Studies in health technology and informatics最新文献

This article adds to the conversation on sensory design in architecture and interior design, with a focus on acoustics in living and care environments for seniors and persons with memory decline. The demographic growth of aging populations and increases in dementia and memory disorders poses challenges for supply and design of appropriate care and living environments. We discuss the importance of understanding the role of senses, hearing in particular, in design and ultimately resident experience, functionality and quality of life. We argue that sensory design, especially aural environments, is not adequately taken care of in the design of many communal and care homes. We discuss the effects of aging and memory decline on hearing and its resultant challenges in cognitive behaviour and level of social inclusion and outline specific acoustical needs for this demographic. Through a case study of a seniorst' residence in Helsinki Finland, acoustical measurements of noise levels (reverberation times) were conducted, and the results analysed against current standards. Field results as well as a table of acoustical design considerations is presented at the end of the article.

Low-income families often live in cramped and unsuitable conditions, and the housing qualities interplay significantly in processes of wellbeing, homing and belonging as housing can be an obstacle to the parents' transition to labour-market, lead to social exclusion and negatively affect children's schooling. The paper holds that housing quality includes important aspects of health, wellbeing and security, sociality, accessibility of services and facilities, space for leisure activities, central location, cultural heritage and aesthetics that support identity and place belonging. The study focuses on a new form of supported tenancy; tenancy with a referral agreement (tilvisingsavtale). The agreement differs from ordinary municipal tenancy as the referral agreement gives the municipality the opportunity to offer tenancy to low-income families in the private market. This implies that families renting with a referral agreement live in ordinary neighbourhoods and with equivalent housing qualities as other tenants, rather than in neighbourhoods with municipal elder and commonly worn-down housing located in areas known as "municipal neighbourhood" bearing social stigma and marginality. Methods include architectural inspection, drawing and document analysis, home-visits and interviews with residents and municipal welfare workers in a small Norwegian municipality during 2022/23. Exploring links between housing quality, housing tenure and wellbeing, our material suggests housing quality and space as a complex and flexible experience. We find that the residents tend to assess the referral agreement to offer an increased match to needs in their present everyday life compared to earlier housing, a greater sense of wellbeing and belonging, and to stimulate aspirations for the future. Here, we discuss the housing narratives as it raises precarious issues related to experiences of everyday family-life, autonomy, wellbeing, belonging, home and identity.

Designing learning environments is challenging due to the dichotomy of the slow pace in which the discipline of architecture and the built environment evolve, and the fast-changing society in which youngsters are educated. However, the challenge posed by youngsters' exacerbated sedentary life style (i.e. due to usage of digital devices and the passive covid-period) urges us to reflect upon the role that the environment can play in their physical fitness and wellbeing, more specifically by looking at how the environment affords youngsters to be in motion. We hypothesize that reimagining schools in order to boost a physically active life could translate into better motor skills. A first question to be answered therein is: how do youngsters 'read' and pick up various types of motion affordances in the environment? This current blind spot is our focal point. In this paper we report on the findings of an experiment in which 14 pupils (aged 8-14) visited a university campus. They were asked in three different scenarios to perform motor activities in a specific room driven by what that room had to offer spatially (ranging from its structural elements to interior equipment/detailing). The exercise was repeated in three typical university spaces: cafeteria, auditorium and agora. The youngsters were recorded on film; using the Test of Gross Motor Development-3, their movements were analyzed on (1) uniqueness of motor activities performed, (2) type of motor activities, (3) notion of competence. Preliminary results showcase that youngsters are creative in their movement behavior and use different spatial elements present, but mainly perform locomotor actions. They display little stability/balance, and object control actions. This explorative study hints at a deeper attention to the two latter aspects of motor skills, as these are also crucial in the transitioning process from basic to specific motor skills, occurring at that age.

Primary Care Services in Italy are evolving to promote the spread of social-health care facilities (e.g., CdC - Casa della Comunità/House of the Community). Many gaps have been detected in the field of designing for CdC, especially regarding designing welcome and waiting spaces. Sensory Design was identified as a suitable approach to design comfortable and customisable environments for the different CdC's users. Sensory environments aim at favouring mental health, rehabilitation and comfort in healthcare facilities, reducing stress during the waiting time and before or during the medical intervention as a positive distraction. Scientific literature is still not expanded in this field. The contribution aims at studying the application of Sensory Design in an innovative context such as the CdC environment to support healthy and active ageing. This design approach favours the stimulation of primary senses and self-regulated emotions to generate positive feelings, reduce stress, promote relaxation, physical activity and recovery. According to a Theoretical Framework, best practices have been analysed to identify spatial and environmental sensory characters to be applied in designing CdC's welcome and waiting spaces. The authors have identified four main categories of sensory features for CdC: i) innovative Spatial Models: designing the building according to a multisensory approach to stimulate and welcome people in an inclusive way; diffusing sensory equipment in public spaces (e.g., corridors, waiting spaces, etc.); designing sensory atrium or waiting spaces; providing snoezelen rooms as dedicated and specific rooms for sensory recovery; making environments adaptable trough portable sensory equipment; ii) Relaxing features to promote comfort and psychological support; iii) Physical activity promotion, according to the idea of healthy and active ageing; iv) the integration of sensory solutions by the use of digital technology.

The door between the semi-public corridor and the single-occupancy patient room of a newly built University Medical Centre in the Netherlands has been heavily debated during its Evidence Based Design (EBD) and experience-informed design. It was also heavily debated since the wards came into use in 2018. It is well known that, regarding door design, a trade-off has to be made between aspects such as privacy, visibility, and safety. This makes our case study exemplary for the trade-offs to be made in EBD practice. This study traces back to how the design decisions for the door, dating from 2011, were made. Safety, privacy, control, and support for the social and emotional wellbeing of patients, relatives, and staff were the aim, but this is not experienced as such by all concerned. This case study evaluation highlights the tension between EBD principles and everyday practice, where the interplay between 'bricks, bytes, and behavior' has to be considered, and every consciously debated design solution might bring new and unforeseen challenges elsewhere. Our practice-based research combines the analysis of documentation on the design decision-making process with evaluation interviews with nurse managers in 2019. Our findings on 'the (Dutch) patient door debate' can contribute to awareness of trade-offs to be made in health facility design, complemented with supportive IT systems and efficient and effective staff workflows. It can enhance the understanding of the many aspects that need to come into consideration during design dialogues with experts and end-users.

This discussion paper explores the complex relationship between color and healthcare spaces, starting with the emerging prominence of white surfaces in early twentieth-century European hospital design. It examines the sociopolitical and sustainability implications of an apparently neutral color preference, noting case studies such as the mining of ilmenite ore in Madagascar, where the production of white pigment for titanium dioxide in paint correlates to ecological habitat degradation. The narrative also examines the global implications of mass-produced design practices and the hegemony of whiteness as something replacing colorful local color traditions with neutral hues. By exploring the interior design, materiality, and sensory qualities of white healthcare spaces, the paper discusses the association with hygiene and global influence on healthcare environments. The paper also examines the role of architectural education in shaping designers' preferences for white and neutral color palettes in general and in healthcare settings, questioning the artificiality inherent in the prevailing white aesthetic. It also questions the latent remnants of racism in the preferential use of white, rooted in its historical association with 1930s modernism and rejection of "primitivism" in design. It further explores the role of color used as bright primary hues juxtaposed with white, in functions such as in wayfinding and a sense of "scientific" precision to how designers use color within these architectural contexts from applying principles from environmental and psychological science. In conclusion, this narrative unravels the historical, environmental, and sociocultural dimensions that led to white as a neutral color in design perceived as objective fact. It advocates for a more nuanced approach in healthcare environments and for design choices that prioritize diverse needs, experiences, and cultural sensitivities. The paper will encourage readers to critically assess the hegemony of white in healthcare design compared to the vibrancy of color in indigenous design traditions worldwide.

The integration of art into healthcare facility design has been widely recognised as a best practice for enhancing patient experiences and improving health outcomes. Evidence-based design aims to identify the most effective art types and themes for various healthcare scenarios. However, the current body of research on healthcare art is still evolving, with limited data available for populations with special needs. This study explores potential opportunities for enhancing built environment art accessibility for people with blindness or low vision (PBLV) in healthcare facilities. The research methodology consists of two steps: 1) A literature review that establishes a foundation for understanding healthcare art and accessible art adaptations for PBLV in the context of galleries and museums; 2) Case studies of three art programmes in London healthcare trusts, which included interview-surveys with senior professionals working on art implementation in healthcare spaces. The interviews and case studies were conducted through the lens of knowledge on accessible art for museums and galleries. The results of the literature review provided valuable insights into the concept of healthcare art and the variety of accessible art forms for PBLV in museums and galleries. This laid the groundwork for exploring which of these solutions can be applied in healthcare facility contexts. The interviews and case studies revealed several practical approaches that can assist healthcare providers and guide policymakers in creating more accessible healthcare art programmes. In conclusion, this article identifies potential opportunities for improving the accessibility of built environment arts for PBLV in healthcare settings, contributing to the ongoing effort to create more inclusive and engaging healthcare environments.

Dementia is a critical issue in Singapore - 1 in 10 older adults (60 years or above) suffers from Dementia. Exacerbating the issue, many people living with dementia (PLWDs) are housebound as present outdoor environments are not conducive for them to navigate their local neighbourhoods. Moreover, Singapore's high-rise, high-density, and hyper-sensorial outdoor environment demands a unique, localised approach that renders guidelines done elsewhere less applicable. 10 pairs of PLWDs and their caregivers were engaged in design ethnographic studies to test 10 hypothesised characteristics of a dementia-friendly neighbourhood. Findings highlighted that enhancing key social nodes and reducing the complexity of the spatial environment can improve PLWD's psycho-social perception of their neighbourhood. Planning of PWLDs' favourite activities and addressing caregivers' concerns can encourage both to come out from their homes. This led to development of four design thinking principles: (+) Design to strengthen mental map, (-) Design with a minimalist approach, (x) Design to include a wider community, especially caregivers, (÷) Design for incremental change. The principles were translated into design prototypes at a linear stretch walkway in Yio Chu Kang Zone 9, based on the analogy of 'lighthouses' and 'buoys'. Interventions consist of anchors like the 'Blue Court' and the 'Play Corner' (lighthouses) with rest stops (buoys) in sheltered void decks that form an easy-to-remember walking loop. Design efficacy was accessed through post-implementation review with residents.

Norwegian municipalities require increasing the number of care places. The main challenge for the municipalities is to obtain enough high-quality and suitable residential facilities. As buildings are often inflexible structures, they will impact their daily lives for decades. The question is whether the environment can support and promote health for the residents. These concepts have been planned over the last 10 years and built over the past three years. They were inspired by a similar concept in Hoegeweyk, the Netherlands, supported by a state-of-the-art report based on relevant research published in SINTEF 2015. This knowledge has been translated into three concepts (two nursing homes and one care housing) in three different communities in Norway. A case study has been conducted to examine the implementation of these new concepts. The primary questions posed include: Do these concepts operate as intended? What have been the experiences of the staff, residents, and relatives regarding the solutions? How was the process, from idea to construction, and how was the care concept implemented? We are exploring whether this provides health-promoting experiences. We conducted in-depth interviews to gather data and analyzed the buildings, care concepts and architectural plans. The physical solutions and service models in our study have shown to strongly influence each other, leading to promising outcomes. The fact that the residents can move around in a sheltered, nice outdoor area inspires them to walk and gives them a feeling of freedom and contact with nature. Smaller groups provide an experience of domesticity and strengthen person-centered care. Other citizens are invited to use the common spaces in the buildings, such as children from kindergarten, a dancing group, a quire, etc. Bringing the outside world in, increased mobility, daylight, and fresh air seems to support health. These positive outcomes underscore the potential of our health-promoting housing and care concepts for the elderly with dementia.

The current and rising provision of temporary accommodation in the UK does not always meet the needs of residents with one such contributing factor being the often-poor atmospheric qualities within these environments. Temporary accommodation is a broad term for housing provided for those who have previously been homeless, covering different variations of support or tenancy length. Our research synthesises transdisciplinary literature to create a theoretical framework which can be used to inform the design of suitable temporary accommodation by connecting psychological theories in a novel way to shed light on the parameters of the phenomenon of home attachment, specifically physical, architectural elements. Through iterative development and the addition of different theories, the framework is presented stage-by-stage in this paper. Maslow's hierarchy of needs is examined through the lens of architectural and environmental psychology to apply this fundamental, psychological principle to the design and the creation of positive atmospheres in temporary accommodation, which allows for an understanding that architectural design can fulfill various human needs. Finally, a further organisation of literature identifying architectural affordances was conducted by theme related to psychological need. The results of the identified unmet needs in tandem with causal architectural affordances can be used to guide architects, service providers and policymakers in the future design and selection of temporary accommodation, thus improving the experiences of residents.