Application of Space Syntax Theory in the Study of Medical-Surgical Nursing Units in Urban Hospitals

Trzpuc, Stefnee J.; Martin, Caren S.

doi:10.1177/193758671000400104

Cited by 41 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…However, at Hospital S, the solid partition between the NS and doctors' office prevents nurses from locating doctors; therefore, nurses must go to doctors' office to communicate with doctors, which could increase nurses' walking distance and decrease communication efficiency. The presence and locations of space boundaries, such as walls and partitions, impact the degree of visibility (Johanes & Atmodiwirjo, 2015), which is an important factor that influences communication between nurses and doctors (Becker, 2007;Trzpuc & Martin, 2010).…”

Section: Visibility On Communicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Nursing Unit Design on Visibility and Proximity and Its Influences on Communication, Privacy, and Efficiency

Xuan

Chen

2019

HERD

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Objectives: This study examines the role of visibility and proximity on nurse communication patterns, perception of privacy, and efficiency in double-corridor nursing units. Background: Nurses are extremely important for the quality of healthcare. The literature suggests that visibility and proximity have a substantial impact on the delivery of care and staff experience. However, few studies have empirically examined nursing units in China. Method: Questionnaire surveys, observations, and simulations of medication administration tasks were employed. Results: Visibility and proximity influenced communication patterns, perceptions of privacy, and efficiency. The type of wall in the medication room could impact nurses’ perception of privacy and efficiency. A partial glass wall in the medication room could achieve balance between privacy and visibility. A medication room that is adjacent to and is easily accessed from the nurse station (NS) could provide efficient communication and efficient work. The partition type between the NS and the doctor’s office and the layout of the medication room could impact communication patterns. The relative position of the NS, medication room, and disposal room could influence the flow of medication administration tasks, and a geographically contiguous spatial layout could enhance work efficiency. Conclusions: The findings contribute to the body of knowledge on the impact of visibility and proximity on nurses’ communication patterns, perception of privacy, and efficiency. Recommendations to improve the design of double-corridor nursing units are also provided.

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Section: Visibility On Communicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Nursing Unit Design on Visibility and Proximity and Its Influences on Communication, Privacy, and Efficiency

Xuan

Chen

2019

HERD

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“…As a result, the findings of these studies in dealing with the relationships between the network of spaces, on the one hand, and psychological responses and behavior, on the other, are less context-dependent and more generalizable [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12]. Several space syntax studies to date, including the ones reported here, show strong relationships between spatial network measures and environmental behavior and psychology.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a different kind of study, Trzpuc and Martin [10] used data from semi-structured interviews with end users and the more generic measures of centrality of space syntax to test several hypotheses on the potential functional benefits of visibility and accessibility in three medical-surgical units. They found that nurses’ perception of the potential functional benefits of visibility and accessibility did not match the potential benefits of these units identified using their network centrality values.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Network of Spaces and Interaction-Related Behaviors in Adult Intensive Care Units

Rashid

Boyle

Crosser

2014

Behavioral Sciences

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Using three spatial network measures of “space syntax”, this correlational study describes four interaction-related behaviors among three groups of users in relation to visibility and accessibility of spaces in four adult intensive care units (ICUs) of different size, geometry, and specialty. Systematic field observations of interaction-related behaviors show significant differences in spatial distribution of interaction-related behaviors in the ICUs. Despite differences in unit characteristics and interaction-related behaviors, the study finds that when nurses and physicians “interact while sitting” they prefer spaces that help maintain a high level of environmental awareness; that when nurses “walk” and “interact while walking” they avoid spaces with better global access and visibility; and that everyone in ICUs “walk” more in spaces with higher control over neighboring spaces. It is argued that such consistent behavioral patterns occur due to the structural similarities of spatial networks over and above the more general functional similarities of ICUs.

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“…At a unit level participants' preference for greater privacy was for units with low integration and high control values; and within any unit, at a bed location level participants' preference for privacy was in lower integration and lower control locations. Finally, Trzpuc & Martin (2010) conducted semi-structured interviews of staff members to test several hypotheses developed based on the centrality of spaces measured using space syntax techniques in three medical-surgical units with different layouts. They found that nurses' perception of the potential functional benefits of visibility and accessibility in the units did not match the potential benefits of these units predicted based on their centrality values.…”

Section: Studies Involving Psychology and Unit Layout Featuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research on nursing unit layouts: an integrative review

Rashid

2015

Facilities

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STRUCTURED ABSTRACTPurpose: To present an integrative review of the research studies on nursing unit layouts.Methodology: Studies selected for review were published between 1956 and 2014. For the purpose of this review, a framework for integrative review was developed using research orientations. The three primary dimensions-technical, psychological, and social-of the designed environment and various combinations of these dimensions were used to define the research orientations of these studies.Findings: Of all the publications reviewed for the paper, 21 presented technical orientations, 16 psychological orientations, 3 social orientations, 20 psychotechnical orientations, 10 sociotechnical orientations, 2 psychosocial orientations, and 13 presented psychosociotechnical orientations. With only a few exceptions, several issues related to nursing unit layouts were investigated no more than one time in any one category of research orientations. Several other seemingly important issues including patient and family behavior and perception, health outcomes, and social and psychosocial factors in relation to unit layouts have not been studied adequately.Research implications: Future studies on nursing unit layouts will need to focus on patient and family behavior and perception, health outcomes, and social and psychosocial factors in different units. They will also need to focus on developing theories concerning the effects of layouts on the technical, psychological, and social dimensions of nursing units.Originality/value: Despite a long history of research on nursing unit layouts, an integrative review of these studies is still missing in the literature. This review fills in the gap using a novel framework developed based on research orientations.

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Application of Space Syntax Theory in the Study of Medical-Surgical Nursing Units in Urban Hospitals

Cited by 41 publications

References 34 publications

Impacts of Nursing Unit Design on Visibility and Proximity and Its Influences on Communication, Privacy, and Efficiency

Impacts of Nursing Unit Design on Visibility and Proximity and Its Influences on Communication, Privacy, and Efficiency

Network of Spaces and Interaction-Related Behaviors in Adult Intensive Care Units

Research on nursing unit layouts: an integrative review

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