PNNL

Abstract

Objective: This study explores whether “future” lighting systems that provide greater control and opportunity for circadian synchronization are acceptable to patients in a simulated inpatient hospital room. Background: Tunable, dimmable LED lighting systems provide multiple potential benefits for healthcare and other settings. They can provide significant energy savings, support circadian synchronization by varying the spectrum and intensity of light over the course of the day, address nighttime navigation needs, and provide more user-friendly control. These trends have converged with an emerging understanding of the important effects of light on human visual and other biological responses. However, important questions remain about the experience and acceptability of the this “future” lighting if we are to adopt it broadly Methods: Volunteer participants (34) performed a series of tasks typical of patients, such as reading or watching a video, in a full-scale simulated inpatient room. Each participant conducted these tasks under 12 lighting conditions in a counter-balanced order that included varying illuminance levels, CCTs, and in a few conditions, saturated colors. The participants rated each lighting condition on comfort, intensity, appropriateness and naturalness. Results, and Conclusions: Compared to a previous study using the same lighting conditions where participants simulated nursing tasks, the simulated patients found the cooler, brighter conditions less pleasing and less natural. The “nurses” in the previous study found these conditions good. The participants in this study reacted negatively to saturated blue lighting on the footwall of the room but found a mixture of warmer and cooler CCTs acceptable. This study suggests that patients would value innovative future lighting designs but that multiple participants need to participate in design projects; nurses might respond differently than patients so both need to participate in evaluating lighting designs.