TY - JOUR
T1 - Mapping healthcare spaces : a systematic scoping review of spatial and behavioral observation methods
AU - Lipson-Smith, Ruby
AU - McLaughlan, Rebecca
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Objective: To provide a taxonomy of spatial observation methods that are commonly used in healthcare environments research and to describe their relative success. Background: Spatial observation is a valuable but resource intensive research method that is often used in healthcare environments research, but which frequently fails to deliver conclusive results. There is no existing catalog of the different spatial and behavioral observation methods that are used in healthcare design research and their benefits or limitations. Methods: The review adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Ten key databases were searched, and articles were screened by both authors. Results: Across 67 included studies, 79 observation methods were reported. We categorized those into four, distinct methodological approaches, outlining the benefits, limitations, and suitability of each for obtaining different types of results. Common limitations included difficulty generalizing to other contexts and a lack of detailed description during data collection which led to key environment variables not being recorded. More concrete conclusions were drawn when observation methods were combined with complimentary methods such as interview. Conclusions: The relative success of spatial observation studies is dependent on the fit of the method selected relative to the research question, approach, and healthcare setting; any complimentary methods delivered alongside it; and the analysis model employed. This article provides researchers with practical advice to guide the appropriate selection of spatial observation methods.
AB - Objective: To provide a taxonomy of spatial observation methods that are commonly used in healthcare environments research and to describe their relative success. Background: Spatial observation is a valuable but resource intensive research method that is often used in healthcare environments research, but which frequently fails to deliver conclusive results. There is no existing catalog of the different spatial and behavioral observation methods that are used in healthcare design research and their benefits or limitations. Methods: The review adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Ten key databases were searched, and articles were screened by both authors. Results: Across 67 included studies, 79 observation methods were reported. We categorized those into four, distinct methodological approaches, outlining the benefits, limitations, and suitability of each for obtaining different types of results. Common limitations included difficulty generalizing to other contexts and a lack of detailed description during data collection which led to key environment variables not being recorded. More concrete conclusions were drawn when observation methods were combined with complimentary methods such as interview. Conclusions: The relative success of spatial observation studies is dependent on the fit of the method selected relative to the research question, approach, and healthcare setting; any complimentary methods delivered alongside it; and the analysis model employed. This article provides researchers with practical advice to guide the appropriate selection of spatial observation methods.
UR - https://hdl.handle.net/1959.7/uws:70045
U2 - 10.1177/19375867221089702
DO - 10.1177/19375867221089702
M3 - Article
SN - 1937-5867
VL - 15
SP - 351
EP - 374
JO - Health Environments Research and Design Journal
JF - Health Environments Research and Design Journal
IS - 3
ER -