Exploration of hospital room design on emotions, activity, and social connections after stroke: a qualitative study of patient experiences using virtual reality

Stroke patients are rarely asked about their responses to specific design attributes. Virtual reality (VR) offers a promising tool to explore how hospital environments are experienced after stroke.
To gather perspectives and emotional responses regarding physical design attributes of hospital patient rooms after stroke.
We developed a ‘VR experience’ for adult stroke patients in both single and multi-patient room designs, with four additional physical design attributes: spaciousness, greenery outlook, night-time noise, and design attributes for social connectivity e.g. furnishings. A qualitative study approach involved semi-structured interviewing, that followed immersion in the VR patient room designs. Qualitative descriptive and thematic analysis was done. (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, Trial Id: ACTRN12620000375954).
Thirty-five stroke patients participated (April 2019–March 2020). Interviews yielded three themes and ten sub-themes. Themes were: (1) action and care supported by design and layout, such as ease of movement; (2) connection to people, nature, and place, emphasising social interaction and greenery; and (3) control of the environment, involving attributes like space.
Findings showed how physical design attributes enhance movement accessibility, promote social interaction, or provide sensory comfort. Using VR allowed rich, detailed feedback from patients, offering valuable insights for designing hospital environments.

Placement of recognisable furnishings, configuration of spaces in patient rooms, and quiet private spaces are perceived as supporting social interactions and movement.
Positive distractors of greenery exposure, outdoor views, and human-based sounds support restorative opportunities from clinical care tasks.
Noise, intrusive presence of other people in own space, and difficult access to technology/personal effects contribute to discomfort.
Addressing emotions and social connectivity through environment design might prime social and physical activity for optimal brain recovery and repair.

Placement of recognisable furnishings, configuration of spaces in patient rooms, and quiet private spaces are perceived as supporting social interactions and movement.
Positive distractors of greenery exposure, outdoor views, and human-based sounds support restorative opportunities from clinical care tasks.
Noise, intrusive presence of other people in own space, and difficult access to technology/personal effects contribute to discomfort.
Addressing emotions and social connectivity through environment design might prime social and physical activity for optimal brain recovery and repair.

临床卒中患者（stroke patients）鲜少被问及对特定设计属性的主观感受。虚拟现实（Virtual Reality, VR）技术为探究卒中患者患病后对医院环境的体验感知提供了极具前景的研究工具。

本研究旨在收集卒中患者对医院病房物理设计属性的主观看法与情绪反馈。

我们针对成人卒中患者开发了适配单人间与多人间病房设计的“VR体验场景”，并纳入四项额外物理设计属性：空间开阔度、绿植景观、夜间噪声以及社交连接相关设计属性（如家具陈设）。本研究采用质性研究方法，在受试者沉浸式体验VR病房场景后开展半结构化访谈，并进行质性描述与主题分析。（澳大利亚新西兰临床试验注册中心，试验编号：ACTRN12620000375954）

本次研究共纳入35名卒中患者（2019年4月至2020年3月）。访谈结果共提炼出3个核心主题与10个子主题：（1）设计与布局支持的行动与照护，例如行动便利性；（2）与他人、自然及场所的联结，强调社交互动与绿植景观；（3）环境掌控感，涉及空间等相关属性。

研究结果揭示了物理设计属性可通过哪些路径提升行动便利性、促进社交互动或提供感官舒适体验。

可识别的家具陈设布局、病房空间配置以及安静的私密空间，均被受试者认为有助于社交互动与行动开展。

绿植接触、户外景观与人声这类积极的分心刺激，可帮助受试者从临床照护任务中获得恢复性休憩。

噪声、他人闯入个人空间以及难以获取科技设备或私人物品，均会引发不适感受。

通过环境设计兼顾情绪需求与社交联结，或可激发社交与身体活动，从而助力实现最佳的大脑康复与修复效果。

可识别的家具陈设布局、病房空间配置以及安静的私密空间，均被受试者认为有助于社交互动与行动开展。

绿植接触、户外景观与人声这类积极的分心刺激，可帮助受试者从临床照护任务中获得恢复性休憩。

噪声、他人闯入个人空间以及难以获取科技设备或私人物品，均会引发不适感受。

通过环境设计兼顾情绪需求与社交联结，或可激发社交与身体活动，从而助力实现最佳的大脑康复与修复效果。