Environmental Physical and Perceived Quality in Hospice

This study presents the application of post-occupancy evaluations (POEs) methodologies to facilities for palliative-hospice care, in order to directly assess the physical-spatial qualities better suited for the specific psychological needs of "fragile" users and to ensure better architectural quality in new projects and in renovation measures.

In international literature, there are few studies concerning the application of POEs to hospice, assessing the impact of individual environmental factors on users' psychoemotional reactions. The set of elements that patients and their families perceive as important, defining the architectural quality of a hospice, has not been sufficiently investigated yet.

Therefore, a POE was performed on a sample of hospice in Italy, by preparing a self-filled questionnaire addressing patients and relatives. Indicators of perceived physical-spatial humanization, which were validated for hospital facilities (perceived hospital environment quality indicators), were used for the assessment then implemented and harmonized in relation to hospice facilities features.

The study revealed the indicators of architectural quality most valued by users, whose reliability was then verified, along with their average quality, by highlighting recurring shortcomings. The global quality was found to be generally high. Below-average scores were found for indicators on usability, acoustic comfort of outdoors, visual and acoustic comfort of shared indoor spaces, and artificial lighting in the recovery room.

The study generated new knowledge on hospice and confirmed the efficacy of POEs as a tool both for purchasers and designers. Indeed, the first results of this study allow to recalibrate building programs, revisiting layouts, and elaborating appropriate technical solutions.