Abstract
Public participation is an increasingly important part of the design process for health-care environments and services. Public participation often occurs towards the end of the design process, rather than at the start where the biggest influence is possible. This research used a variety of methods to enable public participation from the start of the design process. Its aim was to examine potential end users’ expectations and needs for the physical environment to develop interior design briefs for a well-being centre. Fifty-three Trust members at a London NHS Hospital, UK, were involved in structured group workshops. These consisted of surveys and open discussions, table discussions, and 2D and 3D designing. Analysis identified four over-arching themes; atmosphere, initial points of contact, waiting experience, and health assessments. The results, in combination with existing evidence-based research, led to the development of an interior design brief consisting of 26 design recommendations for a well-being centre. These may form the basis for any health-care and well-being centre, thereby adding to the growing body of evidence informing the design of future health-care physical environments.
Highlights
Public participation is an increasingly important part of the design process for health-care environments and services
A public participatory approach can assist in the creation of design briefs and result in subsequent designs that match the specific needs of future end users
Using a public participatory approach alongside evidence-based research, this study aimed to develop a series of design recommendations to create an interior design brief for health-care and well-being centres
Summary
Public participation is an increasingly important part of the design process for health-care environments and services. Involving end users in the design process from the beginning ensures their needs and preferences can help determine the important environmental design features and attributes These should be included in the initial project design briefs to create a positive experience of health-care environments. Design features that provide access to daylight, views of nature, and reduced sound levels produce positive outcomes for patients and staff in health-care environments, such as reduced pain, improved sleep, reduced stress, and depression (Ulrich et al, 2008) To ensure these proven effects and not just perceived effects are taken into account, it is important to consider this evidence alongside public suggestions. It would be beneficial to develop interior design briefs for health-care and well-being centres by combining existing evidence-based research with public participation approaches.
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