Evidence map
What has been studied, and where the gaps are. Each number counts records in the research library by art form and type of evidence. Select a number to see those records.
| Art form | Healthcare art | Adjacent evidence | Mechanisms | Practice | Policy & context | Randomised trials | Mixed or null findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sculpture | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Murals | 2 | 1 | – | 2 | – | 2 | 2 |
| Paintings and pictures | 9 | 3 | 1 | – | – | 3 | 1 |
| Collections | 3 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 1 | 1 |
| Public art | – | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Nature, views and gardens | – | 5 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Reviews | 7 | 9 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 2 |
| Programmes, guidance and policy | – | – | – | 3 | 6 | – | – |
Counts cover all 75 records. A record can appear in more than one row: PAH-024 studies a collection that includes sculpture. “Healthcare art” means relevance to the topic, not confidence in the result. Empty cells show where no record exists yet, not that no research exists anywhere.
Reading the map
Paintings and pictures in patient rooms and waiting areas are the most studied form, including half of the randomised trials. Sculpture has 4 records, and none is a trial measuring health outcomes for a permanent hospital sculpture; see PAH-007. Much of what is known about sculpture comes from practice records, adjacent settings such as public plazas, and theory.
For hospital boards, this means sculpture should be commissioned for reasons it can support, such as orientation, identity, dignity and the quality of arrival, and evaluated where possible. The evaluation guide suggests how.