title: Assessing the Physical Environment of Emergency Departments.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emergency Department (ED) is considered to be the heart of a hospital. Based on many studies, a well-organized physical environment can enhance efficacy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we aimed to investigate the influence of physical environment in EDs on efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted via the faculty members of the ED and residents of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. Data were collected using a predefined questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA were used to analyze the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-two participants, including 21 females and 41 males, completed the questionnaires. The mean age of the participants was 37 years (SD: 8.42). The mean work experience was 8 years (SD: 4.52) and all the studied variables varied within a range of 3.3 - 4.2. Time indices had the highest mean among variables followed by capacity, work space, treatment units, critical care units and, triage indices, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In general, time indices including length of patient stay in the ED and space capacity, emphasizing the need to address these shortcomings.
authors.affiliation: Trauma Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goodarzi
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hamidreza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Javadzadeh
authors.affiliation: Trauma Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Kasra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hassanpour
keywords: Accident and Emergency Department; Environment Design; Hospital Design and Construction; Physical Challenges
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