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Published on: September 18, 2012
Simulating visual impairment to detect hospital way-finding difficulties
Sonja Koneczny1, Justin B Rousek, M Susan Hallbeck
1University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, Lincoln, NE, USA.
Studies in Health Technology and Informatics
|April 21, 2009
Summary
Hospital way-finding is challenging for those with low vision. Decorative elements, lighting issues, and poor signage create significant obstacles, increasing fall risks for aging patients.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare accessibility
- Human factors engineering
- Gerontology
Background:
- Aging populations experience declining vision and increased health issues, complicating navigation in healthcare settings.
- Effective way-finding is crucial for patient safety and reducing stress within hospitals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate way-finding challenges faced by individuals with simulated low-vision impairments in a hospital environment.
- To identify specific environmental factors that hinder navigation for patients with visual impairments.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study involving 50 healthy, sighted participants using five low-vision impairment simulators.
- Participants navigated common hospital paths, with data collected through objective observation and subjective questionnaires.
- Analysis focused on obstacles encountered during way-finding tasks.
Main Results:
- Decorative elements significantly disrupt way-finding for individuals with low vision.
- Inconsistent lighting alters perceptions of space, making corridors appear crooked and doorways misleading.
- Signage issues, including text size, placement, illumination, and physical size, were frequently unsatisfactory.
Conclusions:
- Low-vision simulation effectively identifies environmental barriers in hospitals.
- Addressing decorative elements, lighting, and signage can mitigate way-finding difficulties and reduce fall risks.
- Hospitals can enhance patient safety and reduce frustration by implementing evidence-based environmental modifications.
