Original citation:

Payne, Sarah R., MacKrill, J., Cain, Rebecca, Strelitz, J. and Gate, L. (2013)
Perspectives for designing a new healthcare environment ; what person-environment
factors do future users think are important? In: 10th Biennial Conference on
Environmental Psychology, Magdeburg, Germany, 22-25 Sep 2013
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An EPSRC funded Research Programme

Perspectives for designing a new healthcare environment;

what person-environment factors do future users think are important?

Wellbeing Centre

Research Questions

= A centre for wider life-style related issues

1) What environmental features do end

users consider important for a
positive experience of a healthcare
environment before it is built?
2) How comparable is this to existing
experimental research?

This new centre intends to:

offer psychological support
support behaviour change
provide basic health checks
signpost to other services
provide individual consultations
offer computer self assessments

Method
53 Royal Free
Trust members
3 focus groups,
3 tasks:
1) Multiple choice questions

Results

2) Defining important design

features and attributes

3) Designing the layout in 2 dimensional (left)

and 3 dimensional moveable models (right)

Six themes emerged from triangulated data (blue boxes). Mixed evidence of identified environmental features
as important in peoples experiences of healthcare (green boxes). End users considered service more important.

Atmosphere
+ Homely/Modern atmosphere
+ Informal and comfortable
+ Natural elements present
+ Maximise natural lighting

Homely
Modern

Vuong KA., et al. (2011)

Healthcare Systems Ergonomics
and Patient Safety Proceedings.
Leather P., et al. (2003)
Environment and Behavior, 35(6),
842-869.

Nature

Macnaughton J., et al. (2007)

Designing for health.

= Mixed for relaxing or

stressful experience
- Unclear purpose

Initial points of contact

User 3D model

+ Visible reception, close to entrance

+ Visible, clear queuing system
+ Easy access for all
- Avoid intimidating desks

Ulrich, RS. (1984) Science, 224(4647), 420-421.

Cooper Marcus, C. & Barnes, M. (1995) Gardens
in Healthcare Facilities.
Heerwagen, JH. (1990) EDRA, 21, 269-280.

User drawing

+ Comfortable and relaxing

+ Provide choice (furniture, waiting areas)
+ Display waiting times
+ Display appropriate health information in uncluttered way
- Avoid unrelated distractions

NHS Estates. (2004) Improving the patient

experience. Welcoming entrances and reception areas.
Royal College of Physicians. (2004) How user friendly
is your outpatient department?

Royal College of Physicians. (2004) How user friendly

is your outpatient department?

+ Wide doors and pathways

+ Open long desk with
lowered sections

Informative

Sadler BL., et al. (2009) Using Evidence-based

environmental design to enhance safety and quality

Evans, GW. & Cohen S. (1987) Handbook of

Environmental Psychology, Vol 2, 571-610.

Leather P., et al. (2003) Environment and Behavior,

35(6), 842-869.

Cooper Marcus, C. (2000) Gardens and Health.

Pruyn, A. & Smidts, A. (1998) International Journal of Research

in Marketing, 15(4), 321-334.

Devlin, AS. & Arneill, AB. (2003) Environment and

Behavior, 35(5), 665-694.

Moerenhout, T., et al. (2013) Patient Preference and

Adherence, 7, 489-497.

Leather P., et al. (2000) A comparative study of impact

of environmental design upon hospital patients & staff.

User drawing

Privacy
+ auditory and visual
privacy breeches
depend on floor plan
+ granular privacy
Mlinek, EJ. & Pierce, J. (1997) Academic Emergency Medicine, 4 (12),
1142-1146.
Caine, K.. & Hanania, R. (2013). Journal of the American Medical
Informatics Association, 20(1), 7-15.

Haron SN., et al. (2012) Social and Behavioural Sciences, 42, 63-73.

+ Depends on clear service process

Service +More important than environment

Dr Sarah Payne,

Payne1,

NHS Estates. (2004) Improving the patient experience.

Welcoming entrances and reception areas.

= mixed for
+ reduce stress
+ perceived to help
anxiety & stress
self-management
+ sense of control
reduction
+
TV has negative
+ no frustration &
+ increased
impact on waiting
dissatisfaction
attention
experience

+ Provide places with varied privacy levels

+ Consider auditory and visual privacy e.g. position of computers, sound proofing
+ Use self-assessment areas to help get people in, as long as privacy still offered
+ Non confrontational seating

For more information contact:

Access

Attractive Choice

Health assessment areas

Spatial layout, size, structure

CABE. (1995) The role of hospital

design in the recruitment, retention, and
performance of NHS nurses in England.

+ Less stressed
+ Perceived less draining
+ Less pain medications
+ Shorter stays

+ Immediately recognisable
+ Clear view of entrance
+ Waiting times communicated
perhaps electronically

Waiting experience

Benedetti F., et al. (2001) Journal of

Affective disorders, 62, 221-223.

Walch JM., et al. (2005) Psychosomatic

Medicine, 67(1), 156-163.

+ More relaxed, less stressed

+ Calm and content
+ Shorter hospital stay
+ Less pain killers

Reception

Natural Light

Allow flexibility as service develops over time

Determine, to large extent, before engaging users in environment design process

S.R.Payne@warwick.ac.uk

or

Mackrill1, Dr Rebecca Cain1,

Dr Rebecca Cain, R.Cain.1@warwick.ac.uk (PI)

Dr Sarah R
Dr Jamie
Dr Jason Strelitz2, Lucy Gate2
1 University of Warwick, GB. 2 Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, GB.