Collier Lesley, Jakob Anke
1 Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
2 Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, Kingston University, London, United Kingdom.
HERD. 2017 Oct;10(5):39-51. doi: 10.1177/1937586716683508. Epub 2016 Dec 23.
Multisensory environments (MSEs) for people with dementia have been available over 20 years but are used in an ad hoc manner using an eclectic range of equipment. Care homes have endeavored to utilize this approach but have struggled to find a design and approach that works for this setting.
Study aims were to appraise the evolving concept of MSEs from a user perspective, to study the aesthetic and functional qualities, to identify barriers to staff engagement with a sensory environment approach, and to identify design criteria to improve the potential of MSE for people with dementia.
Data were collected from 16 care homes with experience of MSE using ethnographic methods, incorporating semi-structured interviews, and observations of MSE design. Analysis was undertaken using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.
Observations revealed equipment that predominantly stimulated vision and touch. Thematic analysis of the semi-structured interviews revealed six themes: not knowing what to do in the room, good for people in the later stages of the disease, reduces anxiety, it's a good activity, design and setting up of the space, and including relatives and care staff.
Few MSEs in care homes are designed to meet needs of people with dementia, and staff receive little training in how to facilitate sessions. As such, MSEs are often underused despite perceived benefits. Results of this study have been used to identify the design principles that have been reviewed by relevant stakeholders.
针对痴呆症患者的多感官环境（MSEs）已存在20多年，但目前使用的设备种类繁杂，缺乏系统性。养老院一直在努力采用这种方法，但难以找到适合这种环境的设计和方法。
研究目的是从用户角度评估MSEs的发展概念，研究其美学和功能特性，确定工作人员采用感官环境方法的障碍，并确定设计标准以提高MSEs对痴呆症患者的适用性。
采用人种志方法，对16家有MSEs使用经验的养老院进行数据收集，包括半结构化访谈和对MSEs设计的观察。分析采用描述性统计和主题分析。
观察发现设备主要刺激视觉和触觉。对半结构化访谈的主题分析揭示了六个主题：不知道在房间里做什么、对疾病后期患者有益、减轻焦虑、是一项有益活动、空间的设计和设置以及让亲属和护理人员参与。
养老院中很少有MSEs是为满足痴呆症患者的需求而设计的，工作人员在如何组织活动方面接受的培训很少。因此，尽管MSEs有明显益处，但往往未得到充分利用。本研究结果已用于确定相关利益相关者审查过的设计原则。
