Abstract
Background: Healing environments in post-surgical wards are crucial for patient recovery. Despite their importance, there is a lack of such environments in many hospitals in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan, which affects patient outcomes. Objective: This study aimed to assess the presence of healing environment factors in post-surgical wards of selected tertiary care hospitals in KPK, Pakistan, and to determine patient satisfaction with these factors. Methods: The study utilized a purposive sampling technique to select 200 respondents from five tertiary care hospitals in KPK: Ayub Teaching Hospital (H1) in Abbottabad, Khyber Teaching Hospital (H2) in Peshawar, Government Lady Reading Teaching Hospital (H3) in Peshawar, Hayatabad Medical Complex (H4) in Peshawar, and Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals (H5) in Saidu Shareef. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and observational studies conducted in November and December 2022. Observational data focused on five healing environment factors: access to nature, control and choices, positive distractions, social support, and environmental stressors. Ethical approval was obtained, and informed consent was secured from all participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to identify the presence and impact of healing environment factors. Results: The study revealed that social support was the only significantly present factor across all hospitals, largely due to cultural and religious practices rather than intentional design. Access to nature, control and choices, and positive distractions were notably lacking. Specifically, 60-70% of respondents reported the presence of social support, while only 20-30% indicated the presence of other healing environment factors. Environmental stressors were absent in two hospitals, indicating a variance in the quality of the healing environment across different settings. Conclusion: The absence of key healing environment factors in post-surgical wards highlights a significant gap in hospital design, impacting patient recovery and satisfaction. Integrating healing environment principles into hospital design can enhance patient outcomes and satisfaction. Future interventions should consider these elements to create more effective and supportive healthcare environments.
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