The Impact of Pediatric Outpatient Waiting Room Design on the Experiences of Autistic Children: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric healthcare design
• Autism spectrum disorder research
• Environmental psychology in healthcare settings

Background:

• Pediatric outpatient waiting rooms often present sensory challenges for autistic children.
• Current waiting room designs may not adequately address the unique sensory and self-regulation needs of autistic individuals.
• Inclusive healthcare environments are crucial given the rising prevalence of autism spectrum disorder.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of pediatric outpatient waiting room design on the experiences of autistic children.
• To identify specific design elements that create barriers or facilitators for autistic children in waiting rooms.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Person-Environment-Occupation Model for data collection and analysis.
• Employed a mixed-methods approach including participant observation, semistructured interviews, and parent surveys.
• Conducted a six-step thematic analysis on collected data from three families.

Main Results:

• Identified three key themes: waiting room triggers, facilitating regulation, and supported inclusion.
• Highlighted specific environmental triggers within waiting rooms that can negatively affect autistic children.
• Revealed strategies and design features that can help autistic children regulate and feel included.

Conclusions:

• Findings offer valuable insights for designing more supportive and inclusive pediatric outpatient waiting rooms.
• Emphasizes the need for further research to optimize healthcare environments for autistic children.
• Design modifications can improve the healthcare experience for children with autism spectrum disorder.