Perceptive priority and satisfaction criteria of environmental attributes in Intensive Care Units

Abstract The aim of this study is to identify the perceptive priority and satisfaction related to environmental comfort attributes of professionals adapted to a tropical climate, who work in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). For this purpose, professionals from nine Intensive Care Units (ICUs) - in the public health network in a city with tropical climate - were assessed through perception and satisfaction questionnaires, in addition to experimental measurements of the environment. Data were treated using the PROMETHEE method and Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney inferential tests to identify the over classification of the priority attributes. The results indicate that air temperature is the highest priority attribute among the intensive care professionals adapted to a tropical climate, with tolerance to noise showing to be particularly different for different PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) values. The conclusion of the study is that environmental comfort assessments must consider the priority attributes for occupants in order to optimize the perception and satisfaction with the global environment.