Designing Future Sustainable Critical Care Settings

The overall aim of this project is to create in-depth knowledge about designing sustainable intensive care units that promote wellbeing for patients and the staff. The study is to be carried out before and after re-location to new facilities.

Specific objectives are:  1) To measure environmental factors; the sound and light environment, the architectural design of the unit, the self-assessed degree of ability to work patient-centered, as well as the staff´s working environment through quantitative measures and qualitative observations. 2)Based on step I develop design interventions in collaboration relevant business actors related to light and sound environment and the architectural design of the unit. 3) Implement the design interventions and measure the outcome of design parameters after relocation, as well as the staff´s ability to work in a patient-centered manner.

The project is planned to take place at a general intensive care unit where a relocation of new facility is planned.

ICUs care for critically ill patients, needing not just highly advanced medical care but also a supportive and sustainable environment.

Many of Sweden´s ICUs, with outdated lighting systems and elevated noise levels indrectly cause harm for staff and the patients. For patients, it may cause sleep disturbances and ICU delirium.

Combined with insufficient circadian light, these factors not only affect patient survival rates but also their chances of recovery.