[Surveying patients' and family members' satisfaction: the experience of the Mental Health Department in Savona].
OBJECTIVE
To point out the degree of satisfaction of psychotic patients and their family members in relation to the assistance given by the four Outpatient Mental Health Services in the Savona Department.


METHODS
patients with a diagnosis of psychosis were selected among those visited during the period from the 1st of January to the 30th of April 2002. VSSS-54 item, was utilized.


RESULTS
The analysis, conducted on 301 patients and 149 family members, highlighted: 1) a substantially positive assessment of the Services 2) the patients and their family members quite agreed on the evaluation of the different areas of satisfaction 3) Strong points: all the operators' human and professional skills 4) request of a better knowledge of the Service's programmes and more information to the public opinion 5) request of more collaboration with family doctors and other specialists 6) The worst criticism: the Service's response to night and holiday emergency.


CONCLUSIONS
The patients and their family members reacted positively to the survey, that created more resistance on the part of the operators. The survey is not to be considered the final objective, but the point of departure for a new form of collaboration between the users and the operators.
Buscaglia
Giacinto
G
Dipartimento di Salute Mentale n2 Savonese, Savona. ino.buscaglia@wooow.it
Carolei
Adriana
A
Baldazzi
Francesca
F
Marinoni
Alessandra
A
Ferro
Antonio Maria
AM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011635:Public Health Administration / Q000592:standards*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires