Physical Environment Features and Healthcare Interruptions: A Scoping Review Across Clinical Settings

Aim: This review aims to identify empirical studies that examine the relationship between physical environment features and the occurrence of interruptions in healthcare settings. Background: Studies have shown that interruptions are a significant cause of errors, which are a primary contributor to adverse events that can result in severe injury or even death. Built environmental factors contribute to these interruptions, yet comprehensive studies examining how environmental variables impact interruption frequency remain scarce. Therefore, it is essential to consider how the physical environment exacerbates or alleviates disruptions to enhance patient safety. Method: A scoping review following PRISMA guidelines analyzed 33 empirical studies from medical, nursing, engineering, and architectural design fields. Data were extracted regarding study design, setting, participants, environmental variables, and outcomes related to interruptions. Result: The findings indicate that physical environment features influencing interruptions include no-interruption zones, signage, medication room configurations, physical barriers, workstation layouts, and traffic-related factors. However, inconsistencies in how interruption-related terms are defined across studies make comparisons challenging. The reviewed studies cover a variety of healthcare settings—including medical units, operating rooms, emergency departments, and intensive care units—and involve participants such as nurses, physicians, pharmacists, patients, and support staff. Conclusion: This review concludes that significant gaps remain in understanding how physical environment features impact interruptions. Future research should systematically examine physical environment features across healthcare settings to enhance safety, optimize workflow, and reduce errors.