From Inside to Outside: A Scoping Review of Connections in Care Buildings and Their Impact on End-Users' Experiences

AimThis scoping review aims to provide insight into how various connections between indoor and outdoor environments in care buildings affect end-user experiences and use of space.BackgroundNumerous studies highlight the beneficial effects of outdoor interaction on end-users' physical and mental health and well-being. To move beyond this focus and fully understand and capture the width and depth of indoor-outdoor connections and end-user experiences thereof, it is essential to draw on research from multiple disciplines where relevant evidence is available.MethodsWe conducted a literature search across six databases to identify relevant studies. Eligibility criteria were specified a priori using the population, concept, and context framework. After full-text screening, 34 studies remained. In a first phase, the data were coded inductively without predefined categories; in a second phase, a thematic analysis was conducted to develop descriptive themes.ResultsOur findings revealed a combination of various connections and aspects of the built environment. Especially, visual and physical connections to outdoor spaces are prominent. Auditory, sociospatial, and outside-to-inside connections were identified less frequently. Aspects of the built environment are mostly related to features of windows, pathways, and doorways, while intermediate spaces were sporadically discussed.ConclusionsThis review provides an in-depth overview of the existing studies on indoor-outdoor connections in care buildings. We identify a gap in the literature: the lack of an umbrella term for the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. We therefore propose the term indoor-outdoor nexus to unify these scattered concepts and improve the clarity and findability of research.