Effect of Interior Design of Healthcare Environments on Patients Function Hospitalized in Psychiatric Department

Aim and Physical environmental factors are important and effective factors in human behavior. These factors are more important in places such as hospitals. In this study we aimed to evaluate the effect of light, color and other details of interior design on hospitalized patients function in psychiatric hospitals.
Methods and Materials: We evaluated the effect of physical environmental factors associated with hospital’s interior design on patients’ function. Those patients who were hospitalized during the study who were mentally capable of answering questionnaire, and psychiatrists and psychiatry residents were enrolled in the study. A questionnaire was developed and its validity was assessed using SPSS.
Findings: Natural light had better effect on treatment process in comparison with artificial lights. Combination of architecture and nature such as flowers and plants in and outside the ward can lead to beneficial effects on patients’ function. Another effective factor in this process was patient privacy, which could be achieved by using rooms with single beds, intangible monitoring of rooms by nurses, no installation of fences and lace against the windows and providing opportunity for patients to move freely in ward. Also, provision of a living room for watching TV and dining room in ward are other factors which could improve patients’ function.
Factors such as natural light, using light and cold colors, interior decorations, presents of nature elements such as flowers and plants, and respecting patient privacy while ensuring patients safety are important factors in designing the interior spaces of psychiatric departments.