Measuring the Structure of Visual Fields in Nursing Units

Abstract

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to develop quantitative measures of the structure of visual fields in nursing units.

Background:

The structure of visual fields in nursing units—especially visibility toward patient beds—is believed to have a direct influence on the routine use of space by medical staff and patient outcomes within units. Although previous studies are suggestive, none has developed rigorous measures of the visibility within nursing units.

Methods:

To compare the degree of visibility toward patient beds among different nursing units, the targeted visibility index (TVI) was introduced. The TVI measures the degree to which an observer can see all targets in a nursing unit. It provided a comparative spatial quality evaluation of various nursing unit configurations with differing numbers of patient beds. It was developed and programmed on the ArcGIS version 9.2 platform (ESRI Inc., Redlands, CA) with component object model-based ArcObjects and Visual Basic for Application language (Microsoft).

Results:

The assessment of three nursing unit designs by TVI aligned exactly with empirical evaluations conducted in previous studies.

Conclusions:

This study provided an opportunity and supplied relevant measures for healthcare facility designers to specify the visual structures of important behavioral effects. It is anticipated that the TVI will contribute to the understanding of healthcare design and the resulting outcomes.

Keywords

Visibility structure nursing unit evaluation healthcare design unit configuration

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Batty

(2001). Exploring isovist fields: Space and shape in architectural and urban morphology. Environment and Planning B: Planning & Design, 28(1), 123–150.

Benedikt

M. L.

(1979). To take hold of space—Isovists and isovist fields. Environment and Planning B: Planning & Design, 6(1), 47–65.

Gibson

J. J.

(1979). The ecological approach to visual perception. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Hall

E. T.

(1966). The hidden dimension (1st ed.). Garden City, NY: Doubleday.

Hendrich

Fay

, & Sorrells

(2002, September). Courage to heal: Comprehensive cardiac critical care. Healthcare Design, 11–13.

Hillier

, & Hanson

(1984). The social logic of space. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

Hillier

, & Tzortzi

(2006). Space syntax: The language of museum space. In MacDonald

(Ed.). A companion to museum studies (pp. 282–301). London, United Kingdom: Blackwell.

Peponis

, & Zimring

(2009, June). Targeted visibility analysis in buildings—Correlating targeted visibility analysis with distribution of people and their interactions within an intensive care unit. Paper presented at the 7th International Space Syntax Symposium, Stockholm, Sweden.

Peponis

Dalton

R. C.

Wineman

, & Dalton

(2004). Measuring the effects of layout upon visitors' spatial behaviors in open plan exhibition settings. Environment and Planning B: Planning & Design, 31(3), 453–473.

10.

Peponis

Wineman

Rashid

Kim

S. H.

, & Bafna

(1997). On the description of shape and spatial configuration inside buildings: Convex partitions and their local properties. Environment and Planning B: Planning & Design, 24(5), 761–781.

11.

Shepley

M. M.

, & Davies

(2003, July). Nursing unit configuration and its relationship to noise and nurse walking behavior: An AIDS/HIV unit case study. [Electronic journal]. AIA Academy Journal, 1–10.

12.

Sturdavant

(1960). Intensive nursing service in circular and rectangular units. Hospitals, Journal of the American Hospital Association, 34(14), 46–48, 71–80.

13.

Trites

D. K.

Galbraith

Sturdavant

, & Leckwart

(1970). Influence of nursing unit design on the activities and subjective feelings of nursing personnel. Environment and Behavior, 2(3), 303–334.

14.

Trites

D. K.

Galbraith

F. D.

Jr Leckwart

J. F.

, & Sturdavant

(1969). Radial nursing units prove best in controlled study. Modern Hospital, 112(4), 94–99.

15.

Turner

(2003). Analysing the visual dynamics of spatial morphology. Environment and Planning B: Planning & Design, 30(5), 657–676.

16.

Turner

Doxa

O'Sullivan

, & Penn

(2001). From isovists to visibility graphs: A methodology for the analysis of architectural space. Environment and Planning B: Planning & Design, 28(1), 103–121.

17.

Tzortzi

(2004). Building and exhibition layout: Sainsbury Wing compared with Castelvecchio. Architectural Research Quarterly, 8(2), 128–140.

18.

Ulrich

Zimring

Joseph

, & Choudhary

(2004). The role of the physical environment in the hospital of the 21st century: A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Concord, CA: The Center for Health Design.