The Impact of viewing vistas on psychological well-being a study on the service providers in selected government hospitals in the hill country, Sri Lanka

Abstract

This research explores the impact of natural vistas on the psychological well-being of healthcare professionals, in Sri Lankan government hospitals around the hill country region. Given the demanding and stressful nature of their roles, understanding the preferences of medical staff for scenic views and the effect of these views on their well-being is crucial. The study is rooted in the Attention Restoration Theory by Kaplan and the Stress Reduction Theory by Ulrich, with a focus on specific parameters: Observer Landscape Distance (OLD), connection to the outside, visual content, and visual privacy. Data Collection was done in two stages: primary and secondary data collection. A mixed method approach was used in the research. The study was carried out in two hospitals in the Haputhale and Bandarawela districts. Literature suggests that the nursing staff spend most of the time in movement due to their duties; therefore, the nursing staff was selected to gather data. The research explores the relationship between exposure to natural vistas and the well-being of these professionals, considering factors such as accessibility and placement of nature views, selection of suitable vegetation and the integration of restorative elements within hospital environments. The findings reveal that borrowed natural landscape views have a restorative effect on the mind, enhancing psychological well-being among medical staff. This highlights the significance of landscape architecture in hospital design, especially in hill country regions. Emphasizing surrounding vistas and elevations, rather than solely focusing on physical infrastructure, could substantially improve the quality of life for medical service providers.