title: Investigation of Eligible Picture Categories for Use as Environmental Cues in Dementia-Sensitive Environments.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Environmental cues, such as pictures, could be helpful in improving room-finding and wayfinding abilities among older patients. The aim of this study was to identify picture categories that are preferred and easily remembered by older patients and cognitively impaired patients and which therefore might be suitable for use as environmental cues in acute care settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve pictures were presented to a sample of older patients ( n = 37). The pictures represented different categories: familiarity (familiar vs. unfamiliar), type of shot (close-up vs. wide shot), and picture content (nature vs. animal vs. urban). We tested the patients' votes of preference and abilities to identify and immediately recall pictures. Cognitively impaired patients ( n = 14) were assessed by the abbreviated mental test and the mini mental state examination and were compared with patients without cognitive impairments ( n = 23) using a repeated measures analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed a main effect of familiarity on positive vote and recall of pictures. The absence of interaction effects of familiarity and group indicated an overall impact of familiarity on the sample. Within cognitively impaired patients, a significant difference in recall of picture content between urban (20%) and animal (9%) was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pictures, which patients were able to relate to in terms of familiarity and the characteristics urban and nature, seem to be suitable for use as environmental cues. Besides functioning as such, we assume, based on literature, that pictures could further enhance the ambiance or serve as prompts for communication and interaction.
authors.affiliation: 1 Chair for Social and Health Care Buildings and Design, Institute of Buildings and Design, Faculty of Architecture, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Motzek
authors.affiliation: 1 Chair for Social and Health Care Buildings and Design, Institute of Buildings and Design, Faculty of Architecture, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bueter
authors.affiliation: 1 Chair for Social and Health Care Buildings and Design, Institute of Buildings and Design, Faculty of Architecture, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Gesine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marquardt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003463:Cues; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006749:Hospital Design and Construction; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072458:Orientation, Spatial; D057240:Patient Preference; D010781:Photography; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: dementia; environmental design; hospital; orientation; pictures; space perception