ARCHI - Development of a questionnaire on architecture of child and adolescent psychiatric facilities

ARCHI - Development of a questionnaire on architecture of child and adolescent psychiatric facilities Abstract. Objective: Studies from various disciplines have pointed to a connection between the structural characteristics of hospitals, in particular psychiatric hospital wards, and various parameters in the recovery process of patients treated there. To date, however, no current studies have further investigated whether individual architectural aspects of clinical complexes are more relevant in everyday practice than others. Method: To link theory with practice in the context of this study, we developed a questionnaire to explore which architectural aspects in hospitals or utilities for child and adolescent psychiatry, psychosomatics, and psychotherapy are perceived by those working in therapy as helpful or detrimental to therapeutic treatment. We based the selection and development of several items on an extensive literary analysis and several expert rounds, and then analyzed and categorized the data acquired by those expert interviews conducted online according to Mayring. Results: The resulting categories demonstrate the aspects perceived as relevant to practice in everyday hospital life and thus form the basis for the 20 open and closed items of the questionnaire. Conclusion: The results of the expertise survey confirm the aspects found in the literature analyzed, including generosity of space, family orientation, age appropriateness, and positive atmosphere.