Impact of visual art on patient behavior in the emergency department waiting room.
BACKGROUND
Wait times have been reported to be one of the most important concerns for people visiting emergency departments (EDs). Affective states significantly impact perception of wait time. There is substantial evidence that art depicting nature reduces stress levels and anxiety, thus potentially impacting the waiting experience.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the effect of visual art depicting nature (still and video) on patients' and visitors' behavior in the ED.


METHODS
A pre-post research design was implemented using systematic behavioral observation of patients and visitors in the ED waiting rooms of two hospitals over a period of 4 months. Thirty hours of data were collected before and after new still and video art was installed at each site.


RESULTS
Significant reduction in restlessness, noise level, and people staring at other people in the room was found at both sites. A significant decrease in the number of queries made at the front desk and a significant increase in social interaction were found at one of the sites.


CONCLUSIONS
Visual art has positive effects on the ED waiting experience.
Research Department, American Art Resources, Houston, Texas, USA.
Upali
U
Nanda
Cheryl
C
Chanaud
Michael
M
Nelson
Xi
X
Zhu
Robyn
R
Bajema
Ben H
BH
Jansen
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control; D001154:Art; D001519:Behavior; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D019368:Nature; D009622:Noise; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors