Abstract
In this paper, we map navigational needs and preferences of patients and visitors to evaluate the appropriateness of a smartphone navigation application in the hospital in contrast to other, more traditional navigational cues. We test the effects of sociodemographic variables (age, gender, education) on wayfinding strategies and preferences of respondents (using chi2 tests). Empirical research is based on the survey among 928 patients/visitors of the Vítkovice Hospital in Ostrava, Czechia. We found a relatively weak association between gender and wayfinding—no major differences between men and women in navigational preferences were found. Age was the most important predictor of wayfinding. Respondents in the over-60-year age group were characteristic of a lower interest in changes of the navigational system and low willingness to use mobile applications for navigation—people between 41 years and 60 years were the biggest supporters of changes. Correspondingly, demand for improvement of navigation (including a mobile application) was positively correlated with educational level.
Highlights
Empirical research is based on the survey among 928 patients/visitors of the Vítkovice Hospital in Ostrava, Czechia
We aim to contribute to the existing literature concerning wayfinding in hospitals by linking two different streams of research are linked: (i) theoretical studies focusing on explanation of age, gender, or education-based differences in wayfinding [8,14,15,16,17,18,19], and (ii) applied research dealing with the navigational systems in hospitals from the technology and/or management point of view [4,20,21]
While we found no effect of the interaction between age and gender on wayfinding difficulties of newcomers, a relationship with the demand for improvement of the navigational system in the hospital was significant
Summary
Empirical research is based on the survey among 928 patients/visitors of the Vítkovice Hospital in Ostrava, Czechia. Respondents in the over-60-year age group were characteristic of a lower interest in changes of the navigational system and low willingness to use mobile applications for navigation—people between 41 years and 60 years were the biggest supporters of changes. Demand for improvement of navigation (including a mobile application) was positively correlated with educational level. Navigational issues in hospitals cause stress and anxiety for the patients/visitors [1,2]. They may lower the productivity of the staff members, who face difficulties in wayfinding, and/or are frequently asked by the patients/visitors for help [5]. The most progressive and promising solution of the wayfinding difficulties has been the utilization of navigation mobile applications based on indoor positioning
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