Is the therapeutic value of hospital waiting areas recognised and endorsed by healthcare design guidelines?

Purpose The purpose of the study is to identify if the design of the non-clinical spaces of hospitals, particularly the waiting areas, is considered equally important in the healing process as the clinical areas by regulators. Background There is a growing body of research about evidence-based design elements and their impact on wellbeing in healthcare facilities but the majority of the studies are focused on the clinical spaces. The waiting area is an indispensable part of the healthcare experience, acts as a priming experience to patients who often have negative feelings as a response to stress. Methods An analysis and juxtaposition of three countries guidelines namely the UK; Health Building Note 00-01 General design guidance for healthcare buildings, USA; guidelines for design and construction of hospital and healthcare facilities and Australia: Australasian Health Facility Guidelines under the scope of specific evidence-based design features used as a method to demonstrate the consideration given to the design of waiting spaces. Results There is a range of information offered through the different guidelines, with the UK being the most inclusive, Australia is limited to functional requirements and the USA ignores the waiting spaces design in the guidelines of healthcare facilities. Conclusions Guidelines are based on the functionality of waiting areas and do not introduce enough therapeutic features. Actions to improve them could be beneficial for architects during the design process and consequently for waiting areas environment and patients wellbeing.