Qualities of inpatient hospital rooms: patients’ perspectives

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this qualitative study was to investigate what design features of hospital rooms are valued by inpatients. Background: Little research has explored how patients evaluate the physical environment of their hospital rooms. Most responses are captured by the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey, which includes only two questions about the physical environment. Method: Two hundred thirty-six orthopedic patients (78 in the United States and 158 in Portugal) listed three features of their hospital room that influenced their level of satisfaction with their hospital stay, indicating whether the feature was positive or negative. Results: The comments were more positive (71.4%) than negative (28.6%). Using the framework of supportive design from Ulrich, over half the comments (64.31%) could be categorized in one of the three dimensions: 33.2% (positive distraction), 22.4% (perceived control), and 6.0% (social support). This total includes Internet (2.7%), which could be categorized as either social support or positive distraction. Comments called “other aspects” focused on overall environmental appraisals, cleanliness, and functionality and maintenance. Conclusions: The majority of comments could be accommodated by Ulrich’s theory, but it is noteworthy that other aspects emerge from patients’ comments and affect their experience. Cross-cultural differences pointed to the greater role of light and sun for Portuguese patients and health status whiteboard for U.S. patients. Qualitative research can add significantly to our understanding of the healthcare experience and may inform design decisions.