A more in-depth and multi-method study was undertaken to evaluate the Artwork preferred by patients in the hospital room. A survey with seventeen pictures was developed which contained seven best-selling pictures from three independent art vendors, seven counter images with evidence-based elements, and three images that followed principles derived from prior evidence, as well as what was seen in the art cart observation.

Sixty-seven respondents took this survey. Respondents were patients in the hospital rooms with a period of stay varying from two to fourteen days. As they gave their responses to questions about feelings, and preferences, they also made comments about the paintings that were recorded.

A quantitative study with the survey results yielded statistically significant results for the popularity of nature images, over best-selling abstract/ unique images. The study also showed a preference for landscapes over figurative art, or art containing animals. An analysis comparing the popular art images with the less famous, but less ambiguous and more positive images also showed statistically significant results, biased towards the latter. In fact, simple nature scenes were preferred to the Van Gogh and the Chagall.

Published in Environment and Behavior Journal (March 2008)
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