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The potential of the built environment to mediate effects on patient and caregiver physical, cognitive and social health continues to be advocated. Evidence indicates that well-designed physical settings play an important role in making healthcare facilities safer and more healing for patients, and better working places for staff. Collaboration between researchers from varied disciplines is now adding to our understanding of the range of impacts on patient health and well-being. For instance, health architecture and interior designers are involving users of healthcare built environments in the design process using inclusive design or patient-centred care frameworks. Neuroscience researchers are exploring relationships between the environment and recovery from brain injury, often using a model of enriched environments. An overview of the range of theoretical frameworks used in empirical research to test built environment attributes is now warranted. In this paper, we present a mapping of the field showing the use of theories in built environment research. This would enable better selection of theoretical frameworks in order to evaluate the effect of specific design solutions on patient and care-giver health. Today, there are no comprehensive summaries of theories and conceptual frameworks applied in studies of healthcare architecture that could serve as a guide to future research. The aim of this scop- 378 ing review was to (i) identify theories and frameworks used in research of the physical environment in health care, (ii) describe their core constructs, assumptions, scientific utility, (iii) assess their applicability and feasibility for use in research. The basic principles of Arksey and O’Malley’s model of scoping review design were used to identify the theories and frameworks. 15 theories/frameworks were included and described in terms of general characteristics (purpose, country and year of development, discipline), core construct and applicability and feasibility.