Beyond the Waiting Room: How Hospital Green Spaces Ease Stress for Patients and Families 

By Your Health Magazine Contributor

Your Health Magazine Contributor

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Beyond the Waiting Room: How Hospital Green Spaces Ease Stress for Patients and Families 

A hospital is a place where time seems to be suspended. The patients wait for treatment, and the relatives wait for news. The routine is entirely different; the environment is unfamiliar to most of us. A courtyard with planted flowers or a view over trees can be a break in this otherwise distressing context. It cannot replace the reason for the patient’s worries, but it can help him put the situation into perspective.

What the Research Shows 

Roger Ulrich’s 1984 study in science established the significance of hospital views. He analyzed the recovery records of patients who had undergone gallbladder surgery at a Pennsylvania hospital. Twenty-three patients were able to see a natural landscape out of their window, while twenty-three patients were matched whose windows looked onto a brick wall. The former group spent fewer days in the hospital after surgery, had fewer negative reports in nurses’ notes, and had less use of potent pain medication. 

A small retrospective study included one surgical procedure and one hospital. This study does not provide strong evidence that all gardens hasten recovery or reduce the use of medication.

How Natural Views May Ease Stress 

Further studies focused on stress more closely. For instance, a 1991 study by Ulrich and his colleagues measured stress in 120 participants who viewed a stressful film followed by a video of either natural or built environments. The results demonstrated faster recovery after viewing nature scenes than the urban surroundings. As the experiment was conducted in the lab, the result should not be generalised to the hospital setting.

Relief for Families as Well as Patients 

The need for relief extends beyond the individual recipient. A garden offers a place for a family member to sit with difficult news, share a conversation or spend a few moments away from the waiting room.

For those who cannot leave the boundaries of the hospital, these places offer a change of scenery while remaining close to their loved ones.

Evidence from research in real hospital gardens adds context to this information. An evaluation done in 2005 by Sandra Sherman and her colleagues recorded the use of 1,400 garden visitors at a pediatric cancer center. While the features were intended for children, the adults made up the majority of users. Preliminary comparisons also suggested less distress and pain among those who were in the gardens as compared to those inside. This was not meant to prove that the differences were caused by being in the garden, but it is an interesting finding. 

A garden’s value can be found in the simple act of sitting and companionship as well as walking and using.

From Entrance Plantings to Lasting Care 

Green space begins before the waiting room. Plantings near an entrance can add natural detail to an otherwise clinical journey. Courtyards offer a place to pause, while garden views bring that connection indoors for those unable to leave their rooms. 

The planning and maintenance of these areas decide their continued usability. The work required for commercial landscaping for hospitals has to be reconciled with the need for continuing care, accessible entrances, and clear emergency routes. Pruning, drainage, and seasonal maintenance ensure the preservation of access and visibility. A welcoming garden loses much of its value if the access to it is difficult or the paths poorly maintained.

Hospital gardens should also preserve the privacy of patients in adjoining rooms. Sherman’s study suggested that patients may keep their curtains closed when there are more people using the garden outside. Garden layouts should allow for visitors to enjoy the space while helping patients to feel comfortable keeping their curtains open.

A More Humane Hospital Environment 

Studies have shown that it is important to take hospital greenery seriously, while at the same time raising questions about the extent and consistency of its benefits. For patients and their families, the value can be immediate because it brings comfort, provides an appealing view from a ward, and offers a chance for a break from the stress of the hospital environment.