Does colour enhance emotional well-being in primary care? A mixed methods study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does colour enhance emotional well-being in primary care? Dissertation for the degree of Master of Science at The University of Northampton, MSc Advanced occupational therapy.
IRAS ID
142077
Contact name
Fiona Burbeary
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Northampton
Research summary
A preliminary literature search indicates that some adults respond in a variety of ways to the visual stimulus of interior colour in healthcare settings. Applied use of colour could contribute towards evidence-based design. Colour can be associated with relaxation, a sense of spaciousness, or be perceived as cold and clinical. The response of patients within primary care appears under researched. A sequential, three phase QUAN-QUAL-QUAN mixed methods design will be used to explore if interior room colour does enhance emotional well-being for patients attending a GP surgery. This surgery, like many healthcare settings is painted ‘off-white’. A high proportion of patients attending this specialist surgery are socially excluded, for example, are homeless, are asylum seekers, misuse substance, have mental health problems, are travellers, or have alcohol problems. There is a higher than average non attendance rate with this client group. During an 8 week timeframe, self-report pre- and post-questionnaire (QUAN) will gather perceived adult patient emotional well-being in response to room colour. Two focus groups (QUAL) will explore with patients possible colour choices that could enhance well-being. Intervention will be applied use of colour in a clinical room following the QUAL phase. Data from questionnaires will be analysed using SPSS (version 20), inferential analysis and Paired T test before being integrated with qualitative focus group data. Findings will be discussed with view to making recommendations for practice.
REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EM/0035
Date of REC Opinion
9 Jan 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion