Sensory-Friendly Hospital Policies for Patients with Disabilities: A Scoping Review of Institutional Standards, Implementation, and Gaps
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18041/2665-427X/ijeph.1.13386Keywords:
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Disabled Persons, Health Services Accessibility, Patient-Centered Care, Health Facility Environment, Hospital Design and Construction, Health Policy, Delivery of Health Care, Accessibility, Scoping ReviewAbstract
Background: Sensory barriers in hospitals, such as bright lighting, alarms, crowding, strong odors, unpredictable touch, and long waits, can create distress and reduce access to safe care for disabled patients, including autistic people and individuals with sensory processing differences, intellectual disabilities, acquired brain injury, PTSD, and chronic pain.
Objective: This scoping review aimed to map the existing literature on hospital policies and institutional guidance related to sensory-friendly environments for disabled patients, including policy content, implementation strategies, reported outcomes, and persistent barriers.
Methods: Following the PRISMA-ScR framework, we systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus from inception to July 2025. Eligible sources included empirical studies and policy-focused reports describing hospital-level policies, protocols, or standardized practices intended to reduce sensory barriers (e.g., sensory toolkits, quiet spaces, sensory accommodations pathways, environmental modifications).
Results: Thirty-five sources were included, spanning pediatric and adult hospitals, emergency departments, imaging suites, perioperative settings, and inpatient wards. Policies most commonly addressed autism and developmental disabilities, though fewer explicitly referenced broader disability communities. Four themes emerged: (1) policy scope and definitions of “sensory-friendly care,” (2) standardized accommodation pathways and tools, (3) workforce training and accountability mechanisms, and (4) uneven implementation and limited evaluation.
Conclusion: Hospital policies on sensory-friendly environments are emerging but inconsistent in scope, specificity, and accountability. Current guidance emphasizes practical accommodations, yet lacks standardized metrics and implementation infrastructure. Future work should prioritize disability-inclusive policy design, clear minimum standards, staff training tied to clinical workflows, and robust evaluation of patient experience and safety outcomes.
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Data Availability Statement
Data collected through the scoping review is available upon reasonable request to the corresponding author.
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