Accessibility perspectives in hospital signage design in Cúcuta
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Accessibility, universal design, disability, inclusion, hospital wayfinding, signage
This project analyzed the accessibility of hospital signage in Cúcuta through a qualitative case study.
Direct observations, document review, semi-structured interviews, and a focus group with users, family
members, and hospital staff were conducted, encompassing diverse profiles and realities. The results revealed deficiencies in the clarity and adaptation of the signage, with a lack of multisensory elements and
universal symbols, as well as poor accessibility for people with disabilities. Participants expressed
insecurity and dependence when navigating the hospital, attributing this to the lack of pictograms, Braille,
adequate lighting, and uniformity in the signs. Although national regulations exist, their implementation is
inconsistent, highlighting the need to update and raise awareness of signage practices. The study
concludes that redesigning signage based on universal design principles and user participation is essential
to creating more inclusive and accessible hospitals.
Araújo, Y. F. de L., Coura, A. S., França, I. S. X. de, Souto, R. Q., & Rocha, M. A. (2022). Accesibilidad
de los discapacitados físicos a las Unidades Básicas de Salud. Cadernos de Enfermagem, 27, e75651.
https://www.scielo.br/j/cenf/a/V8JRFvcNF8WKRyXwGR9svLF/?format=pdf&lang=es
Alemán Selva, T. (2024). La accesibilidad 360º en los entornos hospitalarios.
https://www.ilunionconsultoria.com/sites/default/files/Manual-Accesibilidad-Hospitales.pdf
Aragües, A. E. (2021). Programa de comunicación visual del entorno en el Hospital de Pediatría.
http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/bitstream/handle/10915/132197/Documento_completo.pdf?sequence=1
Caffaro, F., Zucchi, A., Bagagiolo, G., Cavallo, E., & Cremasco, M. M. (2020). Hospital wayfinding
systems and inclusive design: state of the art and future research directions. Health Environments
Research
&
Design
Journal,
13(2),
235-251.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1937586719876809
Carli, E. A., et al. (2020). Inclusivity in hospital navigation: A multi-sensory approach to accessible
healthcare
environments.
Design
Studies,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142694X20301234
experience.
71,
100965.
Chang, J. H., Robertson, M. M., & Kercher, K. (2022). Hospital wayfinding: The impact of signage on
user
Journal
of
Environmental
Psychology,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494422000150
80,
101765.
Chías Navarro, P., & Abad, A. (2021). Metodología para el análisis de flujos y recorridos en el entorno
hospitalario desde la perspectiva de la accesibilidad. Informes de la Construcción, 73(564).
282
Cruz, J. J. M. (2024). Propuesta de lineamientos para la accesibilidad de la señalética en el hospital
materno
infantil
de
la
Ciudad
de
Toluca.
https://ri.uaemex.mx/bitstream/20.500.11799/140924/1/Trabajo%20Terminal%20Final%20Oscar%20202
4%20final%20mayo.pdf
Darvishy, A., Lindegger, A., Zumtaugwald, B., & Bühlmann, B. (2022). Co-designing accessible hospital
wayfinding systems: lessons learned from user participation. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive
Technology, 17(1), 51-61. https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2020.1805283
Debono, D. S., Greenfield, D., Travaglia, J. F., Long, J. C., Black, D., Braithwaite, J., & Westbrook, J. I.
(2019). Design and usability of hospital sign systems: A literature review. Health Environments Research
& Design Journal, 12(3), 186-200. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1937586718822826
Fundación Humans. (2024). Humanización de la arquitectura e ingeniería sanitarias.
https://fundacionhumans.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/humanizacion-de-la-arquitectura-e-ingenieria
sanitarias_digital_03.11.24.pdf
Funes, M. A., Gómez, H. M., & Pérez, R. T. (2020). Diseño de señalética hospitalaria inclusiva: análisis y
propuestas.
Cuadernos
de
Arquitectura
https://revistas.unab.edu.co/index.php/cau/article/view/3963
y
Urbanismo,
13(25),
75-92.
Goyoaga, A. S. (2021). Accesibilidad a instituciones de salud por usuarios en silla de ruedas. Ciencia
Latina, 5(2), 310-318. https://ciencialatina.org/index.php/cienciala/article/view/269/351
Hignett, S., Carayon, P., Buckle, P., & Catchpole, K. (2021). State of science: Human factors and
ergonomics
in
healthcare.
Ergonomics,
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00140139.2020.1801247
Hospitales
que
curan
el
planeta.
(2018).
Informe
64(1),
de
Hospitales
https://hospitalesporlasaludambiental.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/informe-2018.pdf
10-12.
Saludables.
ILUNION Consultoría. (2023). La accesibilidad 360º en los entornos hospitalarios.
https://www.ilunionconsultoria.com/sites/default/files/Manual-Accesibilidad-Hospitales.pdf
Lynch, K. (1960). The Image of the City. MIT Press.
Ministerio de Salud de Colombia. (2023). Normativa nacional para accesibilidad e inclusión en servicios
hospitalarios.
https://www.minsalud.gov.co/proteccionsocial/Paginas/discapacidad_accesibilidadfisica.aspx
Ortega Cabrera, J. L., et al. (2021). Accesibilidad. Personas con discapacidad y diseño arquitectónico.
https://libreacceso.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/9786074175929.pdf
Preiser, W. F., & Ostroff, E. (Eds.). (2011). Universal Design Handbook. McGraw Hill Professional.
Revista
Médica.
(2025).
La importancia de la señalética en los hospitales.
https://revistamedica.com/importancia-senaletica-hospitales-metodo-asistencial/
Sanz Sebastián, C., & Prieto Grande, M. A. (2025). El diseño universal aplicado al ámbito hospitalario.
https://es.scribd.com/document/730346249/09-El-diseno-universal-aplicado-al-ambito-hospitalario
Scribd. (2025). Señalética inclusiva en hospital. https://es.scribd.com/document/535319365/Manual2021
Soni, R., Malik, A., & Singh, K. (2023). User-centric design for hospital signage: Improving accessibility
for diverse populations. International Journal of Healthcare Management, 16(2), 95-104.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/20479700.2022.2109528
Steinfeld, E., & Maisel, J. (2012). Universal Design: Creating Inclusive Environments. Wiley.
UNICEF.
(2021).
World
report
on
https://www.unicef.org/reports/state-of-the-worlds-children-2021
disability
and
inclusion.
United Nations (ONU). (2006). Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
https://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/convention/convoptprot-e.pdf
Villarruel, M., & García, M. B. (2021). Participatory design in healthcare signage: Lessons from Latin
American case studies. Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 14(3), 143-155.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/19375867211009671
World Health Organization. (2022). Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities.
This project analyzed the accessibility of hospital signage in Cúcuta through a qualitative case study.
Direct observations, document review, semi-structured interviews, and a focus group with users, family
members, and hospital staff were conducted, encompassing diverse profiles and realities. The results revealed deficiencies in the clarity and adaptation of the signage, with a lack of multisensory elements and
universal symbols, as well as poor accessibility for people with disabilities. Participants expressed
insecurity and dependence when navigating the hospital, attributing this to the lack of pictograms, Braille,
adequate lighting, and uniformity in the signs. Although national regulations exist, their implementation is
inconsistent, highlighting the need to update and raise awareness of signage practices. The study
concludes that redesigning signage based on universal design principles and user participation is essential
to creating more inclusive and accessible hospitals.
Araújo, Y. F. de L., Coura, A. S., França, I. S. X. de, Souto, R. Q., & Rocha, M. A. (2022). Accesibilidad
de los discapacitados físicos a las Unidades Básicas de Salud. Cadernos de Enfermagem, 27, e75651.
https://www.scielo.br/j/cenf/a/V8JRFvcNF8WKRyXwGR9svLF/?format=pdf&lang=es
Alemán Selva, T. (2024). La accesibilidad 360º en los entornos hospitalarios.
https://www.ilunionconsultoria.com/sites/default/files/Manual-Accesibilidad-Hospitales.pdf
Aragües, A. E. (2021). Programa de comunicación visual del entorno en el Hospital de Pediatría.
http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/bitstream/handle/10915/132197/Documento_completo.pdf?sequence=1
Caffaro, F., Zucchi, A., Bagagiolo, G., Cavallo, E., & Cremasco, M. M. (2020). Hospital wayfinding
systems and inclusive design: state of the art and future research directions. Health Environments
Research
&
Design
Journal,
13(2),
235-251.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1937586719876809
Carli, E. A., et al. (2020). Inclusivity in hospital navigation: A multi-sensory approach to accessible
healthcare
environments.
Design
Studies,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142694X20301234
experience.
71,
100965.
Chang, J. H., Robertson, M. M., & Kercher, K. (2022). Hospital wayfinding: The impact of signage on
user
Journal
of
Environmental
Psychology,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494422000150
80,
101765.
Chías Navarro, P., & Abad, A. (2021). Metodología para el análisis de flujos y recorridos en el entorno
hospitalario desde la perspectiva de la accesibilidad. Informes de la Construcción, 73(564).
282
Cruz, J. J. M. (2024). Propuesta de lineamientos para la accesibilidad de la señalética en el hospital
materno
infantil
de
la
Ciudad
de
Toluca.
https://ri.uaemex.mx/bitstream/20.500.11799/140924/1/Trabajo%20Terminal%20Final%20Oscar%20202
4%20final%20mayo.pdf
Darvishy, A., Lindegger, A., Zumtaugwald, B., & Bühlmann, B. (2022). Co-designing accessible hospital
wayfinding systems: lessons learned from user participation. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive
Technology, 17(1), 51-61. https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2020.1805283
Debono, D. S., Greenfield, D., Travaglia, J. F., Long, J. C., Black, D., Braithwaite, J., & Westbrook, J. I.
(2019). Design and usability of hospital sign systems: A literature review. Health Environments Research
& Design Journal, 12(3), 186-200. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1937586718822826
Fundación Humans. (2024). Humanización de la arquitectura e ingeniería sanitarias.
https://fundacionhumans.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/humanizacion-de-la-arquitectura-e-ingenieria
sanitarias_digital_03.11.24.pdf
Funes, M. A., Gómez, H. M., & Pérez, R. T. (2020). Diseño de señalética hospitalaria inclusiva: análisis y
propuestas.
Cuadernos
de
Arquitectura
https://revistas.unab.edu.co/index.php/cau/article/view/3963
y
Urbanismo,
13(25),
75-92.
Goyoaga, A. S. (2021). Accesibilidad a instituciones de salud por usuarios en silla de ruedas. Ciencia
Latina, 5(2), 310-318. https://ciencialatina.org/index.php/cienciala/article/view/269/351
Hignett, S., Carayon, P., Buckle, P., & Catchpole, K. (2021). State of science: Human factors and
ergonomics
in
healthcare.
Ergonomics,
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00140139.2020.1801247
Hospitales
que
curan
el
planeta.
(2018).
Informe
64(1),
de
Hospitales
https://hospitalesporlasaludambiental.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/informe-2018.pdf
10-12.
Saludables.
ILUNION Consultoría. (2023). La accesibilidad 360º en los entornos hospitalarios.
https://www.ilunionconsultoria.com/sites/default/files/Manual-Accesibilidad-Hospitales.pdf
Lynch, K. (1960). The Image of the City. MIT Press.
Ministerio de Salud de Colombia. (2023). Normativa nacional para accesibilidad e inclusión en servicios
hospitalarios.
https://www.minsalud.gov.co/proteccionsocial/Paginas/discapacidad_accesibilidadfisica.aspx
Ortega Cabrera, J. L., et al. (2021). Accesibilidad. Personas con discapacidad y diseño arquitectónico.
https://libreacceso.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/9786074175929.pdf
Preiser, W. F., & Ostroff, E. (Eds.). (2011). Universal Design Handbook. McGraw Hill Professional.
Revista
Médica.
(2025).
La importancia de la señalética en los hospitales.
https://revistamedica.com/importancia-senaletica-hospitales-metodo-asistencial/
Sanz Sebastián, C., & Prieto Grande, M. A. (2025). El diseño universal aplicado al ámbito hospitalario.
https://es.scribd.com/document/730346249/09-El-diseno-universal-aplicado-al-ambito-hospitalario
Scribd. (2025). Señalética inclusiva en hospital. https://es.scribd.com/document/535319365/Manual2021
Soni, R., Malik, A., & Singh, K. (2023). User-centric design for hospital signage: Improving accessibility
for diverse populations. International Journal of Healthcare Management, 16(2), 95-104.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/20479700.2022.2109528
Steinfeld, E., & Maisel, J. (2012). Universal Design: Creating Inclusive Environments. Wiley.
UNICEF.
(2021).
World
report
on
https://www.unicef.org/reports/state-of-the-worlds-children-2021
disability
and
inclusion.
United Nations (ONU). (2006). Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
https://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/convention/convoptprot-e.pdf
Villarruel, M., & García, M. B. (2021). Participatory design in healthcare signage: Lessons from Latin
American case studies. Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 14(3), 143-155.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/19375867211009671
World Health Organization. (2022). Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities.
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