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View Through a Window May Influence Recovery from Surgery

May 1984
Science 224(4647):420-1

Source
PubMed

Authors:

Chalmers University of Technology

Records on recovery after cholecystectomy of patients in a suburban Pennsylvania hospital between 1972 and 1981 were examined to determine whether assignment to a room with a window view of a natural setting might have restorative influences. Twenty-three surgical patients assigned to rooms with windows looking out on a natural scene had shorter postoperative hospital stays, received fewer negative evaluative comments in nurses' notes, and took fewer potent analgesics than 23 matched patients in similar rooms with windows facing a brick building wall.

Content uploaded by Roger S Ulrich

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Content uploaded by Roger S Ulrich

Content may be subject to copyright.

Correlations between meaning in life and nature connectedness: German-language validation of two topic-related measures and practical implications

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Aug 2024

Meaning in life and nature connectedness are indicators of a healthy life and correlate with health and well-being. We conducted a validation study of German versions of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (Steger et al. 2006) and Nature Connection Index (Richardson et al. 2019) and assessed mindfulness as a trait and personality (big five personality traits) among participating students (n = 353). Results indicated a significant positive correlation between nature connectedness and presence of meaning in life. Presence of meaning correlated significantly with less neuroticism, more openness to new experiences, greater conscientiousness, and moderately with the two mindfulness subscales, ‘acceptance’ and ‘presence’. Search for meaning was associated with more neuroticism and less acceptance. A higher nature-connectedness score correlated with more presence and acceptance (mindfulness), greater openness, and less neuroticism (personality traits). Furthermore, we introduce a nature-assisted model of meaning fulfilment that can be applied in healthcare practices, counselling, and (psycho-) therapeutic treatment. Our results contribute to growing evidence on the preventive and curative effects of nature connectedness and meaning in life and their role as health-related resources. Nature connectedness and meaning in life are effective resources considering various aspects related to (global) crises such as climate change and the corona pandemic.

Restorative Interior Design to Renew Attention and Reduce Stress in Small Residential Units

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Nov 2024

The shift in lifestyle due to urbanization and the recent pandemic has increased demand for small residential units suitable for remote work and longer stays. Restorative environments have gained importance within these spaces as they impact productivity, reduce fatigue, and alleviate stress. This study aims to identify effective restorative environments for small residential units, deepening our current understanding about contributions of interior design to personal well-being. Six virtual models combining Rectilinear and Curvilinear forms with Minimal, Natural, and Rustic styles were created. A total of 89 participants with lockdown or remote work experience evaluated these environments using VR devices and a PRS questionnaire. Results showed higher ratings for all virtual restorative environments compared to the non-restorative control design. The Rectilinear form with Minimal style and Curvilinear form with Natural style received the highest ratings. Surprisingly, nature analogues using curves and natural materials did not produce expected outcomes, highlighting the importance of integrating natural elements, considering individual preferences, and ensuring environmental coherence for enhanced restorative attributes. Creating an effective restorative environment extends beyond incorporating nature-based elements. These findings offer insights for designing residential spaces that boost well-being and productivity, especially in the context of remote work and extended stays in compact residential units.

Scoping Review: Association of Inpatient Hospital Design Features With Patients’ Clinical Outcomes

Article

Dec 2024
HERD-HEALTH ENV RES

Objective: To identify associations between inpatient hospital design features and empirical patient clinical outcomes as well as changes over time. Background: A growing body of literature has emerged evaluating the association of hospital design features with measurable clinical outcomes during inpatient hospital admissions. However, there has been limited effort to evaluate the scope and quality of studies examining individual, inpatient hospital design features on empirical patient clinical outcomes. Methods: Primary research articles published in English between 1980 and 2021 evaluating inpatient clinical outcomes were included. Key terms for hospital designs and clinical outcomes were used. Ovid Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Elsevier Embase, and Google Scholar were searched on May 28, 2021. Data were independently extracted by two authors, with arbitration from the third author. Results: Forty-six research articles were included for analysis. Predominantly studied inpatient hospital design features included: single versus multibedded rooms/wards, windows, furnishings, installed lighting, ward size and spatial arrangement, noise level, air ventilation, and patient visibility. Although nearly half (43%) of the articles lack appropriate methods to account for residual confounding, a trend of improvement in the use of appropriate methods was identified with 68% of studies in the last decade having appropriate methods. Studies demonstrating positive associations were more likely to be cited than those with negative associations (average citation per article, 508 vs. 27). Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the use of empirical patient clinical outcomes as a feasible approach to evaluate hospital design features, and identified an incremental improvement in the methods being applied.

Methods for Quality Assessment of Window View

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Full-text available

Dec 2024

Barbara Matusiak

This paper summarises findings from two workshops evaluating a series of views in various settings by an interdisciplinary group of experts. In the first one (Trondheim, June 2022), ten experts visited and assessed views from nine rooms. In the second one (Lausanne, June 2023), eleven experts assessed window views from four spaces. The workshops’ main objective was to develop and test multi-method assessments of window views. During both workshops, participants completed a survey that included close and open-ended questions about the perceived quality of the room and the view. Participants also measured lux level, took photographs, made hand drawings of the view, and answered a questionnaire about their mood and the environmental conditions in the room. After the workshop, point-in-time daylight simulations were performed for the visited rooms. The paper describes, compares, and recommends the use of the aforementioned methods depending on the type and complexity of the view, and the space, the evaluators’ professional background, and the type of collected data. It also discusses the overlap of the methods and estimates the preparation time, time spent on site, and the amount of work after the visit. Finally, it recommends the use of the tested methods depending on the application.

Examinando el diseño biofílico: Una revisión sistemática a sus parámetros y su impacto en el bienestar de las personas

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Greenspace Morphology and Preterm Birth: A State-Wide Study in Georgia, United States (2001-2016)

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ENVIRON HEALTH PERSP

Investigating the Impact of Urban Green Space Policies on Public Health, Mental Well-Being, and Community Engagement

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Dec 2024

Areej Al-Qarni

Urban green space policies play a critical role in enhancing public health, mental well-being, and community engagement. This study evaluates the effects of green space accessibility and quality on health outcomes and social cohesion. Results demonstrate significant improvements in mental health metrics and increased community participation, emphasizing the importance of green space initiatives.

Adaptive facades for emotionally enriching indoor environments

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Dec 2024

Modern Zamanlarda Türk Evinin Yeniden İnşası: Akın Evi Örneği

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Nov 2024

Türk Evi idealinin akademik söylemde ele alınması, mimarlık alanında önemli bir tartışma konusu olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Değişen şartlara rağmen, düşük yoğunluklu olsa da Türk Evi kavramı araştırma konusu olmaya devam etmiş, morfoloji, tipoloji ve yapı teknolojileri gibi mimari çalışmaların bir parçası olmuştur. 1970'lerden itibaren artan eleştirilere rağmen, bu kavram kurumsallaşmış ve Osmanlı veya Anadolu konut kültürünü bu kavramın paradigmaları içinde tartışmak kaçınılmaz hale gelmiştir. Bu makalede, ideal "Türk Evi"ne yüklenen anlamların ve dünya ölçeğinde insanlığı bekleyen ekolojik ve sosyokültürel krizlere karşı "Türk Evi" modelinin inşa edilebilirlik, sürdürülebilirlik, enerji verimliliği ve kullanıcı odaklı tasarım açısından çözümün bir parçası olabileceği “Akın Evi” örneği üzerinden anlatılmaktadır. Araştırma unutulmaya yüz tutmuş olan "Türk Evi" kavramını yeniden canlandırarak, geleneksel inşa tekniklerinin basit, kolay, sade ve mevzuata uygun olduğunu, geleneksel inşa tekniklerini kullanarak insanlara kendi evlerini yapabileceklerini göstermektedir. Ayrıca, geleneksel “Türk Evinin” adaptif yeniden kullanım potansiyeli ve bağlamsal duyarlılığı, modern mimarlık pratiklerinde dikkate alınması gereken önemli unsurlar olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Bu bağlamda Türk evleri ve sürdürülebilirlik konusunda daha fazla araştırma yapılması ve literatürün genişletilmesi, geleneksel mimarinin sürdürülebilirlik potansiyelini daha iyi anlamamıza ve çevre dostu yapı tasarımları için ilham kaynağı sağlamamıza yardımcı olabilir.

Erholungsorte: Erholung findet in jedem Alltag Platz

Chapter

Dec 2024

Anna Rosa Ott

Natural Versus Urban Scenes: Some Psychophysiological Effects

Article

Full-text available

Sep 1981

Roger S Ulrich

Subjects viewed sixty color slides of either (1) nature with water, (2) nature dominated by vegetation, or (3) urban environments without water or vegetation. The information rates of the three slide samples were equivalent. Measurements were taken of the effects of the slide presentations on alpha amplitude, heart rate, and emotional states. Results revealed several significant differences as a function of environment, which together indicate that the two categories of nature views had more positive influences on psychophysiological states than the urban scenes. Alpha was significantly higher during the vegetation as opposed to urban slides; similarly, alpha was higher on the average when subjects viewed water rather than urban content. There was also a consistent pattern for nature, especially water, to have more positive influences on emotional states. A salient finding was that water, and to a lesser extent vegetation views, held attention and interest more effectively than the urban scenes. Implications of the findings for theory development in environmental aesthetics are discussed.

Anxiety and pain in surgical patients

Article

Full-text available

Aug 1975

Angel Martinez-Urrutia

Investigated the effects of surgery on state anxiety (A-state) and perceived pain in 59 white male surgical patients. The Melzack-Torgerson Pain Questionnaire, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Fear of Surgery Scale (FSS) were given the day before the operation and again 10 days after surgery. Results indicate that surgery as a physical threat has an effect on A-state but not on anxiety as a personality disposition (trait anxiety; A-trait). The correlation of A-state and magnitude of reported pain postsurgery, but not presurgery, attributed to the existence of little pain variance before surgery, and to realistic concern over pain following surgery. (19 ref)

Visual landscapes and psychological well-being( National Parks).

Article

Jan 1979

R.S. Ulrich

The therapeutic value of landscape in giving opportunity for 'spiritual renewal' through closer contact with nature has been the basis for much of the scenic conservation movement and lies behind a universal concept of National Parks as providing recreational resources for urban populations. This belief is tested in a series of classroom studies. -C.Laverick

Reduction of psychological stress in surgical patients

Article

Dec 1975

This study assesses the effectiveness of two stress-reducing strategies in a field setting. The first strategy consists of a coping device which entails the cognitive reappraisal of anxiety-provoking events, calming self-talk, and cognitive control through selective attention. The second strategy consists of supplying information about the threatening event along with reassurances for the purpose of producing emotional inoculation. Patients about to undergo major surgery were exposed to either the coping device, the preparatory information, both strategies, or neither. The prediction that the coping device would effectively reduce both pre- and post-operative stress was confirmed. An analysis of the nurses' ratings of preoperative stress showed a significant main effect for the coping device. There was also a significant main effect for the coping device on postoperative measures (number of pain relievers requested and proportion of patients requesting sedatives). The preparatory information, however, did not produce any significant effects on these postoperative measures.

Multivariate Statistical Methods McGraw-Hill

Article

Jan 1967

Donald F. Morrison

Windows and People: A Literature Survey. Psychological Reaction to Environments with and Without Windows

Article

Jun 1975

Belinda Lowenhaupt Collins

The current need for energy conservation has forced some fundamental re-evaluation of building design. One aspect that has come under much review is that of building fenestration. Although windows provide daylight and ventilation, they also can allow undesirable heat gain and loss. In the past, the provision of light and fresh air were essential functions of windows. A building was uninhabitable without windows. Now however, these functions can be fulfilled by artificial lighting and mechanical ventilation. As a result, a number of people have suggested that a substantial reduction in the size of windows, or their complete elimination is desirable in order to reduce excessive energy consumption. Nevertheless, even though a windowless building might be the best solution for eliminating energy loss through windows, there is considerable evidence that this may not be very desirable for the people in the building. In an attempt to delineate some of the functions of windows, the literature on the reaction to both the presence and the absence of windows was surveyed. In the first section, the psychological reaction to windowless buildings is examined to determine if the absence of windows in a building exerts any noticeable effect upon the occupants' behavior or attitudes. In the second section, the various characteristics of windows are reviewed to define some of their functions and benefits. (123 references) (from Introduction)

Anxiety, pain, and depression surrounding elective surgery: A multivariate comparison of abdominal surgery patients with kidney donors and recipients

Article

Feb 1977
J PSYCHOSOM RES

Anxiety, depression, and pain were psychometrically assessed in 67 abdominal surgery patients on the day before surgery, on the first postoperative day, and on the third postoperative day. Patients were divided into kidney donor, kidney recipient, and general surgery groups, and a multi-variate analysis of variance was performed in order to compare the trends of response over days across groups. There were significant group differences in the pattern of scores over the three days. Trait anxiety was related to post-surgical pain, anxiety, and depression in general surgery and renal recipient patients, but not in kidney donors. Results suggest that the meaning attached to the stress of surgery significantly affects the subjective state changes surrounding the operation.

Active Coping Processes, Coping Dispositions, and Recovery from Surgery

Article

Sep 1973

: Surgical patients with similar medical problems differ greatly in their rate of postoperative recovery. This study investigated the relationship between the mode of coping with preoperative stress and recovery from surgery. Sixty-one preoperative surgical patients were interviewed and classified into three groups based on whether they showed avoidance vigilance, or both kinds of coping behavior, concerning their surgical problem. Coping dispositions referring to the same dimension, preoperative anxiety, and previous life stress were also measured. The five recovery variables included days in hospital, number of pain medications, minor medical complications, negative psychological reactions, and the sum of these. Results showed that the vigilant group had the most complicated postoperative recovery, although only two recovery variables (days in hospital and minor complications) were statistically significant. Coping dispositions, anxiety, and life stress showed no clear or consistent relationships with recovery. Ways in which mode of coping may have influenced recovery are discussed. Copyright (C) 1973 by American Psychosomatic Society