Impact of Window Views on Cognitive Functions and Perceived Comfort in Healthcare Environments

Integrating natural elements into built environments has enhanced comfort and well-being. Healthcare environments with unique requirements for infection control, patient privacy, and hygiene present a distinct context. By connecting occupants to the outdoors, windows play a crucial role in fostering a more restorative and cognitively supportive healthcare environment. This study investigates the impact of different window views on cognitive functions and perceived comfort related to indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in healthcare spaces during the cooling season. A sample of 133 participants, including healthcare providers and inpatients, were recruited from eight healthcare buildings in Amman, Jordan. Self-administered surveys assessed comfort perception, while continuous physical measures recorded indoor temperature, relative humidity, and CO₂. A standardised objective test evaluated participants' cognitive abilities across five aspects: short-term memory, language, attention, executive function, and visuospatial skills. Findings revealed that participants exposed to natural views reported significantly higher comfort perception of IEQ and cognitive functions than those in rooms without windows or with urban views. Patients consistently reported lower comfort perception and cognitive function than healthcare providers across all window view types. Regression analysis indicated a positive correlation between comfort perception and cognitive function for patients (R2 = 0.6) and healthcare providers (R2 = 0.75). In patient rooms, 20% of monitored temperatures fell below 19°C, suggesting potential overcooling. The originality of this paper lies in a desire to highlight the importance of window view considerations in healthcare settings, offering insights into improving comfort perception and supporting cognitive functions in both patients and healthcare providers.