Evaluating changes to the environment
at Dykebar Hospital

What are we hoping to achieve by changing aspects of the hospital environment?

Dr. Eddie Edgerton
Psychology Division
University of Paisley

Project 1: The healthcare environment

Corridor design:

• * Poor design of current corridor ('institutional').
• * Importance of this space.
• * Stability of this area.
• * Significance of the environmental change.

Aims:

• * To encourage patients to move around and interact with different people in the hospital.
• * To improve the overall well-being of all the people that use the hospital.

Project 2: Journeys and Pathways

Garden courtyard:

• * Importance of this space.
• * Stability of this area.
• * Aspects of current design
• * Restorative effects of gardens

Theory:

• * Sense of control and access to privacy.
• * Social support.
• * Physical movement and exercise
• * Access to nature and other positive distractions.

Outcomes: Reduction in anxiety/stress and depression and higher quality of life.

Evaluation - methodology

Behaviour mapping (accurately recording people's actions in a particular space at specific times).

Aim: to record the number of different people using that space and what they are doing in that space.

Questionnaires:

• * Assessment of how patients use their environment and how they feel about it.
• * Staff perceptions of the hospital environment.
• * Reaction of visitors (feelings and thoughts about coming to visit at Dykebar).