an open design with a central feature such a lobby or atrium and reducing the number of options and obscurity of angels. This system helps orientate patients, staff and visitors to their environment and therefore decrease environmental stress and improve coping. This has a secondary affect of an increased sense of autonomy and confidence.
Ulrich et al. (2004) identify the need for patient privacy and confidentiality as impacting patient satisfaction.