Findings, methods and sources
Healthcare artObservational / experimentalReported benefit
Finding. A changing-image study associated a realistic nature photograph with fewer as-needed medication events than comparison conditions.
Limitation. One unit, short periods and no patient-level randomisation. The financial figures were local projections, not a general return on investment.
Methods and verification
Verification level: Abstract checked
Structured summary
- Population
- Patients in the multi-purpose lounge of an acute psychiatric unit
- Sample
- One unit; nurse interviews
- Intervention
- Realistic nature photograph or abstract art displayed in rotation
- Comparator
- No art
- Outcome measures
- Rate of as-needed (PRN) medication per patient census; nurse feedback
- Timing
- Rotating display periods
- Result
- PRN rate significantly lower on days with the nature photograph than with no art or abstract art; nurses reported agitation in response to the abstract image
- Uncertainty
- No patient-level randomisation; cost savings were a local projection
- Design
- Within-unit comparison across rotating art conditions, with nurse interviews
- Sample / scope
- One acute psychiatric unit; 21-day no-art control period; 22 nursing staff interviewed
- Setting
- Inpatient psychiatric unit
- Art form
- Pictures
Citation and abstract checked against PubMed, 29 September 2026
Last full editorial audit: 2026-09-09 · Verification policy
Publications and overlap
No confirmed shared-publication match is recorded for this entry in Edition 4.11. Source-by-source and participant-level reconciliation is incomplete; this does not establish an independent study.