A new approach to improve outpatient departments to mitigate respiratory infectious diseases

Spatial design and management in many hospitals across Asia continue to face challenges in meeting infection control requirements in outpatient departments (OPDs), along with limited user participation in design processes. Existing studies mainly focus on clinical infection control protocols or general hospital design standards, with insufficient integration of participatory and evidence-based spatial decision-making. This study addresses this gap by proposing a participatory, evidence-based intervention framework for OPD design in public hospitals to support respiratory disease prevention in the post-COVID-19 era. A qualitative methodology was employed through participatory prototype development involving patients, relatives, and healthcare personnel. The study applied a participatory design framework combined with structured decision-making tools to enhance stakeholder engagement and evidence-based evaluation. A total of 50 participants were involved in an AHP survey and focus group interviews. AHP was used to prioritise spatial, functional, and infection control criteria, while thematic analysis was applied to capture user experiences and contextual needs. Findings indicate that participatory processes enhance shared understanding and support the development of spaces that address infection control, user experience, and sustainability in public hospitals. The study proposes a replicable framework integrating participatory prototype development with AHP-based prioritisation, offering practical guidance for OPD planning, design, and renovation.