Quantifying Environmental Priorities: A Weighted Model for Doctors’ Workspaces Design

Abstract

Background: Doctors often face heavy workloads and high-stress levels. Optimizing their workspaces can enhance emotional well-being, increase satisfaction, and improve healthcare outcomes. Currently, no theoretical framework exists for such spatial optimization, necessitating the exploration of key elements and interactions within the typical workspaces for doctors. Objectives: In this study, we focused on typical workplaces for doctors to identify the factors within these spaces that influence emotional regulation, assess their effectiveness, and establish an evaluation framework. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 medical experts, followed by qualitative thematic analysis to construct a clustering model. Subsequently, we identified the key categories to construct the Analytic Hierarchy Process model. We invited 10 medical experts and 10 architectural design experts to evaluate the importance of these factors using a judgment matrix approach. Results: The clustering model for emotional regulation included six dimensions: individual characteristics, spatial dimensions, physical aspects, decorative elements, atmosphere, and emotional expressions. The model identified four primary categories (spatial dimensions, physical aspects, decorative elements, and atmosphere) and assessed their relative weights. Conclusions: In this study, we identified key factors influencing doctors’ emotional regulation and established a clustering model. The evaluation model and importance weights of different factors provide effective recommendations for optimizing doctors’ workspaces and enhancing their work environments theoretically and practically.