He, Y; Wang, X; Guo, W; Zou, X and Ye, Y (2025) Patient´s perception of spatial complexity in emergency spaces of a hospital in China: a method for stakeholders to improve design and management. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 21(4), pp. 721-745. ISSN 1745-2007
Abstract
The focus of medical facility users has shifted from prioritizing epidemic prevention to prioritizing experience after COVID-19, particularly in the emergency department (ED) of a large-scale Chinese hospital. The current visual elements of the emergency department provide a negative perception to the patients who visit the department. The study aims to optimize the ED's spatial design by understanding how visual elements affect patients' perception of spatial complexity. The methodology involved recreating a patient's typical path through the ED using data from the hospital information system (HIS), capturing images at 70 location nodes, and calculating the fractal dimensions of these images using the box-counting method. Visual elements were categorized into eight groups, and their fractal dimensions and proportions within the images were analyzed. A breakpoint graph was developed to track changes in spatial complexity perception as patients move through the ED. Statistical analysis, including correlation and one-way ANOVA, revealed that spatial attributes and lighting conditions significantly impact spatial complexity. From the results, grouping analysis was conducted on the visual elements of the horizontal surfaces, vertical surfaces, ceiling, furniture, and vegetation. Further optimization was proposed. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of visual elements in emergency spaces, directly influencing users' perception of spatial complexity. The relationship between spatial complexity and fractal dimension is further emphasized. Stakeholders and designers can use the findings of this study as references to make informed decisions to improve the user's experience in the healthcare-built environment.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | fractal analysis; healthcare-built environment; spatial complexity; visual elements; visual perception |
| Index terms: | methodology, complexity, information system, China, COVID-19, built environment, visual perception, prevention, dimension, prioritizing, statistical analysis, designer |
| Subjects: | health risk and incident analysis, decision analysis, information systems, systems engineering, infrastructure and transport systems, profession, health monitoring assessment and metrics, data science, research methods, financial risk, Geography, cognitive psychology |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Urban Studies, Cost Management, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Health and Safety, Geographical Context, Engineering Principles, Risk Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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