Zoekresultaten

Moderators of the longitudinal relationship between the perceived physical environment and outside play in children

Objectives: Promoting unstructured outside play is a promising vehicle to increase children’s physical activity (PA). This study investigates if factors of the social environment moderate the relationship between the perceived physical environment and outside play. Study design: 1875 parents from the KOALA Birth Cohort Study reported on their child’s outside play around age five years, and 1516 parents around age seven years. Linear mixed model analyses were performed to evaluate (moderating) relationships among factors of the social environment (parenting influences and social capital), the perceived physical environment, and outside play at age five and seven. Season was entered as a random factor in these analyses. Results: Accessibility of PA facilities, positive parental attitude towards PA and social capital were associated with more outside play, while parental concern and restriction of screen time were related with less outside play. We found two significant interactions; both involving parent perceived responsibility towards child PA participation. Conclusion: Although we found a limited number of interactions, this study demonstrated that the impact of the perceived physical environment may differ across levels of parent responsibility.

Tool development and application for vital workspace

Background and aim – The aim of this paper is present how applicationof the innovative Indoor Comfort Index (ICI) method reveal the actualindoor environmental quality (IEQ) and the perceived IEQ and itsinfluence on office workers productivity. Application of this tool in a preand post-test after an office refurbishment, will reveal the effectivenessof this intervention. The development and application of this tool,emerged from education and research in facility management, led to aspin-off consultancy firm Vital Workplace.Methods – Actual measurements of the IEQ conditions, combined with users’ perceptions of the IEQ,before and after an office refurbishment, reveals the effectiveness of a refurbishment by analysing thedifferences between the pre and post-test with multiple statistical analyses.Results – Regarding the IEQ, the ICI reveals not only the actual performance of an office building, alsoif improved conditions contribute to improved comfort of office workers. In addition, the possibleinfluence of the IEQ on office workers productivity is revealed. This allows facility managers to determineand improve the alignment of environment quality with workers’ activities and performance.Originality – The tool combines actual and perceived environmental quality at office buildings.Practical or social implications – Education and research can be used to create spin-offs in facilitymanagement. The developed tool can be used to diagnose the current state of the office, a basis fordiscussion on related improvements, and by doing so, for a cost-benefit analyses of design interventionsat organizations. Showing if design impact on users outweigh the costs of real estate, refurbishment,and changes in operations.Type of paper – Research paper.

How architecture can improve the quality of life of individuals showing challenging behaviour

Challenging behaviour, such as aggression towards oneself, others, or objects, arises in interaction with the environment and may prevent individuals from participating in society and compromise their quality of life (QoL). Literature suggests that architects can contribute to prevention, by influencing challenging behaviour before rather than after its occurrence. By conducting a case study at a very-intensive-care facility, we explore how architecture can contribute to the QoL of intellectually impaired (and autistic) individuals showing challenging behaviour. The case study is based on interviews with residents and care providers, and direct observations of their daily life. Preliminary findings confirm the relevance of architecture in influencing challenging behaviour. They suggest that the residents are dependent on the (visual and auditory) connection with the care provider. Also, care providers confirm the importance of this connection for the quality of the care they provide. At the same time, residents may experience anxiety triggered by fellow residents and their challenging behaviour. Residents may also feel stress when faced with unexpected situations and this may lead to an onset of challenging behaviour. Sensory sensitivity, specifically to noise and heat is also relevant for their QoL.The findings will be further substantiated through multiple triangulation with available data (personal files, incident reports, photographs). Future research, specifically focused on intellectually impaired individuals showing challenging behaviour, is needed to better understand the similarities and differences between their needs and the needs of autistic people.

Influencing automatic behaviours to reduce waste at facility operations

Many countries signed the Paris Agreement in order to mitigate global average temperature rise. In this context, Dutch authorities also decided to realize a maximum of 35% residual waste by 2020 for its own operations. So, 65% of the total waste should be recyclable or re-usable and only a maximum of 35% should be not. This current paper explores how changes in automatic behaviours, facilityoperations and related practice-oriented research can contribute to this aim of the authorities.

The experience of patients in an outpatient infusion facility

Purpose – As hospitals are now being designed with an increasing number of single rooms or cubicles, the individual preference of patients with respect to social contact is of great interest. The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of the experience of patients in an outpatient infusion center.Design/methodology/approach – A total of 29 semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed and analyzed by using direct content analysis.Findings – Findings showed that patients perceived a lack of acoustic privacy and therefore tried to emotionally isolate themselves or withheld information from staff. In addition, patients complained about the sounds of infusion pumps, but they were neutral about the interior features. Patients who preferred non-talking desired enclosed private rooms and perceived negative distraction because ofspatial crowding. In contrast, patients who preferred talking, or had no preference, desired shared rooms and perceived positive distraction because of spatial crowding.Research limitations/implications – In conclusion, results showed a relation between physical aspects (i.e. physical enclosure) and the social environment.Practical implications – The findings allow facility managers to better understand the patients’ experiences in an outpatient infusion facility and to make better-informed decisions. Patients with different preferences desired different physical aspects. Therefore, nursing staff of outpatient infusion centers should assess the preferences of patients. Moreover, architects should integrate different typesof treatment places (i.e. enclosed private rooms and shared rooms) in new outpatient infusion centers to fulfill different preferences and patients should have the opportunity to discuss issues in private with nursing staff.Originality/value – This study emphasizes the importance of a mix of treatment rooms, while new hospital designs mainly include single rooms or cubicles.

Delta Prize for Facility Management!