Workplace violence among healthcare workers, a multicenter study in Italy

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence and determinants of workplace violence and the sociodemographic risk factors associated. Study design: This was a multicenter cross-sectional study. Methods: The study was performed using self-compiled Italian version of the World Health Organization's questionnaire on workplace violence online by filling in a Google form. The survey was opened from May 2018 to March 2020 and lasted 5-10 min. Results: The sample consists of 3659 healthcare workers, of which 2525 (69%) are females, 1446 (39.5%) are nurses, and 2029 (55.5%) are health workers from northern Italy. The most frequent age group of the sample is 50-54 years (16.7%).…

Counseling intervention to improve quality of life in patients with pre-existing acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a pilot study

In the light of diagnostic and therapeutic advances, patients with a previous myocardial infarction or with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are vulnerable and need continuous monitoring over time. These pathological frameworks have a strong impact on the economy and on the status of the population and require effective and low-cost solutions.The objective of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy in the short term of a telephone counseling intervention to modify the lifestyles of these two patient populations.In May 2015, all the patients included in the study underwent a questionnaire to evaluate their eating and smoking habits and their quality of life. After…

Evaluation of radon levels in indoor gymnasia of palermo (Sicily) and Sassari (Sardinia)

<p><strong>Background</strong>: In the last decades, there has been increased worldwide interest in the management of health risks from indoor radon.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>: From 2006 to 2008, a survey on air radon levels was carried out in a total of 57 indoor gymnasia respectively located in the urban area of Palermo (Sicily) and Sassari (Sardinia).</p><p><strong>Results</strong>: The indoor radon levels were generally low with different geometric means in the two geographic areas (14.3 Bq/m3 in Palermo and 36 Bq/m3 in Sassari, respectively). Overall, in both groups increasing values of radon were found during the n…

Analysis of persistence of human papillomavirus infection in men evaluated by sampling multiple genital sites.

Although human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been studied extensively in women, data on male infection are limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate persistence of HPV infection at multiple genital sites in men and to define potential associations with socio-behavioural characteristics.Penile, urethral and seminal specimens were tested by the INNO-LiPA HPV system (Innogenetics) and a PCR assay. Persistence was defined as the detection of same HPV type at ≥ 2 consecutive visits. The Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test were applied to estimate the likelihood of persistence.A total of 50 men (median age: 33 years) were followed for a median of 14.7 months. Altogether, 49…

“La notifica delle malattie infettive – Vademecum per il Medico” –

Il Percorso Diagnostico Terapeutico Assistenziale del paziente con melanoma metastatico presso l’Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico Paolo Giaccone di Palermo come strumento applicativo della clinical governance

L’evoluzione dello scenario internazionale relativo alla sanità identifica cinque specifiche dimensioni come driver del cambiamento: il sistema, la finanza, le persone, i processi e la tecnologia. In linea con tali elementi, il patto per la salute 2014-2016 esplicita la necessità di una rivisitazione a tutti i livelli del sistema salute, sia organizzativo che gestionale, con l’intento di aumentare l’efficienza e l’efficacia, sviluppando nuovi modelli assistenziali, anche nella logica delle reti cliniche, dove tra gli “strumenti” viene identificata l’attivazione di Percorsi Diagnostico Terapeutico Assistenziali (PDTA). I percorsi condivisi e codificati per i vari stadi di patologia, con un s…

Reliability of adapted version of Italian Label tobacco Impact Index for the adolescent: ALII

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the reliability of the Adolescent Label Impact Index (ALII) , it is an adolescent adapted version of Italian LII of the tobacco products warnings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A sample including students aged 13-15 years was considered. The ALII is constructed by 4 items: salience, harm, quitting and forgo. The questionnaire was self-administered to study participants twice with 3 days between each administration (T1 and T2) to measure reliability. The internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha and Corrected Item-Total Correlations (CITC) and the test-retest reliability applying Pearson's correlation were computed. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha ranges fro…

Smoking behaviour among nursing students: attitudes toward smoking cessation.

Introduction: The purpose of the study was to assess tobacco smoking habits among nursing students and how these are influenced by family members and cohabitants. Methods: Cross-sectional study. An anonymous papery questionnaire was administered to nursing students of the three-year course of the University of Palermo. Adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) are presented. Results: 301 nursing students (63.12 % female) completed the questionnaire (response rate 61.17%). The average age of the sample is 21.88 years (SD ± 2.80). Considering as a dependent variable: “I currently smoke”, the statistically significant independent variables associated are: “Male gender” (aOR 2.09), “Single” (aOR 2.06), “Second…

Risk assessment in ginecology and obstetrics in Sicily: an approach based on Wolff's Criteria

Objectives To apply Wolff’s Criteria to hospital discharge records (HDR) in order to detect adverse events worthy of further study. Methods Gynecology and Obstetrics Units of three Sicilian hospitals were considered and HDR regarding ordinary and day hospital admissions in 2008 were collected. A matched case-control study was designed, by random selection of 10 controls at maximum for each case. Matching was performed on the variables age and speciality of admission (gynecology or obstetrics). Results Out of a total of 7011 HDR examined, 114 cases were identified with Wolff’s Criteria. Multivariate analysis confirmed a statistically significant association with the origin of admission, diag…

A proposal for an evidence-based model of the screening for the colorectal carcinoma in an Italian setting

Introduction. The aim of this paper is to improve the feasibility perception of policymakers, health care workers and target population about the cost-effectiveness of the implementation of colorectal screening as Public Health strategy. Methods. Retrospective study by application of a three-step model designed for a local setting in Sicily (Palermo and its Province) in order to distribute Fecal Occult Blood Tests (FOBTs), offer colonoscopy and surgery, by district allocation of pharmacies, public digestive endoscopic centres and oncologic and general surgery units. Mean adherence to consolidated colorectal screening programs in Italy was applied in order to evaluate the feasibility of an o…

HUMAN HERPESVIRUS 8 SEROPREVALENCE AMONG INTERNATIONALLY ADOPTED CHILDREN COMING FROM EASTERN EUROPE

The seroprevalence of Human Herpes Virus 8 (HHV8) and its transmission pattern were assessed testing serum samples of 120 internationally adopted children (aged 1-15 years) coming from Eastern Europe. Determinations of IgG antibodies against both latent and lytic HHV-8 antigens were performed by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Antibodies were detected only for lytic antigen of the virus in 12.5% of children with a seroprevalence significatively higher (19.6%) in young children (age 1-6). No correlation was observed between HHV8 seropositivity and serological markers for hepatitis A, B and C viruses and Human Immunodeficiency virus. In conclusion, our findings suggest that HHV8 infection …

A study on occupational exposure of Sicilian farmers to Giardia and Cryptosporidium

Introduction. A cross-sectional study was undertaken to deter- mine the prevalence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in calves of Palermo area (Sicily) and to evaluate the occupational risk associated with occurrence of zoonotic genotypes. Methods. A total of 217 faecal samples, from 149 calves (between 2 and 240 days of age) and 68 farmers, were collected in 19 cattle- farms of Palermo area. A questionnaire regarding demographic characteristics and personal hygienic measures was submitted to all farmers. All faecal samples were analyzed by Immunoflu- orescence assay and Polimerase Chain Reaction (PCR); geno- types were determined by DNA sequencing of Triose Phosphate Isomerase gene for Giardi…