Modifying Quiet Room Design Enhances Calming of Children and Adolescents

To determine whether altering design of a quiet room (QR) produced more rapid calming of agitated or aggressive hospitalized children. One of five similar QRs was modified by painting the white walls tea rose, carpeting the vinyl floor, and painting a picturesque mural on one wall. The effects of these modifications were assessed in 19 patients (mean age=9.6 years), using a within-subjects, repeated-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 conducted; raters and staff were not. Total aggression ratings were 45% lower in the modified QR than in the standard QR ( p < .03), and initial aggression scores fell by 50% during 5 minutes of placement in the modified QR, but only after 20 minutes of placement in the standard QR ( p < .0001). Motor excitement and verbal aggression were the two component factors most strongly influenced by QR design. This preliminary report suggests that it may be possible to modify QRs to facilitate calming of aggressive, agitated children and provides preliminary support for redesign of QRs.