Understanding the physical characteristics of the indoor environment that affect human health and wellbeing is the key requirement underpinning the beneficial design of a healthcare facility (HCF). We reviewed and summarized physical factors of the indoor environment reported to affect human health and wellbeing in HCFs. Altogether, 214 publications were selected for this review. According to the literature, there is strong scientific evidence to show that following indoor environmental factors have beneficial effects for all user groups when appropriately designed or implemented: the acoustic environment, ventilation and air conditioning systems, the thermal environment, the visual environment (e.g. lighting, and views of nature), ergonomic conditions and furniture. In contrast, the effect of special layouts and room type and floor coverings may be beneficial for one group and detrimental for another. Some of the physical factors may, in themselves, directly promote or hinder health and wellbeing, but the factors can also have numerous indirect impacts by influencing the behaviour, actions and interactions of patients, their families and the staff members. The findings of this research enable a good understanding of the different physical factors of the indoor environment on health and wellbeing and provide a practical resource for those responsible for the design and operation of the facilities as well as researchers investigating these factors. However, more studies are needed in order to inform the design of optimally beneficial indoor environments in HCFs for all user groups.
Tämä on rinnakkaistallennettu versio alkuperäisestä julkaisusta. Tämä on julkaisun final draft -versio. HUOM.! Versio voi poiketa alkuperäisestä julkaisusta sivunumeroinnin, typografian ja kuvituksen osalta. Käytä viittauksessa alkuperäistä lähdettä: Haapakangas, A., Hongisto, V., Varjo. J. & Lahtinen, M. 2018. Benefits of quiet workspaces in openplan offices -Evidence from two office relocations.Kaikki julkaisut Turun AMK:n rinnakkaistallennettujen julkaisujen kokoelmassa Theseuksessa ovat tekijänoikeussäännösten alaisia. Kokoelman tai sen osien käyttö on sallittu sähköisessä muodossa tai tulosteena vain henkilökohtaiseen, eikaupalliseen tutkimus-ja opetuskäyttöön. Muuhun käyttöön on hankittava tekijänoikeuden haltijan lupa. This is a self-archived version of the original publication. The self-archived version is a final draft of the original publication. NB. The self-archived version may differ from the original in pagination, typographical details and illustrations. To cite this, use the original publication: Haapakangas, A., Hongisto, V., Varjo. J. & Lahtinen, M. 2018. Benefits of quiet workspaces in openplan offices -Evidence from two office relocations. Benefits of quiet workspaces in open-plan offices -Evidence from two office relocations ABSTRACT:The problems of open-plan offices are widely known. However, the factors explaining these effects have received less attention. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of office distractions in the emergence of other problems, and to examine the benefits of quiet workspaces in open-plan offices. Two organizations moved from private offices to open-plan offices that differed in the number and variety of quiet rooms. Survey data was gathered once before (N=65 and 64) and once after the office relocation (N=135 and 71). Perceived distractions increased in both organizations after the relocation. However, negative effects on environmental satisfaction, perceived collaboration and stress only emerged in the open-plan office where the number of quiet rooms was low. Increased distractions mediated the effects on collaboration and stress. Quiet workspaces, and the perceived ease of access to them, are associated with environmental perceptions, perceived collaboration and employee stress in open-plan offices.
The present study suggests a shift in perspective of workplace design towards a salutogenic and user-centred approach, one that promotes users' health and well-being in buildings. Intelligent buildings should support a sense of coherence and be functional in accordance with the users' needs. This article aims firstly to identify the dimensions of a workspace quality that could promote human well-being and secondly, to create a preliminary framework for workplace development. In addition to the chemical, physical and microbiological factors of indoor air and the quality of the indoor environment, the focus of this article is on the functional, psychological and social dimensions of the workspace. A workspace that can promote human well-being supports work tasks and work processes; is ergonomic and accessible to all; respects privacy and the personal need for space; strengthens a sense of control; enhances work flow and engagement; and promotes communication and learning. Multiprofessional empirical research, piloting and feedback from different user groups are needed in order to convert theoretical knowledge into functional design solutions.
Aims: To examine the relation between the psychosocial work environment and the perceived indoor air problems measured by a questionnaire survey; and to discuss the role of a questionnaire as a means to enhance collaboration in the challenging multiprofessional process of solving indoor air problems. Methods: The research material comprises surveys conducted in 1996-99 in 122 office workplaces with 11 154 employees. Results: The association between the psychosocial work environment measured by the Indoor Air Questionnaire (MM-40) and the occupants' complaints concerning indoor air as well as symptoms attributed to indoor air was significant. Those who perceived their psychosocial work environment more negatively had more complaints regarding the indoor environment and more symptoms attributed to the indoor air. The association was detected among both genders, in every age group, among smokers and non-smokers, and respondents with an allergic or a non-allergic background. Conclusions: Results support the hypothesis that psychosocial factors in the work environment play a significant role in indoor air problems at workplaces. The survey data can be used as a reference database for future studies, and in occupational health care practice when the working conditions of individual workplaces are estimated. The MM-40 could be useful as a practical screening method in field work for analysing the role of the psychosocial work environment among the different background factors of an indoor air problem. However, in order to interpret and evaluate the significance of the results concerning a single workplace, more information on the organisation is needed, as well as cooperation and discussions with the staff. Further studies of the reliability and validity of the psychosocial questions in MM-40 are also needed.
This investigation focuses on the psychological and social dimensions of managing and solving indoor air problems. The data were collected in nine workplaces by interviews (n = 85) and questionnaires (n = 375). Indoor air problems in office environments have traditionally utilized industrial hygiene or technical expertise. However, indoor air problems at workplaces are often more complex issues to solve. Technical questions are inter-related with the dynamics of the work community, and the cooperation and interaction skills of the parties involved in the solving process are also put to the test. In the present study, the interviewees were very critical of the process of solving the indoor air problem. The responsibility for coordinating the problem-managing process was generally considered vague, as were the roles and functions of the various parties. Communication problems occurred and rumors about the indoor air problem circulated widely. Conflicts were common, complicating the process in several ways. The research focused on examining different ways of managing and resolving an indoor air problem. In addition, reference material on the causal factors of the indoor air problem was also acquired. The study supported the hypothesis that psychosocial factors play a significant role in indoor air problems.
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