Medical imaging: light as a preparation tool
CT, MRI and nuclear medicine departments are among the most stressful environments within a hospital. Patients are often unfamiliar with the examination process, concerned about potential results and surrounded by large, highly technical equipment.
In these situations, lighting can serve as a tool that helps prepare patients for procedures.
Increasingly, separate lighting scenes are being designed for different stages of an examination. During conversations with medical staff and patient preparation, softer lighting is used to promote relaxation and a sense of security. Technical lighting scenes are activated only when required for the examination itself.
This separation of lighting functions offers two key benefits. It improves patient comfort while maintaining appropriate working conditions for radiologists, technicians and physicians.
Light as a tool of non-verbal communication
Lighting also influences the quality of interactions between patients and healthcare professionals.
One often-overlooked aspect is the proper illumination of faces. People interpret emotions primarily through facial expressions. If the face of a physician or nurse is partially shadowed, communication becomes less clear, potentially increasing feelings of distance and uncertainty.
For this reason, contemporary healthcare lighting design increasingly focuses on illuminating vertical surfaces and minimising deep facial shadows. This is particularly relevant in consultation rooms, blood collection areas, reception desks and spaces where important health information is communicated.
In this way, lighting becomes part of non-verbal communication, supporting trust-based relationships between patients and medical staff.
A sense of control as a component of psychological comfort
One of the primary sources of stress during hospitalisation is the loss of control over one's environment. Patients must adapt to examination schedules, medical procedures and ward routines. Any opportunity to influence the surrounding environment can reduce feelings of helplessness. This also applies to lighting.
A growing number of modern healthcare facilities are equipping patient rooms with systems that allow individuals to control selected lighting functions at their bedside. This involves more than a simple reading light. Patients may also be able to select different lighting scenes designed for relaxation, evening use or everyday activities.
Evidence-Based Design research suggests that even a limited level of environmental control can improve patient satisfaction and reduce perceived stress. This is particularly important in long-term care settings and palliative care environments.
Designing lighting from the patient's perspective
One of the most common mistakes in hospital lighting design is evaluating spaces exclusively from the perspective of a standing person.
In reality, patients spend much of their stay observing their surroundings from a seated or lying position. This fundamentally changes the way a space is perceived.
A luminaire that does not cause glare for a standing observer may fall directly within the line of sight of a patient lying in bed. Similarly, poorly designed reflections from glossy ceilings, medical monitors or equipment enclosures can create discomfort that may not be apparent during a conventional design review.
For this reason, lighting projects are increasingly evaluated from the perspectives of different users, including patients, physicians, nurses and visitors. This approach helps designers better understand real user experiences and create environments that are more psychologically supportive.
Light as a tool for building trust
Although trust in a healthcare facility depends primarily on clinical expertise and treatment quality, the first impression created by the physical environment remains extremely important. Patients are often unable to assess medical expertise directly, so they rely on indirect cues such as cleanliness, spatial organisation, interior aesthetics and lighting quality.
Bright, orderly and visually coherent lighting environments are commonly perceived as indicators of professionalism and attention to detail. Conversely, poorly lit interiors, randomly positioned luminaires or noticeable inconsistencies in light colour can subconsciously lower perceptions of quality.
In this context, lighting becomes a trust-building tool, not through visual spectacle but through the creation of environments that reinforce feelings of safety, order and professionalism. These qualities are fundamental to the psychological experience of patients and their willingness to cooperate with healthcare professionals.
References and further reading
- Ulrich R.S., View Through a Window May Influence Recovery from Surgery, Science, 1984.
- Ulrich R.S. et al., The Role of the Physical Environment in the Hospital of the 21st Century, 2004.
- Mroczek J., Mikitarian G., Vieira D., Rotarius T., Hospital Design and Staff Perceptions: An Exploratory Analysis, Health Care Manager.
- CIE S 026/E:2018, System for Metrology of Optical Radiation for ipRGC-Influenced Responses to Light.
- CIE Position Statement on Non-Visual Effects of Light.
- The Center for Health Design – Evidence-Based Design Resources.
Summary
Lighting in hospitals and healthcare facilities affects much more than visibility. It influences stress levels, psychological comfort, perceived safety and the overall patient experience throughout hospitalisation. Properly designed lighting supports communication with healthcare professionals, improves orientation within the facility and helps create more patient-centred healing environments.