Madson M, Goodwin K. Color Coding the "Labyrinth": How Staff Perceived a Two-Part Intervention to Improve Wayfinding in an Adult Emergency Department.
HERD-HEALTH ENVIRONMENTS RESEARCH & DESIGN JOURNAL 2021;
14:429-441. [PMID:
33715485 DOI:
10.1177/1937586721994593]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES, PURPOSE, OR AIM
We report a two-part wayfinding intervention, considering four quality criteria (visibility, usability, efficiency and overall effectiveness) from staff perspectives.
BACKGROUND
Few studies to date have explored wayfinding in the Emergency Department (ED). Yet, as ED usage continues to grow, effective wayfinding in these high-stress, fast-paced environments is likely to become increasingly important. At an adult ED located in the U.S. Southeast, wayfinding has been a persistent problem. We subsequently developed a two-part wayfinding intervention: colored routes to key destinations in the ED and corresponding visitor badges.
METHODS
Quality criteria were formulated using the Donabedian model: visibility (structure), usability (process), efficiency (process), and overall effectiveness (outcome). Assessments consisted of staff surveys, which were distributed from March to early April 2019.
RESULTS
The strong ratings across quality criteria, added to affirmative comments from staff, provide evidence that the color coding system made a positive impact on wayfinding.
CONCLUSIONS
While the results should be generalized with caution, the two-part intervention may be highly portable to other contexts. Future studies might examine the effect of colored routes alone. They might illuminate relations between structure, process, and outcomes as they relate to the assessment of wayfinding. They might also expand wayfinding quality criteria. Ultimately, such studies should improve not only the productivity but also the accessibility and user experience of the ED.
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