Are We Speaking the Same Language? Terminology Consistency in EBD.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analyze the consistency, variability, and potential standardization of terminology used to describe architectural variables (AVs) and health outcomes in evidence-based design (EBD) studies. BACKGROUND: In EBD research, consistent terminology is crucial for studying the effects of AVs on health outcomes. However, there is a possibility that diverse terms have been used by researchers, which could lead to potential confusion and inconsistencies. METHODS: Three recent large systematic reviews were used as a source of publications, and 105 were extracted. The analysis aimed to extract a list of the terms used to refer to the unique concepts of AVs and health outcomes, with a specific focus on people with dementia. Each term's frequency was calculated, and statistical tests, including the χ2 and the post hoc test, were employed to compare their distributions. RESULTS: The study identified representative terms for AVs and health outcomes, revealing the variability in terminology usage within EBD field for dementia-friendly design. The comparative analysis of the identified terms highlighted patterns of frequency and distribution, shedding light on potential areas for standardization. CONCLUSIONS: The findings emphasize the need for standardized terminologies in EBD to improve communication, collaboration, and knowledge synthesis. Standardization of terminology can facilitate research comparability, enhance the generalizability of findings by creating a common language across studies and practitioners, and support the development of EBD guidelines. The study contributes to the ongoing discourse on standardizing terminologies in the field and provides insights into strategies for achieving consensus among researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders in health environmental research.

Health and Care Dependency of Older Adults in Dresden, Germany: Results from the LAB60+ Study.

As the population in Europe ages, an increased focus on the health of older adults is necessary. The purpose of the population-based LAB60+ study was to examine the current health and care situation of the population of older adults in Dresden, Germany, and to assess the effect of age, gender, and socioeconomic status (SES) on health outcomes. In the first half of 2021, 2399 out of 6004 randomly sampled residents of Dresden aged 60 years or older answered questions on their chronic conditions, care dependency, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and well-being, among others. Of the participants, 91.6% were afflicted with at least one chronic condition, and 73.1% had multimorbidities. More than one-tenth (11.3%) of participants were care dependent. Lower levels of HRQoL and well-being were observed compared to a published German reference population, perhaps because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Gender differences were observed for some chronic health conditions, and women had a higher risk for lower HRQoL, well-being, and depressivity compared to men. A low SES was associated with a higher risk of the vast majority of health outcomes. Particularly, socioeconomic factors and gender-related inequalities should be considered for the development of prevention and health-promoting measures during late life.

Stroke Patients' Free-Time Activities and Spatial Preferences During Inpatient Recovery in Rehabilitation Centers.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate which spaces stroke patients visit in their free time while undergoing inpatient recovery in rehabilitation centers, what activities they engage in, and what kind of spaces they want. BACKGROUND: Research studies consistently show that stroke patients are highly inactive during rehabilitation. Much remains unknown about what patients do in their free time and how the built environment might affect their behavior and activities. METHODS: Patients' free-time activities were recorded via patient shadowing (n = 70, 840 hr), and their spatial preferences were collected using a survey (n = 60) in seven rehabilitation centers. Each participant was observed over one typical day (12 consecutive hours). Their activities, durations, and locations were recorded using floor plans and time log sheets. RESULTS: Six main themes emerged from the analysis of shadowing data and patient surveys: (1) spending most free time in their room, (2) corridor as the overlooked activity hub, (3) food and beverage stations as triggers of activity, (4) wanting to socialize, (5) variety of common spaces for different activities is desired, and (6) common room's atmosphere, comfort, style, and view are important. Even though socializing with other patients was mentioned as a primary reason for visiting common spaces in the survey, patients spent most of their free time alone. CONCLUSIONS: Corridor emerged as a space with great potential to motivate and support various activities of patients. Patients' free-time activities could contribute to their recovery, and the built environment may play a role in facilitating and supporting these activities.

Stroke patients' nonscheduled activity during inpatient rehabilitation and its relationship with the architectural layout: A multicenter shadowing study.

BACKGROUND: Recovery from stroke aims at regaining mobility through performing activities. However, research studies on time use in rehabilitation environments consistently show low activity levels of stroke patients outside their scheduled therapies. It is not clear whether the architectural layout of clinics is related to patients' activity. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the nonscheduled (voluntary) activities of stroke patients during an ordinary day in a rehabilitation clinic to investigate whether and how the built environment contributes to stroke patients' independent activities. METHODS: Patient shadowing was used in seven neurological rehabilitation clinics. Ten patients were observed per clinic (n = 70), each patient for 12 consecutive hours (total 840 hours). Their paths, activities, locations and traveled distances were recorded in relation to the clinics' layouts. RESULTS: Patients spent around 50% of the observed time in their rooms. The frequency of nonscheduled activity was low in all participating clinics (Mdn = 21,2%, IQR 6,5%-21%) compared to the scheduled activity. The median length of the nonscheduled paths for all patients was 43,42 m (average 46,97 m), with significantly longer scheduled paths (average 89,11 m, Mdn = 77,06 m, Mann-Whitney U = 536, n1 = 762, n2 = 225, p < .001, two-tailed). Corridors and seating areas in the corridors were the most frequent destinations of patients' nonscheduled paths. The clinic with the most frequent nonscheduled activity had a distinctive spatial distribution of dining and living spaces. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to change the architectural layout of rehabilitation clinics to better support patients' nonscheduled activity.

[Administrative Prevalence and Health Care Situation of Dementia Patients in Acute Care Hospitals: An Epidemiological Health Care Study Based on Claims Data of Insured Persons in Saxony]. / Administrative Prävalenz und Versorgungssituation der Demenz im Krankenhaus ­ Eine versorgungsepidemiologische Studie basierend auf GKV-Daten sächsischer Versicherter.

OBJECTIVE: The increasing number of people with dementia will challenge the health care system, especially acute care. Using health insurance claims data, the study objective was to examine the regional patterns of the administrative prevalence of dementia, the prevalence of dementia in hospitals and the care situation in hospitals. METHODS: We used 2014 claims data from AOK PLUS, the largest statutory health insurance service in Saxony. If dementia was diagnosed either in an outpatient or inpatient setting in 3 of 4 quarters in a year, a person was categorised as a dementia case (n=61,700). The analysis of health care status included 61,239 patients with dementia and 183,477 control subjects. The control group was matched using the criteria of gender, age and region of residence. RESULTS: For those older than 65 years, the overall administrative prevalence rate of dementia was 9.3%. The estimated prevalence for those in hospitals was 16.7%. In 2014, there were 33% more admissions, 36% more hospital days and 18% higher costs per person-year among people diagnosed with dementia than the control subjects. The longer annual hospital stays and the higher costs were primarily caused by the greater number of admissions of people with dementia. Inpatient service use was, compared to people without dementia, characterized by a need for care and assistance, rather than by a need for medical therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. CONCLUSION: To improve the health care situation of people with dementia, to adapt to the challenges facing hospitals and to reduce the financial burden caused by dementia, more efforts are needed to improve the health care situation. Measures include, among others, improvements in recognition of dementia and reduction of unnecessary hospital stays.

Determinants of hospitalization and length of stay among people with dementia - An analysis of statutory health insurance claims data.

OBJECTIVE: Dementia is a crucial challenge in acute care hospitals. Using a retrospective claims data cohort, this paper explores dementia patients' acute hospitalization rates, risk factors, and length of stay. METHODS: The study used claims data from AOK PLUS, the largest statutory health insurance service (SHI) in Saxony, a federal state of Germany. The analysis included 61,239 people with dementia and 183,477 control subjects, all 65 years and older. Control subjects were age, gender, and regionally matched in a 1:3 ratio. Negative binomial hurdle regression was used to compare differences in hospitalization for the year 2014. RESULTS: People with dementia had 1.49 times higher adjusted odds of being hospitalized at least once (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46-1.52). Among those individuals hospitalized at least once, dementia increased the number of readmissions by 18% (95% CI, 1.15-1.20). Dementia patients also had a 1.74 times higher odds for at least one emergency admission compared to individuals without dementia (95% CI, 1.70-1.78). Dementia patients' admission risk factors included having care dependency, being recently diagnosed with dementia and living outside a metropolitan region. The increased length of stay for people with dementia per year was mainly attributable to higher admission rates. CONCLUSIONS: Dementia patients are at higher risk for hospitalization, especially if they live outside the metropolitan region. Healthcare systems need to respond to the challenges resulting from the predicted demographic developments and increasing burden of dementia in the general population.

[Impact of dementia on length of stay and costs in acute care hospitals]. / Einfluss der Demenz auf Verweildauer und Erlöse im Akutkrankenhaus.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of patients with dementia in acute care hospitals is becoming increasingly more important. The aim of this study was to investigate and demonstrate aspects of the healthcare situation and resource consumption of dementia patients during their hospital stay in a ward for internal medicine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Secondary data from a ward of internal medicine were analyzed on a retrospective and case-related basis. For 100 patients a diagnosis of dementia by a general practitioner before hospitalization was identified. The control group was selected by age and sex from the other patients in the ward (n = 100). The costs were calculated on the basis of the German diagnosis-related groups (G-DRG) flat rate case classification. The relationship between dementia, deviation from the average length of stay and costs was investigated under the control of comorbidities using multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: Patients with dementia had poorer health at admission with respect to functionality and orientation and a higher risk of falls and pressure ulcers. During hospitalization patients with dementia fell more frequently than patients without dementia (12 % versus 3 %, p = 0.029). Regarding the average length of stay, according to the G­DRG catalogue patients with dementia stayed 1.4 days longer in hospital than patients without dementia and caused excess costs of 19 %. CONCLUSION: Patients with dementia are a highly vulnerable patient group with a higher consumption of resources than patients without dementia. The results demonstrate the care-related and economic consequences, which the increasing number of patients with dementia could have in the future.

Investigation of Eligible Picture Categories for Use as Environmental Cues in Dementia-Sensitive Environments.

OBJECTIVES: Environmental cues, such as pictures, could be helpful in improving room-finding and wayfinding abilities among older patients. The aim of this study was to identify picture categories that are preferred and easily remembered by older patients and cognitively impaired patients and which therefore might be suitable for use as environmental cues in acute care settings. METHODS: Twelve pictures were presented to a sample of older patients ( n = 37). The pictures represented different categories: familiarity (familiar vs. unfamiliar), type of shot (close-up vs. wide shot), and picture content (nature vs. animal vs. urban). We tested the patients' votes of preference and abilities to identify and immediately recall pictures. Cognitively impaired patients ( n = 14) were assessed by the abbreviated mental test and the mini mental state examination and were compared with patients without cognitive impairments ( n = 23) using a repeated measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: The results showed a main effect of familiarity on positive vote and recall of pictures. The absence of interaction effects of familiarity and group indicated an overall impact of familiarity on the sample. Within cognitively impaired patients, a significant difference in recall of picture content between urban (20%) and animal (9%) was found. CONCLUSIONS: Pictures, which patients were able to relate to in terms of familiarity and the characteristics urban and nature, seem to be suitable for use as environmental cues. Besides functioning as such, we assume, based on literature, that pictures could further enhance the ambiance or serve as prompts for communication and interaction.

Environmental Cues in Double-Occupancy Rooms to Support Patients With Dementia.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different environmental cues in double-occupancy rooms of an acute care hospital to support patients' abilities to identify their bed and wardrobe. METHODS: The quasi-experiment was conducted on a geriatric ward of an acute care hospital. Patients with dementia were included (n = 42). To test the effectiveness of environmental cues, two rooms were enhanced with the environmental cue "color," two rooms with the cue "number," and two rooms with the cue "patient's name". Four rooms were not redesigned and were used as control rooms. For analysis, we pooled the intervention groups color and number (n = 14) and compared it with the control group (n = 22). RESULTS: The environmental cues color and number were significantly effective to improve the identification of the wardrobe from the third to the fifth day after admission. However, for the 10th-12th day after admission, we found no difference in results. Furthermore, results indicate improvements in the ability to identify the bed by using the environmental cues color and number. CONCLUSIONS: As this study indicated, the environmental cues color and number are helpful for these patients to identify their bed and wardrobe. However, these cues were most effective from the third to the fifth day after admission. To sustain their effectiveness on patients' identification abilities during their hospital stay, we discuss, whether verbal prompting and an ongoing mentioning of such cues, embedded in the daily work of nurses, could be beneficial.

There or not there? A multidisciplinary review and research agenda on the impact of transparent barriers on human perception, action, and social behavior.

Through advances in production and treatment technologies, transparent glass has become an increasingly versatile material and a global hallmark of modern architecture. In the shape of invisible barriers, it defines spaces while simultaneously shaping their lighting, noise, and climate conditions. Despite these unique architectural qualities, little is known regarding the human experience with glass barriers. Is a material that has been described as being simultaneously there and not there from an architectural perspective, actually there and/or not there from perceptual, behavioral, and social points of view? In this article, we review systematic observations and experimental studies that explore the impact of transparent barriers on human cognition and action. In doing so, the importance of empirical and multidisciplinary approaches to inform the use of glass in contemporary architecture is highlighted and key questions for future inquiry are identified.

Impact of the design of the built environment on people with dementia: an evidence-based review.

OBJECTIVE: In this review the impact of the design of the built environment on people with dementia in long-term care settings is systematically analyzed and summarized. Architects and designers will be provided with credible evidence on which they can confidently base their design decisions. Researchers will be able to determine which environmental aspects have been well investigated and where there are gaps in the current state of the research. BACKGROUND: A great number of studies have established a relationship between the design of the physical environment of long-term care settings and outcomes of people with dementia. However, the methods employed are heterogeneous and the results are often conflicting. Consequently, the process of integrating the best evidence available into architectural designs may be hindered. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted reviewing studies that meet certain inclusion criteria. Using an evidence-based approach, the methodical quality of the studies was rated. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-nine studies were found. They were thematically summarized into four main categories: basic design decisions, environmental attributes, ambience, and environmental information. The effectiveness of the interventions on the behavior, cognition, function, well being, social abilities, orientation, and care outcomes on people with dementia was illustrated by matrices. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this review indicate that, with the exception of cognition, specific design interventions are beneficial to the outcomes of people with dementia. Overall, the field of environmental design for people with dementia is well researched in many aspects and only few gaps in knowledge were identified.

How to rate the quality of a research paper: introducing a helpful algorithm for architects and designers.

KEYWORDS: Decision-making, evidence-based design, methodology.

A Descriptive Study of Home Modifications for People with Dementia and Barriers to Implementation.

This study describes home environmental features, safety issues, and health-related modifications in a community dwelling sample of 82 elderly people with dementia. Main barriers to the accessibility of the homes were steps, both inside and outside the house. The majority of the caregivers had made home modifications, which pertained mainly to physical limitations. Home modifications to support cognitive deficits were made to a lesser extent. The main barrier to the implementation of home modifications to accommodate the care recipient's memory loss was skepticism about their usefulness. Regarding the removal of physical barriers, financial constraints were most frequently mentioned.

Wayfinding for people with dementia: a review of the role of architectural design.

OBJECTIVE: This paper provides an overview of the available literature on architectural wayfinding design for people with dementia in nursing homes. The results were to be summarized and substantiated through an interdisciplinary interpretation, taking into account changes in the orientation process of people with dementia. BACKGROUND: Spatial disorientation and declining wayfinding abilities are among the early symptoms of dementia, limiting a person's ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) independently and ultimately, perhaps leading to institutionalization. A prerequisite to maintaining residents' quality of life in a nursing home is their ability to orient themselves within their new environment. APPROACH: The available literature on wayfinding design for people with dementia in nursing homes was reviewed. Two aspects of interventions for residents' wayfinding abilities were identified: the design of the floor plan typology and environmental cues. RESULTS: The design of the physical environment plays a major role in supporting the wayfinding abilities of people with dementia. The floor plan design of a nursing home in particular has a significant influence on residents' spatial orientation and wayfinding. Additional interventions such as signage, furnishing, lighting, and colors are additional supporting features but they cannot compensate for an adverse architectural design. CONCLUSIONS: For the creation of a supportive, dementia-friendly environment, both aspects of architectural design must be considered. Design guidelines to support the wayfinding abilities of people with dementia were developed to synthesize both.

Association of the spatial layout of the home and ADL abilities among older adults with dementia.

We investigated the relationship between architectural space syntax measures describing the spatial layout of a home and activities of daily living (ADL) among people with dementia. We visited the homes of 82 participants in a dementia care comparative effectiveness clinical trial and measured the space syntax variables intelligibility and convexity along with several clinical variables, including ADLs. In regression models, we estimated the cross-sectional association between space syntax measures and ADLs. Higher convexity was associated with worse performance of basic but not instrumental ADLs (adjusted ß =19.2, P = .02). Intelligibility was not associated with ADLs. These results imply that enclosed rooms with a clearly legible meaning and function might be better memorized and associated with the spatial layout of the home resulting in better basic ADL performance. These results warrant further research on space syntax measures in the home environment of people with dementia, including longitudinal study, which we are pursuing.

Dementia-friendly architecture: environments that facilitate wayfinding in nursing homes.

Spatial disorientation is a prime reason for institutionalization. The autonomy of the residents and their quality of life, however, is strongly linked with their ability to reach certain places within their nursing home. The physical environment has a great potential for supporting a resident's wayfinding abilities. For this study, data were collected from 30 German nursing homes. Skilled nurses rated the resident's ability to perform 5 wayfinding tasks. The architectural characteristics of the homes were analyzed and their impact on the resulting scores was tested for statistical significance using the Mann-Whitney U test (P < .05). Results confirm that people with advancing dementia are increasingly dependent on a compensating environment. The significant factors include a small number of residents per living area, the straight layout of the circulation system without any changes in direction, and the provision of only 1 living/dining room. These and additional results were transformed into architectural guidelines.