Assessing Lighting Quality and Occupational Outcomes in Intensive Care Units: A Case Study from the Democratic Republic of Congo

Jean-Paul Kapuya Bulaba Nyembwe (), John Omomoluwa Ogundiran, Nsenda Lukumwena, Hicham Mastouri and Manuel Gameiro da Silva
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Jean-Paul Kapuya Bulaba Nyembwe: Department of Mechanical Engineering, ADAI, University of Coimbra, Pólo II, Rua Luís Reis Santos, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal
John Omomoluwa Ogundiran: Department of Mechanical Engineering, ADAI, University of Coimbra, Pólo II, Rua Luís Reis Santos, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal
Nsenda Lukumwena: Department of Architectural Route Kasapa, New Horizons University, 2465, Gambela, Lubumbashi 1280, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Hicham Mastouri: School of Architecture, Planning, and Design, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Lot 660, Hay Moulay Rachid, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco
Manuel Gameiro da Silva: Department of Mechanical Engineering, ADAI, University of Coimbra, Pólo II, Rua Luís Reis Santos, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 10, 1-22

Abstract: This study presents a comprehensive assessment of lighting conditions in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of two major hospitals in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Hospital du Cinquantenaire in Kinshasa and Jason Sendwe Hospital in Lubumbashi. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating continuous illuminance monitoring with structured staff surveys to evaluate visual comfort in accordance with the EN 12464-1 standard for indoor workplaces. Objective measurements revealed that more than 52.2% of the evaluated ICU workspaces failed to meet the recommended minimum illuminance level of 300 lux. Subjective responses from healthcare professionals indicated that poor lighting significantly reduced job satisfaction by 40%, lowered self-rated task performance by 30%, decreased visual comfort scores from 4.1 to 2.6 (on a 1–5 scale), and increased the prevalence of well-being symptoms (eye fatigue, headaches) by 25–35%. Frequent complaints included eye strain, glare, and discomfort with posture, with these issues often exacerbated during the rainy season due to reduced natural daylight. The study highlights critical deficiencies in current lighting infrastructure and emphasizes the need for urgent improvements in clinical environments. Moreover, inconsistent energy supply to these healthcare settings also impacts the assurance of visual comfort. To address these shortcomings, the study recommends transitioning to energy-efficient LED lighting, enhancing access to natural light, incorporating circadian rhythm-based lighting systems, enabling individual lighting control at workstations, and ensuring a consistent power supply via the integration of solar inverters to the grid supply. These interventions are essential not only for improving healthcare staff performance and safety but also for supporting better patient outcomes. The findings offer actionable insights for hospital administrators and policymakers in the DRC and similar low-resource settings seeking to enhance environmental quality in critical care facilities.

Keywords: Democratic Republic of Congo; intensive care units; lighting quality; staff well-being; visual comfort (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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