Hospitals are considered chaotic and stressful places. In particular, the presence of unpleasant stimuli in the environment (e.g., blinding lights, electronic noises, chemical smells) is considered one of the greatest causes of stress. All these aggressive stimuli, belonging to different sensory modalities, are processed simultaneously by the central nervous system. As a consequence, the concomitant presence of various unpleasant stimuli in healthcare environments has a negative impact on people health. This problem can be solved adopting a synaesthetic design approach, a holistic way for coordinating/manipulating all the multiple stimuli triggered by the elements present in the environment. In order to understand which types of sensory conditions could be more suitable to manipulate, we decided to run a synaesthetic design experience with design students aiming to collect data about which kinds of sensory conditions they would prefer while experiencing pain. Since pain has a more personal and intimate component, we decided to set the experimental environment as a design probe to attain the best empathic engagement. Participants could manipulate a set of stimuli (i.e., light, chromatic light, sound, vibration, texture, material density, temperature) to define sensory-based scenarios for reducing pain. The analysis of the data shows an intersubjective correspondence in associating multiple sensory stimuli in the environment to alleviate a possible condition of pain, showing a common tendency in associating the stimuli with predictable patterns. The most preferred conditions reported were: warm white light combined with a blue chromatic light, the sound of waves at a volume of 21/40%, low relief textures, high soft material density and a warm temperature of 32°. The unique exception was the not acceptance for the TENS stimulation, case that suggests further studies with people affected by chronic pain conditions or under controlled induced pain.
Pain[off]. A Synaesthetic Design Probe is Used to Configure Sensory Conditions to Reduce Pain in Hospitals
Gambera D. A.;Ricco' D.;
2022-01-01
Abstract
Hospitals are considered chaotic and stressful places. In particular, the presence of unpleasant stimuli in the environment (e.g., blinding lights, electronic noises, chemical smells) is considered one of the greatest causes of stress. All these aggressive stimuli, belonging to different sensory modalities, are processed simultaneously by the central nervous system. As a consequence, the concomitant presence of various unpleasant stimuli in healthcare environments has a negative impact on people health. This problem can be solved adopting a synaesthetic design approach, a holistic way for coordinating/manipulating all the multiple stimuli triggered by the elements present in the environment. In order to understand which types of sensory conditions could be more suitable to manipulate, we decided to run a synaesthetic design experience with design students aiming to collect data about which kinds of sensory conditions they would prefer while experiencing pain. Since pain has a more personal and intimate component, we decided to set the experimental environment as a design probe to attain the best empathic engagement. Participants could manipulate a set of stimuli (i.e., light, chromatic light, sound, vibration, texture, material density, temperature) to define sensory-based scenarios for reducing pain. The analysis of the data shows an intersubjective correspondence in associating multiple sensory stimuli in the environment to alleviate a possible condition of pain, showing a common tendency in associating the stimuli with predictable patterns. The most preferred conditions reported were: warm white light combined with a blue chromatic light, the sound of waves at a volume of 21/40%, low relief textures, high soft material density and a warm temperature of 32°. The unique exception was the not acceptance for the TENS stimulation, case that suggests further studies with people affected by chronic pain conditions or under controlled induced pain.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
