The Evaluation of Factors Affecting Healing Through Sustainable Medical Centers Design: a Practical Model

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Architecture and Urbanism , Faculty of Karaj Girls (17 shahrivar), Technical and Vocational University, Karaj, Iran

2 Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran

3 Urban Design Engineering, Faculty of Architecture and UrbanIsm, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran

Abstract

Nowadays, using nature and its healing effects, as one of the sustainable architectural solutions, has attracted the attention of urban designers and managers. The aim of this study is to identify and prioritize the characteristics affecting the healing design of sustainable medical spaces, as one of the urban infrastructures, especially in interaction with nature. The mixed methodology of this study  consists of four steps. First, characteristics effective in healing through medical spaces were investigated through library study method and by reviewing past research. ،Then, using Delphi method, and by interviewing and asking experts through Likert method, the final characteristics were identified, prioritized, and inferentially analyzed using the SPSS software. Third, as a case study, the method and application of these characteristics in real samples were analyzed inferentially. Finally, using the results obtained, a practical model for designing a healing center was presented. The results from Delphi method reveal experts' prioritization of 10 healing characteristics in the design of  medical spaces. The Fresults obtained from the Delphi section and the SPSS inferential analysis reveal a high mean for the elimination of stressors (4.8) and the interaction with nature (4.6), and a low mean for horticultural activities (2.4). The findings of the case study and inferential analysis also indicate ahigh mean  for the elimination of stressors(3) and interaction with nature(3) and a low average of spatial design for privacy(1). Finally, by combining and comparing the results of different steps of the research, and by considering the prioritization of characteristics, a  practical model is presented for the healing design of  medical spaces, especially in interaction with nature. This model can be extended to other infrastructures of sustainable urban spaces.
 
Extended Abstract
1-Introduction
Nowadays, using nature and its healing effects, as one of the sustainable architectural solutions, has attracted the attention of urban designers and managers. These healing effects of nature can be achieved in different parts of cities and buildings, with medical centers being a high priority. Therefore, this study aims to identify and prioritize the characteristics affecting the healing design of sustainable healing medical spaces, as one of the urban infrastructures, especially in interaction with nature.
 
2-Materials and Methods
The mixed method of this study consists of four steps. First, characteristics effective in the healing nature of medical spaces were investigated through library study method and by reviewing past research.healing Then, using Delphi method, and by interviewing and asking experts through Likert's 5-degree method, the final characteristics were identified, prioritized, and inferentially analyzed using the SPSS software. Third, as a case study, the method and application of these characteristics in real samples were analyzed inferentially. Finally, using the results of the previous three steps, a practical model for designing a healing medical center is presented.
 
3- Results and Discussion
Based on the findings of this study, it was found that designing healing  medical centers can be significantly effective in the quality and the process of treatment. However, most hospital buildings in Iran, except for some cases, lack a suitable design for treating patients using nature effectively. In this study, from the results of Delphi method, we have achieved experts' prioritization of ten healing characteristics in designing medical spaces. These final ten features include more interaction with the nature of entering the enclosure into the treatment cycle, providing various artistic, horticultural and recreational activities, etc. The results of Delphi section and the inferential analysis of SPSS reveal a high mean of the elimination of the stressors (4/8) and the interaction with nature (4/6) and a low mean of horticultural activities (2/4). Also, the lowest variances or dispersions of participants' responses were those of the stressors removal factors (0/17) and the interaction with nature and readability (0/26), and the highest value was that of horticultural activities (0/93). In terms of standard deviation, the lowest rate was related to the stressors (0/42) and the interaction with nature and readability (0/51) and the highest value was related to horticultural activities (0/96). The findings of the case study and inferential analysis also indicate a high mean for the elimination of the stressors(3) and for the interaction with nature(3) and a low average of spatial design for privacy(1). In this research, the results of descriptive-analysis section are completely in line with Delphi section, which confirms the accuracy of the results of the research in the field of healing design. Finally, by comparing the results of both Delphi and the case study methods, high efficiency of stressors removal characteristics (13%), interaction with nature (12%) and readability (12%) and a low application of characteristics of horticultural activities (7%), water element (7%) and spatial design for solitude (8%) wereidentified. Finally, by combining and comparing the results of different steps of the research and considering the prioritization of the characteristics, a practical model has been presented for the healing design of medical spaces, especially in interaction with nature. In this model, two main indicators of human factors and spatial factors are considered. These two main indicators include all the characteristics investigated in the study. The use of plants and natural elements, followed by the elimination of stress and factors damaging to health and relaxation, which is also more or less obtained in interaction with nature, has been made a priority.
 
4- Conclusion
By studying this model, one can find the importance of proper utilization of nature and the influence of using plants and natural elements on all factors mentioned in the model in order to improve the health of the body and soul of patients. This model can be easily extended to other sustainable urban spaces and its use can increase the physical and mental health of people in the society, which can be examined more closely in future studies. It is also possible to prioritize these characteristics specifically in the climate of a particular city such as Tehran and its effects on individuals. This study can be examined on a specific infrastructure including bridges or pedestrians or even parks in harmony with the climate of a particular geographic region in Iran.

Keywords

References

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