Published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing, preliminary research suggests hospital lighting may affect the comfort of hospital stay. The study was performed on 23 women and 17 men and measured the effects of lighting on patients’ mood, sleep, and pain. Patients who had lower lighting for 24 hours slept poorly, experienced more fatigue, and experienced more pain. The investigators hypothesize that changing the lighting patterns in the hospital may regulate sleep-wake cycles and ultimately have better patient outcomes. An inexpensive way to bring comfort to a hospitalized patient, adjusting lighting patterns may make the hospital stay less disconcerting. How does natural or artificial lighting affect your mood? What specific devices do you recommend to your patients to regulate your sleep/wake cycle and their mood?
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