The search for continuous improvement in healthcare services has stimulated different levels of discussion about how to improve the design of healthcare facilities. Improvements have been achieved at different levels by adopting numerous solutions. However there is uncertainty related to what is best in different contexts
The search for continuous improvement in healthcare services has stimulated different levels of discussion about how to improve the design of healthcare facilities. Improvements have been achieved at different levels by adopting numerous solutions. However there is uncertainty related to what is best in different contexts. This necessitates an evidence base to be established to better inform decisions in the healthcare domain. Another issue raising governmental and academic debate relates to whether or not substantial investments in the public service realm are delivering value-for money. Since the pressure to justify such investment is high, the use of scientific evidence to aid decision-making has been encouraged. The systematic use of evidence to support decisions first emerged in the field of medicine, and has since been adopted in other fields, such as management and design. In relation to healthcare projects, several studies mentioned the use of evidence in supporting design decisions.1,2,3,4 These studies reported the findings based on different theoretical frameworks, and there are myriad subjects and methods that have been used to investigate the effects of the built environment on health outcomes. This knowledge domain is mu