Outcomes of Environmental Appraisal of Different Hospital Waiting Areas

This article evaluates the intuitively informed interior design changes made to a United Kingdom neurology outpatient waiting area following relocation to an alternative building. This nouveau environment is compared withthe more traditional waiting area used before the relocation. The two waiting areas are compared in terms of their effects on the environmental appraisals, self-reported stress and arousal, satisfaction ratings, and pulse readings of 145 outpatients. The equivalence of the outpatient samples attending each clinic is demonstrated in terms of their common demographic characteristics and their similar health profiles. The results provide convergent evidence that the nouveau waiting area is associated with more positive environmental appraisals, improved mood, altered physiological state, and greater reported satisfaction. These findings provide support for the concept of a therapeutic hospital environment.