Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Windows in the intensive therapy unit

P Keep, J James, M Inman

    Anaesthesia
    |March 1, 1980
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) patients in windowless rooms experienced worse disorientation, memory issues, and more hallucinations than those with windows. Window access may improve patient recovery and reduce psychological distress.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    In situ differences in nitrogen cycling related to presence of submerged aquatic vegetation in a Gulf of Mexico estuary.

    Ecosphere (Washington, D.C)·2024
    Same author

    The role of contrast-enhanced mammography in the preoperative evaluation of invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast.

    Clinical radiology·2024
    Same author

    Introducing LISA: Less Invasive Surfactant Administration.

    Irish medical journal·2023
    Same author

    Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a post-mortem CT service for adult non-suspicious death.

    Clinical radiology·2023
    Same author

    Arfid Genes and Environment (ARFID-GEN): Study Protocol.

    Research square·2023
    Same author

    Long COVID prevalence and associated characteristics among a South Alabama population.

    Public health·2023

    Area of Science:

    • Critical Care Medicine
    • Environmental Psychology
    • Neuroscience

    Background:

    • Intensive Therapy Units (ITUs) are critical care environments where patients face prolonged stays and significant psychological stress.
    • Environmental factors within healthcare settings can influence patient outcomes and recovery.
    • The impact of sensory deprivation, such as lack of natural light, on ITU patients is not fully understood.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the psychological effects of windowless environments on Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) survivors.
    • To compare the incidence of disorientation, memory impairment, and psychotic symptoms between patients in windowed and windowless ITU settings.
    • To explore the relationship between environmental exposure and psychological well-being in critically ill patients.

    Main Methods:

    Related Experiment Videos

    • Retrospective survey design comparing two groups of Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) survivors.
    • Patients were categorized based on their ITU room environment: windowless versus translucent windows.
    • Data collected included patient recall of stay duration, temporal orientation during stay, and incidence of hallucinations and delusions.

    Main Results:

    • Patients from the windowless ITU unit reported less accurate memory of their stay duration.
    • Windowless unit survivors exhibited poorer temporal orientation during their ITU stay.
    • The incidence of hallucinations and delusions was more than double in the windowless ITU group compared to the group with windows.
    • The study identified a higher occurrence of depersonalisation among patients in windowless environments.

    Conclusions:

    • Exposure to natural light or views through windows may mitigate adverse psychological effects in Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) patients.
    • Windowless environments in ITUs are associated with increased risks of disorientation, memory deficits, and psychotic symptoms.
    • Environmental design in critical care settings, specifically the inclusion of windows, is a potentially modifiable factor to improve patient psychological recovery and reduce distress.