Study of the relationship between indoor daylight environments and patient average length of stay (ALOS) in healthcare facilities

Abstract

This study investigates how indoor daylight environments affect patient Average\nLength of Stay (ALOS), by evaluating and analyzing daylight levels in patient rooms in\ncomparison to their ALOS. The patient ALOS data were taken at one general hospital in\nInchon, Korea and the other in Bryan, Texas, U.S.A.; physical, environmental and\ndaylighting conditions were assessed at each building site. The gathered data were\nanalyzed using SPSS statistical package to determine the trends in patients’ length of\nstay in hospital wards with 95% and 90% statistical significances. The data were\ncategorized based on the orientation of a patient room and were compared between\ndifferent orientations and types of patient rooms in the same ward of each hospital.\nSelected hospital wards were classified based on their orientations and types of\npatient rooms. The other variables considered in the study were: the differences in\ndaylighting environments (illuminance, luminance ration, daylight factor, diversity and\nuniformity of illuminance), and physical environment properties of the patient rooms of each hospital, and how these affected patient ALOS in both locations (Inchon and Bryan).\nTo analyze the daylighting environment, on-site measurements, RADIANCE simulations\nand physical scale model measurements were conducted. This study also investigated\npatients’ feelings and opinions, and their preferences in daylighting environments with\nthe questionnaire survey.\nThrough this study, three hypotheses were tested and was evidence for the\nfollowing conclusions.\nFirst, there may be a positive relationship between indoor daylight environments\nand ALOS. Second, seasonal weather differences cause different indoor daylighting\nlevels and may influence the length of patient hospitalization. Third, overall patient\nsatisfaction and reactions to patient rooms may be related with indoor daylight\nenvironments. More controllable shading devices, naturally lighted indoor environments,\nand glare prevention create positive outcomes for patient ALOS and visual comfort.\nTo increase the validity and confidence about the positive effects of daylight on\nhuman physiological conditions, further studies are necessary which provide more\nsamples, facilities and other variables.\nThis study was created as a basis for the development of recommendations for\ndesigning patient rooms in healthcare facilities and, as a result, should be used to achieve\nmore effective healing environments.

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