Indoor and Outdoor Design in Healthcare Environments: The Employees’ Views in the General University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Greece

Karanikola, Paraskevi; Andrea, Veronika; Tampakis, Stilianos; Tsolakidou, Anastasia

doi:10.3390/environments7080061

Cited by 13 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Furthermore, it can be suggested that places that accommodate safely for face-to-face contact with hospital workers and patients are needed for medical and informal informal exchange. Places for interaction with others may also decrease the healthcare workers’ work pressure [ 75 ]. To support social distancing and face-to-face interaction, the occupant density of rooms, areas, and corridors might be considered [ 71 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preferences for Indoor Environmental and Social Comfort of Outpatient Staff during the COVID-19 Pandemic, an Explanatory Study

Eijkelenboom

Ortiz

Bluyssen

2021

IJERPH

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While the pressure on hospital workers keeps growing, they are generally more dissatisfied with their comfort than other occupants in hospitals or offices. To better understand the comfort of outpatient workers in hospitals, clusters for preferences and perceptions of the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and social comfort were identified in a previous study before the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This qualitative study explains the outpatient workers’ main preferences for comfort during the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured interviews and photo-elicitation were used. Contextual changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic were included. The questions in the interviews were based on the characteristics of the profiles, corresponding with the clusters. The data were analyzed with content analysis according to the steps defined by Gioia. Seventeen outpatient workers who had been part of the previous study participated. For some outpatient workers differentiation of preferences was illogical due to interrelations and equal importance of the comfort aspects. The main changes in perceptions of comfort due to the pandemic were worries about the indoor air quality and impoverished interaction. Because the occupants’ preferences for comfort can change over time, it was suggested that further development of occupant profiles needs to accommodate changes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preferences for Indoor Environmental and Social Comfort of Outpatient Staff during the COVID-19 Pandemic, an Explanatory Study

Eijkelenboom

Ortiz

Bluyssen

2021

IJERPH

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“…It is also of interest to people involved in the design of landscape architecture objects and planners who adapt the space of parks in resorts, hospital centers, to the requirements of people with various physical or mental abilities [ 35 , 43 , 44 , 45 ]. On the other hand, the lack of access to green areas, including parks, may increase the stress caused by work and everyday duties [ 46 ].…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Redefinition of Park Design Criteria as a Result of Analysis of Well-Being and Soundscape: The Case Study of the Kortowo Park (Poland)

Jaszczak

Pochodyła

Kristiánová

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Well-being and soundscape analysis should be useful in re-design works involved in the planning of recreational areas and green spaces on campuses to improve the health of students, academics, and university staff. Proper space planning, for example, in campus parks, including the planning of soundscape zones, is important in relieving study and work stress. The aim of the study was to conduct a multicriteria analysis of the soundscape and well-being of users in the university park on campus in Olsztyn (Poland). It was important to redefine thinking about the re-composition of park space, including reduction of noise and improving well-being. The research included: 1. measurements of sound pressure levels (SPL) at selected points in two periods, 2. interview with park users and preparation of a mental map, 3. experts’ opinion on soundscape and well-being, and 4. design schemes for re-design of the park. The results of research regarding the perception of the soundscape and well-being in Kortowo park by respondents differ slightly from the results of SPL measurements. The results also confirm the difference between SPL in the leafless and leafy period. The results show a clear relationship between the perception of sounds and well-being in the park. However, in some areas near the water, where higher noise levels are reported the respondents felt quite comfortable. Finally, design schemes are proposed, based on experts’ opinions and results of the analysis.

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“…Among the seven identified function settings, used had high expectations for HR, HC, and QO, indicating the awareness of health and safety associated with outdoor spaces. This pandemic promoted the role of outdoor spaces at hospitals because of the potential health benefits, such as sunshine, fresh air, and physical activity [33]. Outdoor space greenery could contribute toward a healing and restorative environment, which was proven to improve the mental and psychological health of occupants [18,19,34].…”

Section: Satisfaction Of the Functional Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, the qualities of the WR area should be improved by providing facilities and amenities, such as a rest room, water fountain, and covered seating, which allow visitors to stay outside with comfort [38]. The way-finding system should be improved for easy navigation [33], and all WR areas should be connected by a paved pathway. Second, as for the patients, the TP area should be promoted, since patients are the least satisfied with this functional setting (even if it is the most expected functional setting by patients).…”

Section: Advice To the Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

Functional Settings of Hospital Outdoor Spaces and the Perceptions from Public and Hospital Occupant during COVID-19

Adeney

Long

2021

Healthcare

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Hospital outdoor spaces play an important role for the safety and well-being of users (patients, visitors, and staff), particularly during a pandemic. However, the actual needs of these spaces are often overlooked due to the design and management process. This study investigates the perceptions of the public and occupants on the functional settings of outdoor spaces, and provides evidence for building a safe and resilient hospital during (and after) COVID-19. A multi-method approach of web content analysis (WCA) and a web-based survey was employed. Reports were collected from three mainstream websites; keywords were extracted and then categorized, pertaining to the functional settings of outdoor spaces. Three groups of occupants from Southwest Hospital (staff n = 47, patients n = 64, visitors n = 73) participated in the survey to identify their perceptions of these functional settings. Based on the 657 reports and 33 keywords selected, 7 functional settings were identified: health check (HC), quarantine and observation (QO), food and delivery (FD), healing and restoration (HR), waiting and rest (WR), transportation and parking (TP), load and unload (LU). From all users, HC (4.13) was thought to be the most expected function setting while FD (2.61) was the least. Regarding the satisfaction level, most users were satisfied with HC (3.22) while WR (2.16) was the least satisfying. The users also showed significant differences regarding expectation and satisfaction pertaining to their groups. The results indicate that the current outdoor space could not fully meet the needs of users, regarding the emerging functional setting, due to the pandemic. Users showed significant different perceptions on the functional setting due to their roles. The mismatch between the outdoor space and the users’ needs on emerging functional settings resulted in low satisfaction and high expectation in the survey. Environmental interventions with adaptive and flexible strategies should be adapted for these functional settings. The differences of users should be fully recognized by administrators, decision-makers, and designers.

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Indoor and Outdoor Design in Healthcare Environments: The Employees’ Views in the General University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Greece

Cited by 13 publications

References 31 publications

Preferences for Indoor Environmental and Social Comfort of Outpatient Staff during the COVID-19 Pandemic, an Explanatory Study

Preferences for Indoor Environmental and Social Comfort of Outpatient Staff during the COVID-19 Pandemic, an Explanatory Study

Redefinition of Park Design Criteria as a Result of Analysis of Well-Being and Soundscape: The Case Study of the Kortowo Park (Poland)

Functional Settings of Hospital Outdoor Spaces and the Perceptions from Public and Hospital Occupant during COVID-19

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