CHILDREN PERCEPTION IN RESPECT TO HOSPITAL DESIGN

  • Unique Paper ID: 180363
  • PageNo: 1468-1474
  • Abstract:
  • Could a hospital environment truly be a place of comfort, not fear, for a child? This research delves into children's perceptions of hospital design, challenging traditional intimidating clinical spaces to foster environments that actively support emotional well-being and recovery in pediatric settings, particularly in India. Recognizing that unfamiliar surroundings and medical procedures often induce anxiety in young patients, this study addresses the critical need for designs that resonate with a child's unique psychology. Through a comprehensive methodology combining a detailed literature review with a qualitative case study, we conducted a unique survey involving over 80 children from Class 3 to Class 5 at New Era Progressive School, Korba, Chhattisgarh. This included a revealing sketching activity and a targeted questionnaire designed to capture their direct experiences, preferences, and emotional associations with hospital spaces. Our key findings reveal a profound disconnect: children overwhelmingly associate hospitals with fear and anxiety, driven by dull aesthetics and clinical formality. However, their input also illuminated clear pathways to solace. The survey compellingly demonstrated strong preferences for vibrant colors (especially blue, red, and yellow), dedicated play areas, and access to entertainment like video games and televisions. Children's drawings further emphasized a longing for elements that evoke familiarity, nature, and opportunities for personalization. These insights align with broader research on color psychology and interactive design, underscoring that thoughtful environmental interventions are not merely cosmetic but therapeutically significant. This paper concludes by advocating for evidence-based design strategies that prioritize vivid, engaging, and empathetic environments, transforming pediatric hospitals into supportive spaces that genuinely contribute to improved patient outcomes and a more positive healthcare journey for children.

Copyright & License

Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BibTeX

@article{180363,
        author = {Kulveer Kaur Bhamra and Dr. Parampreet kaur},
        title = {CHILDREN PERCEPTION IN RESPECT TO HOSPITAL DESIGN},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {12},
        number = {1},
        pages = {1468-1474},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=180363},
        abstract = {Could a hospital environment truly be a place of comfort, not fear, for a child? This research delves into children's perceptions of hospital design, challenging traditional intimidating clinical spaces to foster environments that actively support emotional well-being and recovery in pediatric settings, particularly in India. Recognizing that unfamiliar surroundings and medical procedures often induce anxiety in young patients, this study addresses the critical need for designs that resonate with a child's unique psychology.
Through a comprehensive methodology combining a detailed literature review with a qualitative case study, we conducted a unique survey involving over 80 children from Class 3 to Class 5 at New Era Progressive School, Korba, Chhattisgarh. This included a revealing sketching activity and a targeted questionnaire designed to capture their direct experiences, preferences, and emotional associations with hospital spaces.
Our key findings reveal a profound disconnect: children overwhelmingly associate hospitals with fear and anxiety, driven by dull aesthetics and clinical formality. However, their input also illuminated clear pathways to solace. The survey compellingly demonstrated strong preferences for vibrant colors (especially blue, red, and yellow), dedicated play areas, and access to entertainment like video games and televisions. Children's drawings further emphasized a longing for elements that evoke familiarity, nature, and opportunities for personalization. These insights align with broader research on color psychology and interactive design, underscoring that thoughtful environmental interventions are not merely cosmetic but therapeutically significant.
This paper concludes by advocating for evidence-based design strategies that prioritize vivid, engaging, and empathetic environments, transforming pediatric hospitals into supportive spaces that genuinely contribute to improved patient outcomes and a more positive healthcare journey for children.},
        keywords = {Pediatric hospital design, children's perception, environmental psychology, healthcare architecture, patient experience, child well-being, India.},
        month = {June},
        }

Cite This Article

Bhamra, K. K., & kaur, D. P. (2025). CHILDREN PERCEPTION IN RESPECT TO HOSPITAL DESIGN. International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology (IJIRT), 12(1), 1468–1474.

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