MDACC's new ACB opens in January 2005. Much effort and many resources have been expended to design and build a facility with environmental factors that relatively recent research predicts will positively impact healthcare delivery and outcomes. Three Centers (Breast, GU, and Gyn) that are moving into the ACB, and one that is not (GI), were chosen for this study.
Using designed surveys, the physical environment will be measured by perceptions of these built environment factors (BEFs):
· noise levels - e.g., use of noise-supression materials
· pleasant distractions - e.g., paintings, waterfalls
· safety features - e.g., lighting, handwashing stations
· wayfinding systems
· support spaces - e.g., work areas, storage space, waiting areas
· patient and family/caregiver control - e.g., areas for private conversations
Primary Objective:
1) To determine if perceptions of built environment factors (BEFs) serve as significant predictors of participant and organizational outcomes, for the four populations (patient contact staff, physicians, patients, and family / caregiver) in each of the Centers (Breast, GI, GU, GYN) at each interval in time (taking into account the effects of control variables).
Secondary Objectives are to:
1) Assess the measurement properties of each of the scales used to measure
perceptions of BEFs, control variables, and participant and organizational
outcomes.
2) Assess, at each interval in time, the differences in impacts of each BEF on
participant and organizational outcomes, for each population within the Centers.
3) Determine the adequacy of the Structural Equation Models shown in Exhibits 2 and 3 (Appendices K and L). |