MODIFYING QUIET ROOM DESIGN ENHANCES CALMING OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Objective: To determine whether altering design of a quiet room (QR) p roduced more rapid calming of agitated or aggressive hospitalized chil dren. Method: One of five similar QRs was modified by painting the whi te walls tea rose, carpeting the vinyl floor, and painting a picturesq ue mural on one wall. The effects of these modifications were assessed in 19 patients (mean age = 9.6 years), using a within-subjects, repea ted-measures design. Overt Aggression ratings were made at the time of placement, and at 5-minute intervals thereafter, until the child was dismissed. Children were blind to the fact that a study was being cond ucted; raters and staff were not. Results: Total aggression ratings we re 45% lower in the modified QR than in the standard OR (p < .03), and initial aggression scores fell by 50% during 5 minutes of placement i n the modified QR, but only after 20 minutes of placement in the stand ard QR (p < .0001). Motor excitement and verbal aggression were the tw o component factors most strongly influenced by OR design. Conclusion: This preliminary report suggests that it may be possible to modify QR s to facilitate calming of aggressive, agitated children and provides preliminary support for redesign of QRs.