The effects of treatment room lighting color on time perception and emotion.
Seulki Han, Daehee Lee
PMID 28744057WHAT IT FOUND
Light color did not change how long 20 healthy students thought ultrasound therapy lasted.
Blue and red were linked to more negative mood than yellow, while yellow and white felt more active.
Key findings
01Perceived treatment time did not differ significantly across light colors during ultrasound therapy set at intensity 0 (p>0.05).
02Tension-anxiety and fatigue-inertia did not differ significantly across light colors during ultrasound therapy set at intensity 0 (p>0.05).
03During ultrasound therapy set at intensity 0, depression-dejection, anger-hostility, and confusion-bewilderment scores were significantly higher for blue and red light than yellow light (p<0.05), while vigor-activity scores were significantly higher for yellow and white light than blue and red light (p<0.05).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study used 20 healthy young students, not patients. The sample was small and from a certain geographic area. Ultrasound therapy intensity was set at 0, so the study did not test lighting during real therapy. The outcomes were perceived time and mood questionnaire scores, not patient satisfaction, treatment outcomes, or safety. The paper did not report dropouts. The authors discuss blue light therapy and patient depression, but the study did not test patients who received phototherapy.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that changing room lighting will improve patient care or shorten perceived treatment time. The study tested 20 healthy students, not patients, and perceived treatment time showed no significant difference.