Awaiting Recovery: The Role of Outdoor Healthcare Spaces in Patient Self‐Care in Ljubljana

Abstract

Outdoor spaces in public healthcare institutions play a vital role in reducing patient stress and supporting healing. This study investigates their impact on patient self‐care practices across primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare facilities in Ljubljana, Slovenia, using a two‐phase mixed‐methods approach grounded in Ulrich's theory of supportive design. The first phase, conducted at the Vodmat Medical Area (Slovenia's largest hospital complex), involved spatial interventions, workshops, and patient‐led walks to analyze utilization of outdoor spaces and inform the development of a patient experience questionnaire. The second phase employed this questionnaire to assess patient experiences across five selected primary healthcare facilities in Ljubljana. The results highlighted the importance of accessibility, well‐maintained spaces, and comfortable waiting areas, with notable differences in utilization patterns. Primary care patients prioritized accessibility and upkeep, and secondary and tertiary care patients engaged in a broader range of self‐care activities, including relaxation, social interaction, and rehabilitation. These findings underscore the significance of outdoor healthcare spaces, particularly hospital grounds, as critical urban care‐related infrastructures that support patients across the self‐care continuum from health maintenance to rehabilitation. Amid challenges facing Slovenia's public healthcare system, strategic investment in the design and management of these spaces can improve patient well‐being and transform them into vital sites of institutional and urban care practices.