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Investigating the Effect of Light Intensity and Color Temperature of Ambient Light on tThermal Comfort and Heart Rate of Nurses
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K Fatahi1   , M 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: (1224 Views) |
Background & aim: Healthcare environments, characterized by their high-stress and high-risk nature, demand intelligent lighting design strategies. Inadequate lighting conditions can significantly affect thermal comfort—an essential determinant of job satisfaction and productivity—and heart rate, a physiological marker of stress and fatigue. These factors collectively influence the health and performance of nursing staff. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate the impact of ambient light intensity and correlated color temperature (CCT) on nurses’ thermal comfort and heart rate.
Methods: The present experimental study was conducted over a four-month period in a specialized clinic in Ilam, Iran, involving 60 female nurses. The research examined both the independent and interactive effects of two illuminance levels (300 lux and 750 lux) and three CCT levels (2700 K, 4000 K, and 7800 K) on thermal comfort and physiological indicators under a controlled ambient temperature of 25°C. Participants were divided into two primary groups based on illuminance level (n=30 each), and subsequently into three subgroups (n=10) according to CCT. The experimental procedure included orientation, thermal adaptation, performance of routine nursing tasks, completion of the standardized ASHRAE thermal comfort questionnaire, and measurement of physiological parameters (body temperature and heart rate). Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), factorial between-subjects tests, Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, M-Box, Levene’s test, Wilks’ Lambda, and Fisher’s exact test.
Results: The findings revealed that ambient light intensity had a statistically significant effect on both heart rate (F(1,54)=151.953, p<0.05) and thermal comfort (F(1,54)=12.150, p<0.05). MANOVA results further indicated that CCT significantly influenced heart rate (F(2,54)=60.688, p<0.05) and thermal comfort (F(2,54)=4.482, p<0.05). Moreover, the interaction between illuminance and CCT was found to be a significant factor affecting both heart rate (F(2,54)=9.520, p<0.05) and thermal comfort (F(1,54)=3.282, p<0.05) during work activities in clinical settings.
Conclusion: The optimal combination of 750 lux illuminance and 4000 K CCT emerged as the most favorable lighting condition, yielding the lowest heart rate and highest thermal comfort among nurses. These findings underscore the importance of evidence-based lighting design in healthcare environments. Implementing optimized lighting parameters can reduce physiological stress, enhance thermal comfort, and ultimately improve the quality of the work environment and healthcare delivery. Based on these results, a revision of lighting standards in clinical settings and adoption of the proposed configuration across hospital departments is strongly recommended.
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| Keywords: Light intensity, Light color temperature, Thermal comfort, Heart rate, Nurses. |
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Full-Text [PDF 857 kb]
(7 Downloads)
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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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