In the world of modern healthcare, a patient’s well-being depends not only on medical treatments, but also on the environment in which he or she finds himself or herself and the relationships he or she builds during the course of care. The physical environment, cultural participation, and the quality of the relationship with health care providers are key factors in enhancing the patient experience and promoting recovery. In this article, Carolina Zarrilli offers some suggested reading that explores different perspectives, from the crucial role of environment in stress reduction to the importance of a therapeutic approach that integrates culture and care.
1.The Environment’s Impact on Stress by Roger S. Ulrich:
The environment that heals: the role of space in well-being and stress reduction
What is the impact of the physical environment on health and stress? Roger Ulrich, a pioneer in these issues, in his study The Environment’s Impact on Stress, analyzes how built spaces can influence psychophysiological well-being, particularly in health care settings. The author illustrates how design elements, such as natural lighting, greenery and interior design, can promote patient recovery and reduce stress load. An essential read for those involved of designing care and wellness environments.
Link: (PDF) The environment’s impact on stress
2.Do All Gardens Heal the Same? by Elizabeth R. Messer Diehl:
Therapeutic gardens: are there more effective models than others?
What characteristics make a garden an effective therapeutic tool? In Do All Gardens Heal the Same?, Elizabeth R. Messer Diehl explores the different types of therapeutic gardens, distinguishing their specificities and analyzing their impact on health and well-being. The author proposes a classification based on scientific evidence, providing a useful framework for understanding how to design green spaces capable of meeting different therapeutic needs.
Link: (PDF) Do All Gardens Heal the Same?
3.Alongside patients edited by Davide Orsini, Margherita Aglianó:
The care relationship: the value of accompaniment in health care pathways
The process of care does not end in the medical act, but also develops through the relationship with the patient. This volume Alongside Patients delves into the role of accompaniment in health care health care, highlighting how the quality of the relationship between caregivers and patients can affect on the experience of illness and pathways to recovery. Through testimonies and reflections interdisciplinary, the text offers an in-depth analysis of the topic of humanizing medicine.
Link: A fianco del paziente – Firenze University Press (ITA)
4.Culture and health: Cultural participation as a tool for a new welfare by Enzo Grossi and Annamaria Ravagna:
Culture and health: cultural participation as a tool for promoting welfare
What is the relationship between culture and health? The volume Culture and Health: Cultural Participation as a tool for a new welfare, by Enzo Grossi and Annamaria Ravagna, collects evidence on the role of cultural enjoyment in promoting well-being. The reading explores how cultural activities, such as art, music and reading, can positively influence health mental and physical health, contributing to the prevention of diseases and the improvement of quality of life.
Link: Cultura e salute: La partecipazione culturale come strumento per un nuovo welfare | Request PDF (ITA)
Carolina Zarrilli – PhD student in medical humanities and scientific curator