Identifying environmental architecture components in treatment centers contributing to treatment with a stress reduction approach: a qualitative study

Introduction: It is well established that environmental architecture elements in treatment facilities have a major impact on reducing stress and enhancing health and recovery. The current study identifies environmental design elements that effectively promote treatment through stress reduction in the general surgical department. Materials and Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using a contractual content analysis approach. The data were gathered via face-to-face, in-depth, semi-structured interviews (comprising ۱۶ interviews). Participants were selected purposively from two general hospitals in Birjind city, one characterized by high architectural design levels and the other with a simple, conventional appearance. A conventional content analysis approach was adopted to analyze the data using MAXQDA software. The trustworthiness and robustness of the data were validated based on Guba and Lincoln’s criteria. Results: According to the study findings, environmental architectural factors in hospitals act like tranquilizers, improving patients’ stress levels, mood, and emotions. These variables comprise (۱). the physical elements of space (relatively stable), including sensory parameters, form, and space configuration, and the mental elements (less stable), which include the semantic and social parameters of space (۲). Conclusion: This study introduces a novel theoretical framework for therapeutic settings and outlines design strategies to improve environmental architecture in treatment facilities using an evidence-based design approach informed by the demands and preferences expressed by experts.

Keywords:

Surgical Department , Therapeutic Settings , Environmental Architecture , Evidence-based Design , Stress Reduction