Patients care pathway in a radiotherapy service through a new architectural project: the waiting rooms

Abstract

Introduction: This study aims to examine the perception of the quality of the environment of patients attending a radiotherapy service (CHU, University of Liege). The final objective was to make recommendations as to the type of waiting room, to be part of a healing environment. Methodology: This study includes 65 patients (35 women and 30 men) who responded to three questionnaires: the socio-demographic profile, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Hospital Environment Perceived Quality indicators (PHEQIs). This mix-method study also includes a focus group which objective was to compare three waiting rooms designed by students of the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Liege. Focus groups including healthcare professionals, patients and their families as well as architects. The focus group analysis tool is the analysis S.W.O.T. (Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats). This analysis allows to diagnose the best waiting room and then to produce recommendations. Results and Conclusions The patient is a man or woman, average age 61, married (e), retired (e), with breast cancer or prostate cancer. Only six patients had clinically significant anxiety disorder. Mean scores in PHEQIs show a satisfactory assessment of the environmental quality; no value is below neutrality for both the physical and socio-functional environment. Six recommendations were proposed for the waiting room: create areas of social interaction and privacy zones; promote the flexibility of the environment; availability of information; propose positive distractions; adapting the environment depending on the audience; encourage the installation of natural elements.