Impact of built forms in uplifting the mental health of pediatric cancer patients

Abstract

With non-communicable diseases on the rise, data from the World Health Organization (2018) reveals that more than 14 million people around the world suffer from the threat of cancer, with nearly 8 million patients experiencing death. The effects of cancer and its related treatment techniques greatly impact on a patient’s mental and emotional wellbeing in addition to its physical impact. Although early detection, care and effective healthcare facilities can lead to recovery, the nature of the sterile and isolated nature of such modern facilities often lack the warmth and human feeling that many patients require for better emotional wellbeing, due to the utilitarian and efficient nature of cancer centres and hospitals. The concept of creating ‘healing spaces’ using architecture aims to address such challenges by creating and designing medical institutions that are more comfortable for the patient, taking a step away from the uncomfortable and sterile feel of modern-day healthcare facilities that could create an additional stress to the patient’s psyche. This publication will address the noticeable lack of up-to-date, systematically reviewed research, specifically focusing on the existing literature on paediatric cancer patients and the impact on their healing factors caused by architectural design, and as a result, assists in presenting a clearer understanding of the connection between architecture and its impact on the healing process in human psychology.