Applying Design Principles to Support Healthcare Interiors

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this study aimed to continue the research from a previous peer reviewed pilot-study. In the pilot-study, data was collected and applied to healthcare interior design and renovation recommendations. This current study continued the analysis of that data and added links to Research Informed Design (RID), Evidence-Based Design (EBD) principles, and Universal Design (UD) principles. The objective of the study is to produce a data collection instrument for use in any healthcare interior, not solely healthcare patient rooms, and to recommend the use of inclusive UD principles by healthcare interior designers and facility managers when considering new and renovated of healthcare facilities. The method in this study used pilot-study data, conducted a review of the literature, and added a systematic method for applying UD principles to support ant healthcare interior design renovation recommendations. The results of this study included the proposed data collection instrument, with pilot-study data applied, and a 40% increase (over the pilot study) in design guidelines for practice. The conclusion of this article summarizes with implications for practice for healthcare interior design and renovations.