Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Due to the design of Hvidovre Hospital, the outpatient clinic of the Department of Paediatrics has windowless consultation rooms. Work environment surveys revealed that nurses and doctors working in these windowless rooms considered the lack of natural light a considerable health problem. This study evaluated the effects of installing light-emitting diode (LED) virtual windows in these rooms. METHODS: Four similar windowless consultations rooms located next to each other were used in the study. All had older T-5 fluorescent luminaires installed. In two of these rooms, Servodan LED virtual windows depicting various natural scenes were installed. The illuminance and correlated colour temperature (CCT) of each room's lighting was measured, and a work environment questionnaire was filled out by nurses and doctors working in each room. RESULTS: A total of 113 questionnaires were collected and evaluated. LED virtual windows produced an improved perception of lighting conditions, both at the desk (p < 0.001) and in the rooms in general (p < 0.001) and improved the overall positive experience of the rooms (p = 0.02). A tendency towards concentration difficulties was reported less often in the rooms with LED virtual windows, (p = 0.11). Retinal illuminance (p = 0.02) as well as CCT at the desk (p < 0.005) and at the retina (p < 0.01) alike were increased in rooms with LED virtual windows. CONCLUSIONS: LED virtual windows improved the lighting experience, the impression of the space, the retinal illuminance and the CCT at the desk and at the retina in the windowless rooms.none. TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | A5499 |
| Journal | Danish Medical Journal |
| Volume | 65 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| ISSN | 1603-9629 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2018 |
Keywords
- Female
- Hospital Design and Construction
- Humans
- Light
- Male
- Personnel, Hospital/psychology
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Workplace