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초록

(Background and Purpose) Current standards for public pediatric medical centers are largely limited to physical facilities, and many pediatric hospitals in Korea continue to maintain adult-centered spatial configurations, which inadequately support children’s emotional stability and the recovery of social functioning. This study aims to analyze the characteristics of playful design applied to pediatric hospital interiors—focusing on outpatient departments and common areas—and to investigate the current conditions of playful design elements in these spaces. (Methods) Three pediatric hospitals affiliated with general hospitals were selected as case sites. Field surveys were conducted, and to complement these observations, evaluations and opinions regarding playful design were collected from 15 caregivers at each hospital. (Results) Playful design in the investigated pediatric hospitals exhibited compositional features characterized by character-centered static visual elements, limited background sound, and a tactile environment oriented primarily toward safety. Rather than actively expanding children’s play and sensory exploration, playful interventions were implemented in a restricted manner, within a range that would not compromise the safety and operational efficiency of the medical system. Overall, caregivers tended to evaluate playful design positively. They perceived playful facilities as practically useful in alleviating children’s anxiety and boredom, reducing tantrums and negative emotions, and lessening caregivers’ burden by enabling brief rest or preparation for medical consultations. At the same time, caregivers raised specific concerns regarding level differences and gap structures, fall risks, disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, and collision risks when moving wheelchairs or strollers, indicating the need for more meticulous planning. This study underscores the importance of a healing environment in pediatric hospital planning that supports children’s ongoing development and enables an integrated setting where education, everyday life, and treatment are holistically addressed.

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