Effects of furniture rearrangement on the atmosphere of wards in a maximum-security hospital

Abstract

In a study of the effects of a short-term environmental intervention, alterations were made in furniture arrangements in ward dayrooms in a maximum-security hospital in the United Kingdom. Over two 14-day periods, group seating patterns were introduced each day, in conjunction with leisure-time resources such as cards and games, to promote improvements in the wards' psychosocial atmosphere. The program was implemented through a system of behavioral contracting with ward staff. The findings suggest that the use of such simple low-cost techniques can produce modest positive changes in different kinds of ward environments.