The Nursing and Allied Health Professions Research Unit within the Department of Integrated Activities of the Azienda Ospedaliera of Alessandria; an opportunity for the improvement of assistance: analysis of the results obtained in the years 2019-2021.

Background. In Italy, to date, there are six Nursing and Allied Health Professions Research Centres; in Piedmont, the Nursing and Allied Health Professions Research Unit is located at the Public Hospital SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo of Alessandria, within the Department of Integrated Activities, Research and Innovation.

Aim. To build and establish a network of nurse and allied health professional research, within Departments and facilities, to increase scientific production, to promote partnerships with scientific communities for improving the quality of clinical healthcare activities.

Materials and methods. Specific result indicators were defined, on the basis of which to estimate the trend of annual activities. A corporate network of Departments and Facilities has been established, as well as a collaboration with the Local Health Authority of Alessandria, the University of Eastern Piedmont and the other areas of the Integrated Activities, Research and Innovation Department.

Results. The selection of 11 Departments and 67 Facilities referents. The activation of 13 collaborations with national organizations and 5 international institutions. Sixteen clinical studies activated, 10 articles published in impacted/indexed journals, 10 publications in grey literature and the participation in 3 funded calls.

Conclusions. The organizational model established has achieved its objectives and can be reproduced in other national and international settings.