Designing an adaptive salutogenic care environment

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Design approaches towards energy efficient hospitals often result in a deteriorated indoor environmental quality, adverse health and comfort outcomes, and is a public health concern. This research presents an advanced approach to the design of a hospital environment based on a stimulative paradigm of healing to achieve not only healthy but also comforting conditions. A hospital room for severely burn patient was considered as one of the most demanding spaces. The healing environment was designed as a multi-levelled, dynamic process including the characteristics of users, building and systems. The developed integral user-centred cyber-physical system (UCCPS) was tested in a test room and compared to the conventional system. The thermodynamic responses of burn patients, health care worker and visitor were simulated by using modified human body exergy models. In a healing environment, UCCPS enables optimal thermal balance, individually regulated according to the user specifics. For bur...

Design for Health, 2017

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss design of acute care settings with a focus on the evolution of design practice over the last decade. In particular, ideas around healing environments describe how design is contributing to enhanced health and wellbeing and how recent developments are helping to create better designs. The chapter covers aspects of the theoretical hypothesis explaining the relationship between people, environment and healing with a focus on three elements: how people perceive the environment, social interaction as part of healing and the influence of people's socio-cultural background. The chapter looks at evidence-informed design in the context of acute healthcare settings whilst also covering trends, challenges and opportunities in healthcare design, and how this field is developing. A case study demonstrates elements of a real project on a before and after basis. The chapter concludes with the message that design of acute care settings involves much more than simply providing a space for care services to take place.

IEEE Intelligent Systems, 2014

This doctoral thesis was presented on an open seminar on the 21st of December 2006, 9:30 a.m. in D770 auditorium within ABSTRACT . Psychosocially Supportive Design in the A built environment is psychosocially supportive, when its quality can strengthen or sustain the ability of an individual to perform his/her role, conduct him-/herself in society, and communicate or interact with others in accordance to his/her values, interest, and self-concept. The aim of this thesis was to investigate potential methods in design and re-design for identification, visualization, and evaluation of such environmental qualities. The thesis is divided into two main theoretical approaches of psychosocial supportiveness.

Intelligent Buildings International, 2013

As a result of growing evidence regarding the effects of environmental characteristics on the health and wellbeing of people in healthcare facilities (HCFs), more emphasis is being placed on, and more attention being paid to, the consequences of design choices in HCFs. Therefore, we have critically reviewed the implications of key indoor physical design parameters, in relation to their potential impact on human health and wellbeing. In addition, we discussed these findings within the context of the relevant guidelines and standards for the design of HCFs. A total of 810 abstracts, which met the inclusion criteria, were identified through a Pubmed search, and these covered journal articles, guidelines, books, reports and monographs in the studied area. Of these, 231 full publications were selected for this review. According to the literature, the most beneficial design elements were: single-bed patient rooms, safe and easily cleaned surface materials, sound-absorbing ceiling tiles, adequate and sufficient ventilation, thermal comfort, natural daylight, control over temperature and lighting, views, exposure and access to nature, and appropriate equipment, tools and furniture. The effects of some design elements, such as lighting (e.g. artificial lighting levels) and layout (e.g. decentralized versus centralized nurses' stations), on staff and patients vary, and "the best design practice" for each HCF should always be formulated in cooperation with different user groups and a multi-professional design team. The relevant guidelines and standards should also be considered in future design, construction and renovations, in order to produce more favourable physical indoor environments in HCFs. practice" will vary for different user groups. Thus, communication and collaboration across a multidisciplinary team are vital for designing beneficial HCFs. In addition, the design should always integrate functional requirements with the human needs of its various users, and respond well to both current and future needs.

2022

With advances in healthcare design settings and technology, previously established frameworks warrant to be revisited. A new framework based on the principles of holistic healing that integrates design theories and incorporates significant interior design components that help designers create healing spaces, through better understanding of user perception and preference of interior design elements is discussed. The holistic healing framework proposed is aimed at achieving satisfaction for single-occupancy room users with their hospital rooms. This framework appears to be particularly valuable in studying and understanding the physical setting and individual interactions within the environmental behaviour and how people perceive their surroundings. The onus is on designers to introduce design and décor to meet hospital room user requirements and showcase designer skills. Addressing a hospital room user's satisfaction with healthcare facilities is only possible if these requirements are clearly documented and environmental behavior theories are fully understood.

2017

1.1 Introduction 1.2 An overview of healthcare systems 1.3 Ambient assisted living and enhanced living environments 1.4 Conclusions Acknowledgements References Biographies 2 Enhanced living environments from the viewpoint of socioecological psychology Tamás Martos and Viola Sallay Abstract 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Socioecological psychology as a framework 2.3 Concept of 'human niche construction' as a universal human phenomenon 2.4 Home as a niche 2.4.1 Emotional processes in the home: lessons learnt with the Emotional Map of the Home Interview 2.5 Legacy of Self-determination theory 2.5.1 Core concepts of SDT 2.6 Putting it all together: socioecological psychological aspects of ELE 2.6.1 ELE as niche construction 2.6.2 ELE and home niches: the potential places of technology in a complex system 2.6.3 Constructing ELE solutions in home niches: the importance of psychological need support 2.7 Conclusions Acknowledgements References Further reading Biographies

Proceedings of the 2nd European Conference on Design 4 Health 2013 Sheffield, 3 - 5 July 2013, 2014

An interdisciplinary research project has evolved from a broad consideration in respect to the rising number of people with dementia, rapid growth of an ageing population, over-prescribed use of antipsychotic medication and the need for cost-effective interventions supporting dementia care. Within this context, this research aims to explore the quality of multisensory stimulation offered in homes for residents living with dementia, focusing on Multisensory Environments (MSEs) in particular, and whether design can improve such experiences and maximise therapeutic benefits. MSEs are widely used in dementia care as a meaningful leisure activity and a therapeutic intervention. However, evidence suggests that they often fail to address the specific needs of people with dementia due to inadequate design and poor facilitation. Also, little research has considered the impact of MSE design on engagement and wellbeing. Hence, this research investigates the aesthetic and functional qualities of MSEs currently provided, such as material, colour, imagery, spatial set-up, usability, and accessibility, with the aim of establishing reasons for success and failure. The research includes learning about the approach and challenges care home staff face in their daily work and exploring how they can be supported in providing improved care. Care homes have been visited to examine and record how they facilitate MSEs, applying ethnographic methods that incorporate structured interviews with care staff and managers, observations of sensory sessions and a focus group workshop with care home staff. The results of this study will inform the development of design recommendations for MSEs for people with dementia, potentially maximising the benefits for residents through improved design providing a person-centred experience. At the time of the conference the project was in its early stage and only preliminary results were available. The paper therefore focuses on the research context and discusses the process of identifying and setting the problem and research question. This research, a collaboration between researchers from design and occupational therapy, is funded by the Arts and Humanity Research Council (AHRC) and supported by Care UK.

2017

The healthcare industry is increasingly adopting integrated care systems in which building design plays a significant role in patient experiences, treatment and wellbeing. People-centred building design builds on several decades of research that demonstrate how certain environments stimulate behavioural, as well as physiological and neurological changes in people conducive to healing and general wellbeing. Importantly, these design considerations for health and wellbeing are typically well aligned with concurrent efforts to increase the sustainability of healthcare facilities. This paper explores the design of healing gardens in hospitals and how these environments can moderate stress and anxiety for patients and families during potentially traumatic periods. Whilst interest in, and the inclusion of, gardens in hospitals is increasing, there still remain few examples of rigorously researched and evaluated healing gardens that demonstrably contribute to patient experiences and well-b...

Distributed, Ambient and Pervasive Interactions, 2024

This study explores the evolving relationship between humans and healing environments, propelled by advances in spatial intelligent perception technology. From smart healthcare to home care, the medical field has witnessed substantial growth in intelligent environments. The paper envisions three future focus of human interaction on healing environments according to literature review. Then 5 user experience elements suitable for healing environment were identified: user research, functional analysis, narrative structure, experience design, and specific design, and 4 design processes were identified: observation, framework, elements, and solution. The paper proposed a design framework to articulate the interplay between user experience and design elements in the healing space. In the two design cases, we applied intelligent simulated natural light lighting systems with narrative methods, enhancing the interaction between users and the environment. Questionnaire assessments were designed and provided to verify the validity of the design framework.