A post-occupancy evaluation of patient's perception of visual comfort in hospital wards

Patient's perceptions are gaining popularity to evaluate the quality of healthcare facilities delivered. A study was conducted to understand the visual comfort condition of hospital ward patients with reference to the physical aspects of natural, artificial and ambient light. We undertook an observational study in which 136 consecutive inpatients of both the genders were evaluated. POE (Post occupancy evaluation) questionnaire method for visual comfort in 3 multi-specialty hospitals was used for assessment. Post occupancy evaluation allows direct comparison of the physical parameters with the inputs of the occupant's perception. The gathered data was analyzed using SPSS statistical package to determine the co-relation in patient's visual comfort and light levels. The qualitative findings noted a positive contribution of patient satisfaction and daylight (72%) as well as ambient daylight levels (77%). Thus, there is preference for natural day lighting as against artificial lighting and natural lighting reduces lighting energy demand. Also, there is a positive preference to certain illumination quality and levels in patients for visual comfort. This study hence provides data for visual comfort which is the main and yet understudied determinant of lighting requirements in a ward setup and also suggests economical recommendations to modify architectural design and maximize use of natural light in wards.