Interpreting hospital soundscapes through participatory design methods: a case of a pediatric inpatient unit

Abstract

Shared spaces in hospitals, such as inpatient units, serve users with diverse and sometimes conflicting needs, making it challenging to create inclusive and satisfying soundscapes. Standardized design approaches often fall short in addressing these complexities. This study explored how Participatory Design (PD) methods could help reinterpret hospital soundscapes by involving users and fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration. Conducted in six phases, the study aimed to identify the promises and pitfalls of integrating PD into hospital soundscape design. In the first phase, spatial and behavioral observations were conducted in a Pediatric Inpatient Unit (PIU), supported by field notes, drawings, and photographs. In the second phase, semi-structured interviews with patients, families, and staff were analyzed using Grounded Theory. These findings informed the third phase, where users participated in a co-design workshop to create their ideal patient room. This design was then refined by architecture experts in phase four, resulting in detailed floor plans, 3D visuals, and animations. In phase five, acoustic experts evaluated user-identified pleasant sounds and selected them as tools for the final design game. In the sixth phase, a second co-design workshop was held where PIU users designed ideal soundscapes using game elements derived from previous phases. This study contributes to the soundscape literature by demonstrating the potential of PD methods to support the creation of more inclusive and empathetic hospital sound environments. It highlights the value of user participation in complex healthcare settings and provides a framework for integrating PD into future hospital soundscape design.