Understanding a wayfinding challenges in hospitals : insights
from a representative survey

J 2025

Understanding a wayfinding challenges in hospitals : insights from a representative survey

ZBIEJCZUK SUCHÁ, Ladislava; Michaela HOLUBEC BIRTUSOVÁ a Gabriela GODIŠKOVÁ

Základní údaje

Originální název

Understanding a wayfinding challenges in hospitals : insights from a representative survey

Autoři

ZBIEJCZUK SUCHÁ, Ladislava; Michaela HOLUBEC BIRTUSOVÁ a Gabriela GODIŠKOVÁ

Vydání

Design for Health, 2025, 2473-5132

Další údaje

Jazyk

angličtina

Typ výsledku

Článek v odborném periodiku

Obor

50902 Social sciences, interdisciplinary

Stát vydavatele

Velká Británie a Severní Irsko

Utajení

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Odkazy

URL

Označené pro přenos do RIV

Ano

Kód RIV

RIV/00216224:14210/25:00144183

Organizační jednotka

Filozofická fakulta

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/24735132.2025.2570563

Klíčová slova anglicky

hospitals; wayfinding; survey

Štítky

rivok

Změněno: 27. 2. 2026 14:39, Mgr. Ester Gaja Pučálková, Ph.D.

Anotace

V originále

Wayfinding in hospitals presents a critical challenge, significantly affecting patient experience, operational efficiency, and safety. This study explores wayfinding issues through a mixed-methods approach to representative survey of 1,041 respondents, combining a quantitative descriptive analysis with qualitative thematic analysis. Findings reveal that 47% of respondents experience minor or major difficulties navigating hospital environments, with challenges disproportionately affecting older adults and individuals with lower educational attainment. Key issues identified include unclear signage, illegible navigation elements, and the complexity of hospital layouts, resulting in delays, stress, and, in some cases, compromised healthcare. The study introduces a model of problematic wayfinding situations, emphasizing the interplay of individual abilities, environmental complexity, and effective navigation strategies, such as reliance on digital tools or assistance from companions. While the study highlights significant systemic challenges, it also underscores the importance of user-centred, adaptive approaches to hospital wayfinding design. This research provides an evidence base for the development of locally embedded methodology to address wayfinding in healthcare facilities.

Návaznosti

TQ01000352, projekt VaV

Název: Designérské řešení a optimalizace orientačního značení pro zdravotnická zařízení a orientaci v nich

Investor: Technologická agentura ČR, Designérské řešení a optimalizace orientačního značení pro zdravotnická zařízení a orientaci v nich, DC3 - SHUV

Citovat

ZBIEJCZUK SUCHÁ, Ladislava; Michaela HOLUBEC BIRTUSOVÁ a Gabriela GODIŠKOVÁ. Understanding a wayfinding challenges in hospitals : insights from a representative survey. Design for Health. 2025, roč. 9, č. 3, s. 344-360. ISSN 2473-5132. Dostupné z: https://doi.org/10.1080/24735132.2025.2570563.

@article{2557139,
   author = {Zbiejczuk Suchá, Ladislava and Holubec Birtusová, Michaela and Godišková, Gabriela},
   article_number = {3},
   doi = {https://doi.org/10.1080/24735132.2025.2570563},
   keywords = {hospitals; wayfinding; survey},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {2473-5132},
   journal = {Design for Health},
   title = {Understanding a wayfinding challenges in hospitals : insights from a representative survey},
   url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24735132.2025.2570563},
   volume = {9},
   year = {2025}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 2557139
AU  - Zbiejczuk Suchá, Ladislava - Holubec Birtusová, Michaela - Godišková, Gabriela
PY  - 2025
TI  - Understanding a wayfinding challenges in hospitals : insights from a representative survey
JF  - Design for Health
VL  - 9
IS  - 3
SP  - 344-360
EP  - 344-360
SN  - 24735132
KW  - hospitals
KW  - wayfinding
KW  - survey
UR  - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24735132.2025.2570563
N2  - Wayfinding in hospitals presents a critical challenge, significantly affecting patient experience, operational efficiency, and safety. This study explores wayfinding issues through a mixed-methods approach to representative survey of 1,041 respondents, combining a quantitative descriptive analysis with qualitative thematic analysis. Findings reveal that 47% of respondents experience minor or major difficulties navigating hospital environments, with challenges disproportionately affecting older adults and individuals with lower educational attainment. Key issues identified include unclear signage, illegible navigation elements, and the complexity of hospital layouts, resulting in delays, stress, and, in some cases, compromised healthcare. The study introduces a model of problematic wayfinding situations, emphasizing the interplay of individual abilities, environmental complexity, and effective navigation strategies, such as reliance on digital tools or assistance from companions. While the study highlights significant systemic challenges, it also underscores the importance of user-centred, adaptive approaches to hospital wayfinding design. This research provides an evidence base for the development of locally embedded methodology to address wayfinding in healthcare facilities.
ER  -

ZBIEJCZUK SUCHÁ, Ladislava; Michaela HOLUBEC BIRTUSOVÁ a Gabriela GODIŠKOVÁ. Understanding a wayfinding challenges in hospitals : insights from a representative survey. \textit{Design for Health}. 2025, roč.~9, č.~3, s.~344-360. ISSN~2473-5132. Dostupné z: https://doi.org/10.1080/24735132.2025.2570563.

Přehled o publikaci