Author:

Keywords:

adolescent healthcare, hospital design, patients' experiences

Abstract:

Adolescence is a period of transition that comes with complex development processes. When an adolescent is confronted with a chronic disease or the consequences of an accident, their development is jeopardized. Moreover, they are exposed to a hospital environment that is not adjusted to young people. Despite growing research on the effect of the physical environment on the well-being of the patient and the child as a patient, the adolescent is often overlooked. This study aimed to find out how adolescents experience a hospital stay and to what extent that experience is influenced by the physical environment, focusing on young people affected by cancer. Data were obtained through interviews with adolescents in this situation. Our findings suggest that adolescent patients are primarily looking for connections with life outside the hospital. The design strategies most likely to contribute to that are (1) maximally designing for freedom of choice, flexibility and spatial variety; (2) paying attention to the comfort of visiting family and friends; (3) providing in age-appropriate activities, a nice outdoor space and internet access; (4) pursuing aesthetic coherence and a homelike atmosphere; and (5) providing in the combination of individual patient rooms and a variety of communal rooms.