View through a window may influence recovery from surgery

Investigations of aesthetic and affective responses to outdoor visual environments have shown a strong tendency for American and European groups to prefer natural scenes more than urban views that lack natural elements (1, 2). Views of vegetation, and especially water, appear to sustain interest and attention more effectively than urban views of equivalent information rate (2). Because most natural views apparently elicit positive feelings, reduce fear in stressed subjects, hold interest, and may block or reduce stressful thoughts, they might also foster restoration from anxiety or stress (3).

Keywords: surgical patients, outdoor visual environments, patient's emotional state, restorative effect of natural views