Physical Environment Features and Healthcare Interruptions: A Scoping Review Across Clinical Settings

Area of Science:

• Healthcare design
• Patient safety research
• Environmental psychology in healthcare

Background:

• Interruptions in healthcare settings are a major cause of medical errors and adverse events.
• Built environmental factors are known contributors to these interruptions.
• Limited research exists on the specific impact of environmental variables on interruption frequency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify empirical studies examining the relationship between physical environment features and interruptions in healthcare.
• To synthesize current knowledge on how the built environment influences interruption occurrence.
• To highlight gaps in research regarding environmental factors and patient safety.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines.
• 33 empirical studies from diverse fields (medical, nursing, engineering, architecture) were analyzed.
• Data extraction focused on study design, setting, participants, environmental variables, and interruption outcomes.

Main Results:

• Key physical environment features influencing interruptions include no-interruption zones, signage, medication room design, physical barriers, workstation layout, and traffic flow.
• Definitions of interruptions varied across studies, complicating direct comparisons.
• Studies encompassed various healthcare settings (ORs, EDs, ICUs) and involved diverse healthcare professionals and staff.

Conclusions:

• Significant gaps persist in understanding the precise impact of physical environment features on healthcare interruptions.
• Further systematic research is required to explore environmental influences on interruptions.
• Optimizing the built environment is crucial for enhancing patient safety, improving workflow, and reducing medical errors.