INTERIOR SURFACING
and lastly, different types of decisions require different sound decision-making methods.15
Once advantages are identified,
stakeholders must assess their importance by comparing them. Weighting should be apportioned based on the significance of the advantages, rather than general criteria, factors, or other data types.11
Application of CBA in material selection The CBA system can be used to select materials for hospital interiors by following the five phases of the CBA Tabular Method.15
In the first phase, stakeholders
must consider a wide range of factors to identify alternatives that are likely to offer significant advantages over other options. These might include not only hygiene, durability, ease of cleaning, and cost-effectiveness, but also slip resistance, microbial and fire resistance, and environmental sustainability. In the context of hospital interiors, the alternatives may include different types of flooring, wallcoverings, furniture, and other interior surfaces – such as countertops and cabinets. By considering a broad range of factors, stakeholders can ensure they identify the most suitable alternatives that meet their specific needs.15
In the
second phase, stakeholders should determine the factors that differentiate the alternatives – for example, slip, microbial,
and fire resistance, and environmental sustainability.15 In the third, they should agree on the
criteria within each factor that will be used to evaluate the attributes of the alternative.15
For example, the criterion
for slip resistance could be the minimum coefficient of friction required to prevent slips and falls. In the fourth phase, stakeholders should gather data on the attributes of each alternative. They should then summarise this data based on the criteria defined in the third phase.15 In the fifth phase, stakeholders should identify the least preferred attribute for each criterion and decide on the advantages of each alternative’s attributes relative to the least-preferred. The importance of each advantage should be weighed against the others, considering factors such as hygiene and slip resistance.15 Finally, in the last phase, stakeholders
need to assign weights to each advantage based on its relative importance to the decision.13
For instance, hygiene could be
considered the most crucial factor when choosing materials for hospital interiors, meaning advantages related to microbial resistance would be assigned a higher weighting than those related to slip resistance. By using the CBA Tabular Method, stakeholders can identify important
advantages, define factors, agree on criteria, summarise attributes, identify least- preferred attributes, and decide on the importance of each advantage. Applying the CBA system to the selection of materials for hospital surfaces can help to ensure that the materials chosen meet the necessary hygiene, durability, and safety requirements. Ultimately, this contributes to the wellbeing of patients, and the effectiveness of healthcare delivery.
Conclusion Using hygienic architectural surfacing materials plays a critical role in mitigating the incidence of HAIs within hospital environments. Designers and architects have to
navigate the unique requirements of healthcare facilities when selecting such materials for use within them – including stringent infection control regimes, the need for durability, and ease of cleaning considerations. Various standards and methodologies exist to assist informed decision-making. Ultimately, sound choice of surfacing materials is fundamental to promoting healing and ensuring the safety of patients, visitors, and staff. The MCDM method is a valuable decision-making tool that allows for a systematic and structured approach to evaluating alternatives based on multiple criteria. MCDM can help to weigh up the
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Technology for those who care
March 2024 Health Estate Journal 61
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