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Investigating the effect of light intensity and color temperature of ambient light on thermal comfort and heart rate of nurses
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Karen Fatahi1   , Maryam Beigi2 |
1- Department of Architecture, II.c., Islamic Azad University, Ilam, Iran. , karenfatahi@yahoo.com
2- Department of Architecture, II.c., Islamic Azad University, Ilam, Iran. |
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Abstract: (48 Views) |
Background: Healthcare environments, as high-risk and stressful work spaces, require intelligent design of lighting systems, as inappropriate lighting conditions can seriously affect the health and performance of nurses by affecting thermal comfort, a key indicator of job satisfaction and productivity, and heart rate, a physiological indicator of stress and fatigue. This study examines the simultaneous effect of two key lighting parameters, light intensity and light color temperature, on these vital indicators. The present study was conducted to determine the optimal combination of these factors to improve nurses' working conditions and maintain their occupational health.
Method of examination: The present study was conducted experimentally over a four-month period (from December to March 2024) with the participation of 60 female nurses in Ilam city. The present study was designed and implemented in a laboratory setting with the aim of investigating the simultaneous effect of two factors: light intensity (at two levels of 300 and 750 lux) and light color temperature (at three levels of 2700, 4000, and 7800 Kelvin) on the thermal comfort indices and heart rate of nurses during their work in healthcare environments. The collected data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a factorial design between groups, which were analyzed using SPSS version 27 statistical software. In this study, the interaction of these two variables on the physiological and perceptual responses of nurses was carefully examined and evaluated.
Results: The findings showed that the intensity of ambient light had a significant effect on the nurses' heart rate and thermal comfort while performing activities at work (F(1,54)=151.953, p<0.05) and (F(1,54)=12.150, p>0.05). Also, the results of the MANVA analysis showed that the ambient light color temperature factor had a significant effect on the nurses' heart rate and comfort while performing work, respectively (F(2,54)=60.688, p<0.05) and (F(2,54)=4.482, p>0.05). On the other hand, the interaction between the ambient light intensity factor and the ambient light color temperature factor with the values (F(2,54)=9.520, p<0.05) and (F(2,54)=3.282, p<0.05) is an influential factor on nurses' heart rate and their sense of thermal comfort while performing activities in therapeutic spaces.
Conclusion: The results showed that the optimal lighting combination for healthcare environments included a light intensity of 750 lux with a neutral color temperature of 4000 Kelvin. This combination not only produced the lowest heart rate, but also provided the best thermal comfort conditions. The results suggest that this lighting configuration can simultaneously reduce physiological stress, increase thermal satisfaction, and prevent occupational fatigue in nurses during long shifts.
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| Keywords: Light intensity, light color temperature, thermal comfort, heart rate, nurses. |
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Nursery- Psychology
Received: 2025/05/20 | Accepted: 2025/10/6 | Published: 2025/10/18
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