Factors Affecting the Visitation and Non-Visitation to the Courtyard Gardens: Evaluation at three Malaysian public hospitals

Abstract

Being in a natural setting and viewing nature have a significant effect on mental health and well-being. Hospital courtyard gardens (HCG) is a common feature found in public hospitals in Malaysia. However, what factors influence the visitation and non-visitation to the HCG are less understood. This study investigates factors influencing the visit and non-visitation of patients, staff and visitors to the HCGs in three Malaysian public hospitals. The research findings were instrumental to the architects and landscape architects to make necessary improvements for future HCG design and the hospital managers to enhance and retrofit the existing HCG. Keywords: Courtyard Gardens; Visitation; Non-visitation, Public hospital eISSN: 2398-4287© 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6i18.3085