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The Environment and Staff of Residential Facilities: Findings from the Italian ‘Progres’ National Survey

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Abstract

We administered structured interviews to managers and staff of a random sample of 265 Italian psychiatric Residential Facilities (RFs). Most are independent buildings, located in urban and suburban areas. The median number of residents is 10. The few RFs (5.7%) with more than 20 beds have a higher rate of drop-outs and escapes. The average indoor space per resident is 36 square meters, there is often a garden, and residents generally live in two-bed rooms. Most facilities are located within walking distance of shopping centers or recreational facilities. Three-quarters have 24-hour staff coverage. On average, each facility has about 10 full-time equivalent workers, with a staff:resident ratio of 0.92. Most of the professional input is provided by nurses and auxiliary staff. Critical issues to be considered in planning facilities include the physical environment, the size, and the staffing patterns.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to the following project collaborators: F. Amaddeo, C. Barbini, F. Basile, G. Bazzacco, R. Bracco, A. Calvarese, G. Canuso, E. Caroppo, L. Caserta, M. Colangione, S. Damiani, T. De Donatis, F. Di Donato, V. Di Michele, R. Esposito, M. Facchini, S. Ferraro, P. Fracchiolla, P. Gabriele, D. Gallicchio, G. Giardina, A. Greco, F. Grilletti, S. Guzzo, A.M. Lerario, M.R. Marinelli, C. Marino, E. Monzani, F. Picoco, L. Pinciaroli, C.A. Rossetti, P. Rubatta, F. Scorpiniti, V. Scrofani, M. Stefani, A. Svettini, A. Zaffarano, M. Cellini, A. Galli, K. Pesaresi, G. Pitzalis, L. Tarantino. Special thanks are due to Jane Banaszak-Holl, Ph.D., Christine Timko, Ph.D. and Richard Warner, M.D. for their helpful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Epidemiology and Health Surveillance & Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena, 299, Rome, 00161, Italy

    Angelo Picardi M.D., Giovanni de Girolamo M.D. & Pierluigi Morosini M.D.

  2. Psychiatric Clinic, United Hospitals of Ancona and University of Marche, Ancona, Italy

    Giovanni Santone M.D.

  3. University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Ian Falloon M.D.

  4. Program on Mental Health and Pathological Dependence, AUSL of Rimini, Rimini, Italy

    Angelo Fioritti M.D.

  5. Chair of Biostatistics, University of Trento, Trento, Italy

    Rocco Micciolo M.D.

  6. Department of Mental Health, Turin, Italy

    Enrico Zanalda M.D.

Authors
  1. Angelo Picardi M.D.
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  2. Giovanni de Girolamo M.D.
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  3. Giovanni Santone M.D.
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  4. Ian Falloon M.D.
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  5. Angelo Fioritti M.D.
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  6. Rocco Micciolo M.D.
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  7. Pierluigi Morosini M.D.
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  8. Enrico Zanalda M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Angelo Picardi M.D..

Additional information

Angelo Picardi, Giovanni de Girolamo, and Pierluigi Morosini are affiliated with the National Mental Health Project, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.

Giovanni Santone is affiliated with the Psychiatric Clinic, United Hospitals of Ancona and University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.

Ian Falloon is affiliated with the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Angelo Fioritti is affiliated with the Program on Mental Health and Pathological Dependence, AUSL of Rimini, Rimini, Italy.

Rocco Micciolo is affiliated with the Chair of Biostatistics, University of Trento, Trento, Italy.

Enrico Zanalda is affiliated with the Department of Mental Health, Turin, Italy.

The PROGRES Group includes: National Coordinators: G. de Girolamo, M.D., A. Picardi, M.D., P. Morosini, M.D. (National Mental Health Project, National Institute of Health, Rome); Biostatistician: R. Micciolo, M.D. (University of Trento); Regional Coordinators: P. Argentino, M.D., G. Borsetti, M.D., M. Casacchia, M.D., P. Ciliberti, M.D., G. Civenti, M.S.W., A. Colotto, M.D., G. Dell’Acqua, M.D., W. Di Munzio, M.D., G. Fagnano, D.Psyc., A. Fioritti, M.D., N. Longhin, M.D., M. Miceli, M.D., M. Nicotera, M.D., M. Pisetta, R. Putzolu, E. Rossi, M.D., M.E. Rotunno, M.D., D. Semisa, M.D., R. Tomasi, M.D., P. Tulli, D.Psyc., E. Zanalda, M.D.

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Picardi, A., Girolamo, G.d., Santone, G. et al. The Environment and Staff of Residential Facilities: Findings from the Italian ‘Progres’ National Survey. Community Ment Health J 42, 263–279 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-005-9031-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-005-9031-6

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