Explaining the effective factors on reducing depression from the perspective of patients in hospital design, case study; Shiraz Namazi Hospital

According to the statistics of the American Psychological Association, secondary depression, which is caused by a physical illness among patients, has been identified as the most common mental disorder. Also, the continuation of stress and anxiety of patients will lead to depression in treatment spaces. Therefore, the environmental conditions of treatment spaces affect controlling and reducing the level of stress and depression of patients. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effective factors in reducing the level of depression of patients from the dominant perspective of patients in hospital design. The research carried out up to now is mostly based on the general examination of physical and environmental dimensions, and a focused study on these dimensions has not been done about environmental psychological pressure and the creation of stress, anxiety, and depression in chronic patients in the design of therapeutic spaces. Considering the needs of a large group of patients, it is necessary to pay more attention to the design of treatment spaces to reduce the level of mental illness and depression of patients.

The current research was conducted using the qualitative-quantitative method and data analysis using confirmatory factor analysis in SPSS software. After the experts' questionnaire was distributed in two stages, the users' questionnaire was compiled. The research community at this stage was the patients admitted to Namazi Hospital, and the sample size was determined to be 200 people using Klein's point of view. So, the research method is summarized in four stages: 1- document content analysis, 2- Delphi survey in two stages, 3- compilation and distribution of user questionnaires, and 4- confirmatory factor analysis.

This research has paid attention to the treatment of depression in hospitalized patients and through appropriate design for these people, it has provided the basis for reducing depression for patients. So, the interpretation of the rotation data matrix and the factor load of each variable shows that seven factors with indicative meanings can be defined from the patient's point of view. The results show that the seven factors of visual perception, naturalism, functionalism, physical safety, logical process, psychological safety, and diversity in hospital design are effective in reducing patients' depression.

The use of artificial light at night in the indoor and outdoor spaces of the hospital, the presence of water, and the planting of different plants in the outdoor space increase the legibility of the space through the dimensions of the space by its function, the variety of light and color are some of the things that are effective in reducing the level of depression. So by using the seven factors of hospital architectural design, it is possible to create the necessary conditions to reduce the level of depression and improve the quality of treatment spaces. Therefore, it is an effective suggestion for treatment and environmental experience through physical characteristics to reduce the level of depression in patients.