ASSESSMENT OF THERAPEUTIC ARCHITECTURE STRATEGIES FOR THE DESIGN OF A MEDICAL RESORT FOR PLATEAU STATE GOVERNMENT IN JOS, NIGERIA

Abstract

The increasing global demand for healthcare environments that support holistic healing emphasizes the importance of therapeutic architecture in health facility design. However, in Nigeria, especially in Jos, Plateau State, there remains a knowledge gap in application of therapeutic architectural strategies particularly in medical resorts, which are both limited in number and essential for providing holistic healthcare. This study addresses this problem by assessing the extent to which therapeutic architecture strategies are applied in selected healthoriented facilities and explores how these findings can inform the design of a medical resort that enhances user well-being. Therefore, the study aims to assess therapeutic architecture strategies for the design of a medical resort in Jos, plateau state. With the objectives to identify therapeutic features in existing facilities, assess their implementation and evaluate their impact on users perceived well-being. The research utilizes a pragmatic research philosophy and a mixed-method approach. Data was collected through observation guides, questionnaires, and case studies in order too comprehensively gather data within the study area. A total of 300 respondents which included patients, healthcare practitioners, and visitors participated in the study. The research revealed that therapeutic architectural strategies positively impact user perceived well-being. However, the level of application varies significantly across facilities. The study also revealed a high correlation between user satisfaction and the perceived effectiveness of therapeutic architecture strategies indicating that This impact is mediated by user satisfaction with the implementation of these strategies. Challenges identified an inconsistent design quality in the application of therapeutic architecture strategies. Despite these, the research demonstrates that integrating user centered therapeutic design can enhance health outcomes and contribute meaningfully to the health and wellness based sector. The study is limited to three indigenous healthcare facilities and one health resort in Jos, and three foreign case studies. Future research should conduct a longitudinal assessment of the impact of therapeutic environments over time. This study provides practical insights for architects, healthcare planners, and policymakers, contributing to the development of a medical resort that supports wellbeing, comfort, and sustainable health infrastructure in Jos, Plateau State.