[The residential structure as a therapeutic instrument]

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Psychology
• Healthcare Management

Context:

• Residential placements are frequently utilized in therapeutic interventions.
• There is a notable lack of research evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of these placements.
• This gap hinders evidence-based practice in residential care settings.

Purpose:

• To address the scarcity of evaluative studies on residential placements.
• To propose structural elements and a typology for facilitating such research.
• To identify and discuss methodological challenges inherent in evaluating therapeutic effects.

Summary:

• The study highlights the discrepancy between the prevalence of residential placements and the limited evaluation of their therapeutic outcomes.
• It outlines key structural components and suggests a typology to guide future research endeavors.
• Methodological issues encountered in empirical studies are examined, alongside presented results.

Impact:

• Provides a framework for conducting rigorous evaluations of residential placement effectiveness.
• Aims to improve the quality of care and therapeutic outcomes in residential settings.
• Contributes to the evidence base for therapeutic interventions within homes and households.