Thermal comfort of patients in hospital ward areas

Abstract

SUMMARYThe patient is identified as being of prime importance for comfort standards in hospital ward areas, other ward users being expected to adjust their dress to suit the conditions necessary for patient comfort. A study to identify the optimum steady state conditions for patient comfort is then described.Although this study raises some doubts as to the applicability of the standard thermal comfort assessment techniques to ward areas, it is felt that its results give a good indication of the steady-state conditions preferred by the patients. These were an air temperature of between 21.5° and 22° C and a relative humidity of between 30% and 70%, where the air velocity was less than 0.1 m/s and the mean radiant temperature was close to air temperature.