The thermal environment required by patients and nursing staff in general wards

• Main Author: J. D. Wentzel
• Format: Article
• Language: Afrikaans
• Published: South African Journal of Science and Technology 1982-03-01
• Series: South African Journal of Science and Technology
• Online Access: http://www.satnt.ac.za/index.php/satnt/article/view/1156

Often it is accepted and believed that all areas in hospitals should be air-conditioned. In view of the current high cost of installing and operating air-conditioning units, an objective study of the real needs in this regard was proposed. Whereas the need for air-conditioning in operating theatres, intensive care units and other rather specialised areas is accepted in principle, it is an open question whether all rooms need such treatment. The question could be answered only after a thorough investigation into the actual thermal environmental requirements of patients and nursing staff in general wards. Some 1 300 patients and 60 nurses were interviewed in six local hospitals and their subjective reactions to the various thermal environments to which they were exposed were analysed in terms of three different comfort indices. Air temperature was found to be a good comfort index when the humidity is relatively low.