Designing for Staff Performance and Well-Being: A Multi-Site Study of Outpatient Clinics.
Background: The physical design of outpatient clinics plays a critical role in shaping staff satisfaction, workflow efficiency, and perceived performance. While evidence-based design is increasingly emphasized, limited research has systematically examined how spatial layout, environmental quality, a...
| Published in: | Health Environments Research & Design Journal (HERD) (Sage Publications, Ltd.) Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 230 - 258 |
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| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article |
| Published: |
Sage Publications Inc.
Jul2026
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| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=194757468&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 194757468 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 19375867 I6R1 jtl: Health Environments Research & Design Journal (HERD) (Sage Publications, Ltd.) issn: 19375867 maglogo: Y pubinfo: dt: Jul2026 vid: 19 iid: 3 pid: 344 pub: Sage Publications Inc. place: Thousand Oaks, California artinfo: ui: 194757468 192079486 194757468 194757468 10.1177/19375867261421953 194757468 ppf: 230 ppct: 28 formats: tig: atl: Designing for Staff Performance and Well-Being: A Multi-Site Study of Outpatient Clinics. aug: au: Zamani, Zahra Puccetti, Craig Joy, Theresa affil: Department of Design and Planning, BSA LifeStructures, Raleigh, NC, USA sug: subj: Ambulatory Care Facilities Psychological Well-Being Facility Design and Construction Methods Task Performance and Analysis Stress, Psychological Communication Hardiness Job Satisfaction Work Human Semi-Structured Interview Data Analysis Software Descriptive Statistics Multiple Regression Correlational Studies Multicenter Studies Multimethod Studies Quality Improvement Workflow Occupational Health Work Environment Quality of Health Care ab: Background: The physical design of outpatient clinics plays a critical role in shaping staff satisfaction, workflow efficiency, and perceived performance. While evidence-based design is increasingly emphasized, limited research has systematically examined how spatial layout, environmental quality, and zoning influence staff experience and behavior across diverse clinical contexts. Objective: This study examines the impact of outpatient clinic layout and environmental attributes on staff satisfaction, stress, task performance, and communication. The goal is to identify high-impact zones and design factors that improve staff outcomes and operational resilience. Methods: A mixed-methods design was used across four outpatient clinics within a unified health system. Data collection included behavioral mapping, Gemba walk-throughs, staff surveys, and multiple regression analyses. Quantitative and qualitative data were triangulated to evaluate spatial use patterns and environmental predictors of staff experience. Results: Key operational areas—nurse stations, exam rooms, and team rooms—were identified as multifunctional hubs. Their effectiveness was shaped by adjacency, workspace size, visual access, and acoustic privacy. Regression analysis showed that travel distance, spatial clarity, and wayfinding were significant predictors of satisfaction, performance, and reduced stress. Qualitative data reinforced the importance of ergonomic furnishings, access to restorative areas, and flexibility in reconfiguring underutilized spaces. Conclusion: Outpatient environments that integrate spatial clarity, environmental comfort, and intuitive flow are essential for supporting staff experience and performance. These findings offer practical guidance for designing adaptable, high-functioning ambulatory care settings. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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