Investigating the Impact of Healthcare Environmental Design on Staff Security: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
pp. 193758672092140
Author(s):  
Soheyla MohammadiGorji ◽  
Sheila J. Bosch ◽  
Shabboo Valipoor ◽  
Giuliano De Portu
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Health ◽  
Physical Environment ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Environmental Design ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Environmental Interventions ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
The Impact

Objective: To systematically review the literature regarding the role of the physical environment in preventing or mitigating aggressive behavior toward healthcare professionals in acute care, outpatient, and psychiatric/behavioral health facilities. Background: Globally, the incidence of violence against healthcare professionals is alarming. Poor environmental design has been identified as a risk factor of violence toward employees. The design of the physical setting in which healthcare is provided may moderate the incidence and severity of violence against healthcare workers. Methods: We conducted electronic database searches of PubMed and CINAHL through November 2018. Result: Findings were organized according to four categories identified in the literature regarding crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) including natural surveillance, access control, territoriality, and other CPTED elements. Fifteen studies (published between 1991 and 2017) met the inclusion criteria. Of the 15 studies, 4 incorporated environmental interventions. In the 11 remaining studies, physical environment attributes (i.e., layout, location, ambient conditions, equipment) were among the factors affecting violent incidents and staff security. Most study settings were hospital-based (11, with 10 of those specifically focused on emergency departments), followed by behavioral health facilities (4 studies). Design-focused recommendations, such as providing a second door in a triage room and a sub-waiting area inside the treatment zone, were summarized according to CPTED categories. Conclusion: This review suggests that the physical environment in healthcare facilities may affect the incidence of violence by patients or visitors against staff. Further research is needed to identify environmental design strategies that may protect the safety of healthcare professionals.

In the Moment: Fostering Mindfulness and Reducing Stressors in the Healthcare Workplace

2021 ◽  
pp. 193758672098824
Author(s):  
Shabboo Valipoor ◽  
Sheila J. Bosch
Keyword(s):  
Design Research ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Job Dissatisfaction ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Environmental Interventions ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
The Moment

While healthcare design research has primarily focused on patient outcomes, there is a growing recognition that environmental interventions could do more by promoting the overall quality of care, and this requires expanding the focus to the health and well-being of those who deliver care to patients. Healthcare professionals are under high levels of stress, leading to burnout, job dissatisfaction, and poor patient care. Among other tools, mindfulness is recommended as a way of decreasing stress and helping workers function at higher levels. This article aims to identify potential environmental strategies for reducing work-related stressors and facilitating mindfulness in healthcare settings. By examining existing evidence on workplace mindfulness and stress-reducing design strategies, we highlight the power of the physical environment in not only alleviating stressful conditions but intentionally encouraging a mindful perspective. Strategies like minimizing distractions or avoiding overstimulation in the healthcare environment can be more effective if implemented along with the provision of designated spaces for mindfulness-based programs. Future research may explore optimal methods and hospital workers’ preferences for environments that support mindfulness and stress management. The long-term goal of all these efforts is to enhance healthcare professionals’ well-being, reignite their professional enthusiasm, and help them be resilient in times of stress.

Environmental Design Strategies for Building Egress

2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (9) ◽  
pp. 865-869
Author(s):  
Jake Pauls
Keyword(s):  
Situational Awareness ◽  
World Trade Center ◽  
Environmental Design ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Building Evacuation ◽  
Strategic Issues ◽  
Trade Center ◽  
Design Requirements ◽  
The Many ◽  
The Impact

The events of September 2001, 2001, plus the events' technical and political aftermath have helped to identify an unfortunate lack of research into building evacuation. The relative dearth of research is ironic given evacuation's central role in mitigation for a range of emergencies and its prominence in environmental design requirements in building codes and standards. The field of human factors has much to offer, for example, in a philosophical or strategic focus on human-centered design as well in more-prosaic issues such as exit stair width and handrail provision. Much of the available research addresses fairly low-level ergonomic issues such as exit stair width in relation to egress capacity and the impact on evacuation time. in addition to more-sophisticated research into the relatively simple issues, ahead lies more-difficult research relating to strategic issues and the provision of information to building occupants in emergencies, occupants' situational awareness generally, and the many social interactions—in seldom-considered environmental contexts—that are at the heart of major evacuations of large buildings such as in the case of the World Trade Center.

scholarly journals Designing Interiors to Mitigate Physical and Cognitive Deficits Related to Aging and to Promote Longevity in Older Adults: A Review

Gerontology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 612-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Altaf Engineer ◽  
Esther M. Sternberg ◽  
Bijan Najafi
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Interior Design ◽  
Aging Population ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Environmental Interventions ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Living Environments ◽  
The Impact

Background: With the increasing global population of older adults, there is a need for environmental interventions that directly affect their physical, psychological, and emotional well-being to help them maintain or regain their independence and autonomy – all of which promote longevity. Methods: To better understand potential opportunities and challenges associated with interior design and “future homes” that may promote well-being, aging in place, and independent living in older adults, the authors reviewed relevant literature and included their own expert opinions from a multidisciplinary point of view including interior design, wellness, and engineering. Results: After summarizing existing environmental interventions for the aging population and their effectiveness, this review reveals knowledge gaps in interior design for the well-being and longevity of older adults followed by a discussion of opportunities for future research that may fill these gaps. Some of these opportunities include finding habilitative design strategies that identify and address unique situational needs of each user, advancing multidisciplinary fields such as environmental gerontology that recreate security and independence for older adults even outside of their homes, implementing technically advanced design strategies, which are flexible and adaptive to individual needs; and integrating the Internet of things (IoT) into living environments, including voice-activated command technologies to improve seniors’ central role in enabling an optimized healthcare ecosystem. Conclusions: Knowledge of current evidence regarding the impact of different environmental factors may hasten adaptation of well-designed innovations that can provide optimal healing and living environments for the aging population. By effectively addressing older adults’ unique and specialized needs, design practitioners can become an indispensable part of their medical, social, and environmental team. One of the rapidly developing infrastructures promising to revolutionize the design of “future homes” is the IoT. While it is at an early stage of development, ultimately we envisage a connected home using voice-controlled technology and Bluetooth-radio-connected add-ons, to augment much of what home health does today. Bringing these approaches together into an effective strategy for a model of effective geriatric care is important and needs to become an integral part of both design education and practice.

The Impact of Environmental Design on Teamwork and Communication in Healthcare Facilities: A Systematic Literature Review

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arsalan Gharaveis ◽  
D. Kirk Hamilton ◽  
Debajyoti Pati
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
English Language ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Environmental Design ◽  
Healthcare Facility ◽  
Environmental Research ◽  
Design Environment ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this systematic review is to investigate the current knowledge about the impact of healthcare facility design on teamwork and communication by exploring the relevant literature. Teamwork and communication are behavioral factors that are impacted by physical design. However, the effects of environmental factors on teamwork and communication have not been investigated extensively in healthcare design literature. There are no published systematic reviews on the current topic. Searches were conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar databases in addition to targeted design journals including Health Environmental Research & Design, Environment and Behavior, Environmental Psychology, and Applied Ergonomics. Inclusion criteria were (a) full-text English language articles related to teamwork and communication and (b) involving any healthcare built environment and space design published in peer-reviewed journals between 1984 and 2017. Studies were extracted using defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. In the first phase, 26 of the 195 articles most relevant to teamwork and 19 studies of the 147 were identified and reviewed to understand the impact of communication in healthcare facilities. The literature regarding the impact of built environment on teamwork and communication were reviewed and explored in detail. Eighteen studies were selected and succinctly summarized as the final product of this review. Environmental design, which involves nurses, support staff, and physicians, is one of the critical factors that promotes the efficiency of teamwork and collaborative communication. Layout design, visibility, and accessibility levels are the most cited aspects of design which can affect the level of communication and teamwork in healthcare facilities.

The implementation of evidence-based infection prevention in healthcare facilities in Egypt: A systematic literature review

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 093-099
Author(s):  
Nermeen Abdel-Fattah Shehab ◽  
Ahmed Atef Faggal ◽  
Ashraf Ali Nessim
Keyword(s):  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Healthcare Facility ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Environment Design ◽  
Environmental Interventions ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
The Impact

The idea of searching: This study tends to assess the impact of implementing evidence-based infection prevention in healthcare facilities in Egypt, with the aim of improving surveillance systems and altering the facility designs according to the data acquired on HAIs patterns. Background: Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) are becoming one of the major concerns for the patients and healthcare providers leading to significant increase in mortality rates, morbidity rates and financial losses for healthcare organizations. The incidence rate of HAI in Egypt was as recorded as 3.7% recently. Certain environmental interventions, implemented during construction of the healthcare facility could lead to enhanced prevention against the transmission and spread of the HAIs. Studies revealed that the integration of Surveillance programs could provide evidence for the designers to alter the healthcare facility design with the aim of infection prevention. Therefore, EBD approach is used to potentially measure psychological and physical effects of the environment design of a health facility on the patients and hospital staff. Methodology: Previous scientific literature is assessed to collect the relevant data which is then organized and analyzed in this study. A systematic review is generated based on the analytical outcomes of the selected data. Conclusion: EBD approach has the potential to prominently decrease HAIs burden in Egyptian healthcare facilities as it provides a diverse insight into the layout, equipment, and materials that contribute in the transmission of pathogens due to faulty design. Findings and recommendations: In order to improve the poor indoor quality by MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing), previous studies have also indicated certain solutions including advancements in private room, improved surface selections, isolation, integration of touchless systems, and enhanced ventilation systems that must be applied in the healthcare facilities in Egypt for infection prevention.

scholarly journals Impact of Traffic Congestion on Spatial Access to Healthcare Services in Nairobi: an ecological study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mutono Nyamai ◽  
Jim A. Wright ◽  
Mumbua Mutunga ◽  
Henry Mutembei ◽  
SM Thumbi
Keyword(s):  
Health Facility ◽  
Traffic Congestion ◽  
One Health ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
African Cities ◽  
Geographical Access

Abstract Background Geographic accessibility is an important determinant of healthcare utilisation and is critical for achievement of universal health coverage. Despite the high disease burden and severe traffic congestion in many African cities, few studies have assessed how traffic congestion impacts geographical access to healthcare facilities and to health professionals in these settings. Methods Using data on health facilities obtained from the Ministry of Health in Kenya, we mapped 944 primary, 94 secondary and four tertiary healthcare facilities in Nairobi County. We then used traffic probe data to identify areas within a 15-, 30- and 45-minute drive from each health facility during peak and off-peak hours and calculated the proportion of the population with access to healthcare in the County. We employed a 2-step floating catchment area model to calculate the ratio of healthcare and healthcare professionals to population during these times. Results During peak hours, <70% of Nairobi’s 4.1 million population was within a 30-minute drive from a health facility. This increased to >75% during off-peak hours. In 45 minutes, the majority of the population had an accessibility index of one health facility accessible to more than 100 people (<0.01) for primary health care facilities while secondary and tertiary health facilities had a ratio of one health facility for more than 10,000 people (<0.0001) and at least two health facilities per 100,000 people (>0.00002) respectively. Of people with access to health facilities, a sub-optimal ratio of <2.3 healthcare professionals per 1000 people was observed in facilities offering primary and secondary healthcare during peak and off-peak hours. Conclusion These findings can guide urban planners and policymakers in improving access to healthcare facilities to optimise coverage during peak and off-peak traffic times. Similarly, growing availability of traffic probe data in African cities should enable similar analysis in other countries.

scholarly journals A 5-year assessment of malaria documentation and reporting practices in government healthcare facilities in Lagos, Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 2321
Author(s):  
Adeyinka Adeniran ◽  
Kikelomo O. Wright ◽  
Babatunde A. Odugbemi ◽  
Olajide Idris
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
The State ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
Lagos State ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

Background: Robust and effective information management systems are critical for successful malaria control and elimination. This study was a follow up study to assess the practices of Lagos State public healthcare facilities with regards to malaria documentations and reporting to the local government authorities (LGAs) in Lagos Nigeria in 2009 and then in 2013.Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional repeated survey of all 218 functional government-owned health facilities in Lagos State between in years 2009 and 2013 using a structured questionnaire. Approval was obtained from the research ethics committee of the Lagos State Ministry of Health.Results: There was a decrease in the proportion of primary & secondary healthcare facilities that document all cases of malaria seen in the facilities from 97.9% and 95.5% respectively in 2009 to 91.5% and 85.7% in 2013. About 53% of the primary healthcare facilities rendered malaria data to the Local Government Area (LGA) using the IDSR system in 2009 which marginally increase to 62.4% in 2013. Whereas in 2009, 63.6% of secondary healthcare facilities rendered malaria data to the LGA whilst 50% did in 2013. The only Tertiary health facility in the state did not render malaria data to the LGA in 2009 but did in 2013.Conclusions: There was a gradual reduction in malaria documentation by the government healthcare facilities. Therefore, there is need to intensify training among health workers in the government health facilities in the state with continuous monitoring and evaluation of performance to determine the impact. 

scholarly journals “We are also here”—Spiritual Care Practitioners’ Experiences of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study from Poland

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Domaradzki
Keyword(s):  
Spiritual Care ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Spiritual Needs ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Current Health ◽  
The Impact

AbstractAlthough healthcare professionals have become the symbol of risk and sacrifice during the COVID-19 pandemic, spiritual care practitioners (SCP) have also put themselves at great risk while offering their service in hospitals, hospices and other healthcare facilities. This study was designed to explore the lived experiences of SCP during the current health crisis in Poland. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-four SCP. Nine major themes emerged from the interviews: personal reactions to the pandemic, SCP’s perception of the pandemic, the impact of COVID-19 on the provision of spiritual care, spiritual needs during the pandemic, work-related emotions, the impact of the COVID-19 on religion, the role of spiritual care during the outbreak, the healthcare professionals’ perceptions of SCP and barriers to the provision of spiritual care during the pandemic. The SCP indicated that although the COVID-19 crisis has affected the availability of pastoral, religious and spiritual care, it has amplified the importance of such care and has positively influenced the visibility of SCP in modern healthcare practice. Nonetheless, in such desperate times, SCP are still neglected and should be further recognised and integrated into the healthcare system.

scholarly journals Environmental Sustainability for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in Healthcare Facilities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Udomiaye Emmanuel ◽  
◽  
Desy Osondu Eze ◽  
Kalu Cheche Kalu ◽  
Aminu Ahmad Haliru
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

The emergence of the novel coronavirus, increase in microbial resistance and the scarceness of vaccines for the present pandemic have made it imperative to appraise the link between the sustainable built environment and Infection control as well as the strategies employed during the pre-antibiotic period. This paper aims to identify the nexus between a sustainable built environment and infection control in healthcare facilities with the view of developing guidelines and highlighting the role of architecture in curbing the pandemic. The study relied on existing studies, interviews, and interactions with healthcare workers. The findings showed that sustainable design strategies play a significant role in infection prevention and control and could as well be a panacea for curbing the spread of Coronavirus, especially in healthcare facilities. A sustainable environment for hospitals or healthcare facilities, apart from low energy and carbon emission, needs to integrate design strategies to confront the impact of healthcare-associated infections.

Interprofessional model on speaking up behaviour in healthcare professionals: a qualitative study

BMJ Leader ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. leader-2020-000407
Author(s):  
Rachel Umoren ◽  
Sara Kim ◽  
Megan M Gray ◽  
Jennifer A Best ◽  
Lynne Robins
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Speaking Up ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Safety Concerns ◽  
Purposeful Sampling ◽  
Study Team ◽  
Speak Up ◽  
The Impact

ObjectivesDespite training and the recognition that speaking up can mitigate harm to patients and save lives, healthcare professionals do not consistently speak up when they have patient safety concerns. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers to and facilitators of speaking up about patient safety concerns to inform the development of interventions that will increase this behaviour.DesignFrom October 2017 to February 2018, the study team conducted focus groups and interviews with nurses, advanced practice providers and physicians at three healthcare facilities. Participants were prompted to share their personal experiences with and perspectives on speaking up about patient safety concerns and to discuss strategies for communicating those concerns.SettingTertiary academic healthcare centre.Participants62 healthcare professionals participated in the study. Purposeful sampling was used to include participants of different health professions and experience levels.Main outcome measuresWe planned to answer questions about why more healthcare professionals do not consistently speak up when they have legitimate patient safety concerns and to identify ways to enhance current interventions on speaking up behaviours,ResultsTwelve focus group discussions and two interviews were conducted with 62 participants. We identified two recurring themes: (1) The predominantly hierarchical culture of medicine is a barrier to speaking up and (2) Institutional, interpersonal and individual factors can modulate the impact of medicine’s hierarchical culture on speaking up behaviours and inform the strategies employed.ConclusionsThe data highlighted the importance of moving beyond targeting front-line healthcare professionals for training in the skills of speaking up and engaging institutional leaders and systems to actively promote and reward speaking up behaviours.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document