Art therapy-oriented space design for pediatric dental clinics: a Kano-AHP-FCE framework

This study takes the needs of pediatric dental patients as the starting point and integrates art therapy concepts into the space design of pediatric dental clinics, with the goal of enhancing both the treatment experience and clinical efficiency. By applying the Kano model and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), a comprehensive evaluation and design framework tailored to pediatric dental care requirements was established to assess art-therapy-oriented spatial experiences. Subsequently, practical design interventions were implemented and validated through Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation (FCE). The optimized scheme, which emphasized key elements such as parent accompaniment area, rich spatial color schemes, non-slip antibacterial flooring, independent treatment zone, warm ambient tones, child-safe corner protection, and overhead interactive projection, achieved a 26.58% higher comprehensive satisfaction score than the original clinic environment. The integrated Kano-AHP-FCE framework effectively links children's psychological and functional needs with spatial strategies for art therapy-oriented pediatric dental clinics. This study provides a replicable methodology and practical design guidelines for child-centered healing environments in contemporary healthcare settings.