Author:

Keywords:

emergency department, material aspects, patient experience, semi-structured interviews, spatial experience, waiting time, Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Emergency Medicine, Nursing, Material aspects, Patient experience, Semistructured interviews, Social interaction, Spatial experience, Waiting time, CARE, SATISFACTION, PERCEPTIONS, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Emergency Service, Hospital, Female, Hospital Design and Construction, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Satisfaction, Qualitative Research, Young Adult, 1103 Clinical Sciences, 1110 Nursing, 3202 Clinical sciences, 4205 Nursing

Abstract:

Introduction: Nurses are increasingly involved in the design of healthcare facilities. While their experience differs from that of patients, they are often expected to represent patients in design processes. Especially in the context of an emergency department (ED) patients’ state of mind alters their experience. Knowledge about the role of space in ED patients’ experience is limited. Our study aims to gain insight into this role and thus provide ED nurses with information to better represent ED patients’ perspective in design. Methods: We conducted qualitative interviews with 22 patients. The interviews were supported by visual material collected through ethnographic methods to facilitate participants’ reflection on the role of space in their experience. Participants were selected during their stay at the emergency department by convenience sampling. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed in combination with the visual material through open and axial coding. Results: We found that the role of space in ED patients’ experience is affected by their altered sensory awareness and shaped by material, social and time-related aspects. These aspects are intertwined and influenced by the transit character of the emergency department. Discussion: The study indicates that paying attention to the role of space yields a nuanced understanding of ED patients’ experience. The challenge for hospital designers and staff lies in taking into account patients’ altered sensory awareness and in designing interventions that support staff in emphasizing a human approach without counteracting the medical-technical aspect of emergency care.