The influence of hospital room wall colors on mood elevation and recovery rate in postoperative patients: A comparative study

Background: Hospital environments influence patient outcomes beyond pharmacological and surgical care. Color psychology suggests that certain wall colors may affect patient mood and recovery rates. This study explores how different hospital room wall colors influence mood and recovery among postoperative patients.

Methods: This comparative study was conducted at Rappang Hospital from June 2024 to March 2025. A total of 300 postoperative patients were randomly assigned to rooms painted in distinct colors white, green, blue, yellow, pink, and gray excluding black. Mood elevation was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and recovery rates were measured by length of stay and pain reduction scores over 7 days.

Results: Patients in green and blue-colored rooms showed significantly greater mood improvements and shorter recovery durations compared to those in gray or white rooms (p < 0.01). Yellow and pink rooms demonstrated moderate benefits. Color exposure influenced circadian rhythm stability and endorphin release, contributing to faster postoperative stabilization.

Conclusion: Wall color in hospital environments significantly impacts mood and recovery. Integrating psychologically beneficial colors like green and blue into postoperative care settings can enhance patient outcomes.

Key words: Hospital Room Color, Postoperative Recovery, Mood Elevation, Pain Reduction, Healing Environment, Nursing Management

Dr. Agussalim, S.Kp, MSN, MST, DNS, is an Assistant Professor at the Parepare School of Nursing, Makassar Health Polytechnic, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. He graduated as a Primary Nurse from the Labuang Baji School of Nursing in 1996, and later obtained his Diploma in Nursing from the Anging Mammiri School of Nursing, Makassar (2000–2003). He earned his Bachelor of Nursing Science from Binawan University, Jakarta (2003–2006). He pursued his postgraduate education at St. Paul University Philippines (SPUP), where he completed a Master of Science in Nursing, majoring in Adult Health Nursing (2007–2009), and a Master of Science in Teaching (2007). Subsequently, he earned his Doctor of Nursing Science (DNS) degree from the same university in 2015 through a scholarship award. In 2019, Dr. Agussalim received a scholarship from the Directorate General of Higher Education of Indonesia to attend and present his research at the Transcultural Nursing Society Conference in Richmond, Virginia, USA. In 2020, he was invited to participate in a short course program at Heidelberg University, Germany; however, the program was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has received several research grants from the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, including one in 2022. His professional roles include serving as a nurse educator, researcher, national accreditation team member, and peer reviewer for national and international nursing journals.