Evaluation of Light Intensity Level in Physical Learning Environment of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

Abstract

Background: A lack of enough light in educational-academic spaces causes a wide range of damages and, most importantly, a destructive effect on the learning of students and researchers. Objectives: In this study, the intensity of light (in terms of lux) in the classrooms and laboratories of the faculties of health and paramedicine, medicine, nursing and midwifery, and dentistry of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran, was measured in 2020. Methods: In this descriptive-cross-sectional study, the numbers of classes and laboratories were 35 and 23, respectively. Natural and artificial light measurements were carried out in the morning and evening. The average readings were compared to international and national standards. Data analysis was performed using R software (version 4.1.0). Results: The classes of the Faculty of Dentistry and Faculty of Medicine had the highest and lowest average intensity of general and artificial lighting, respectively. Moreover, 78% and 82.4% of the general lighting intensity readings in the morning and evening were within the standard range, respectively. However, only 36.8% and 26% of the total readings of artificial light intensity in the morning and evening were outside the defined standard range, respectively. The classes with western and eastern windows had significantly higher general lighting intensity than the northern geographic windows (P < 0.001). Conclusions: In the classrooms and laboratories of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, the general and artificial lighting in the Faculty of Medicine classrooms and in the majority of laboratories need to be improved.