Restorative and Exploratory: Improvement Strategies for Hospital Outdoor Rest Space Based on a Walking Trajectory Experiment

ObjectivesThis study aims to improve the walking adaptability of hospital outdoor rest areas to enhance patients' and their family members' willingness to walk and restorative benefits. <b>Background:</b> Hospital outdoor rest areas are critical for promoting the physical and mental health of patients and their families (PATF). However, if these spaces are not designed with differentiated and targeted strategies that accommodate the diverse and extensive walking needs of users, their willingness to engage with the outdoor environment may be diminished.MethodsA walking tracking experiment was conducted to record the trajectories, speeds, distances, and durations of walks by PATF. In addition, two walking themes-restorative and exploratory-were introduced. The study compared the walking theme preferences across different demographic groups and examined the differences in behavioral parameters and spatial distribution associated with each theme.ResultsThe experimental results indicated that demographic attributes did not significantly influence the choice between the two walking themes. However, statistically significant differences were observed in walking distance and duration between two themes, with walking trajectories exhibiting a spatial distribution pattern characterized by a near-to-far gradient.ConclusionsThis study elucidates the differences and interrelationships between the two walking themes in hospital outdoor rest areas and proposes targeted spatial improvement strategies based on these findings.