0000000000532643
AUTHOR
Francesca Caracci
From epidemiology to public health decision making: analysis on IMD & vaccination strategy in Italy
Abstract Introduction Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) is one of the most severe vaccine-preventable disease, with high fatality rate and severe sequelae in up to 20% of survivors. MenB, MenC and MenACWY vaccines are available in Italy, but recommendations vary among Italian regions in terms of type of vaccines and targeted age groups. The aim of the study is to describe epidemiology of IMDs in order to provide the best vaccination strategy. Methods IMDs surveillance data in the period 2011-2017 from the Italian National Health Institute were explored. Excel was used to present trend analysis, stratifying by age and serogroups. Results In Italy, during the period 2011-2017, IMDs overall…
Synergies in Design and Health. The role of architects and urban health planners in tackling key contemporary public health challenges
Background and aim: Important public health improvements have been achieved over the past decades, but new challenges are emerging and progress cannot be taken for granted. Urban settlements host most of the global population, but they are also sources of several threats. The aim of the paper is to investigate the role of architects and planners in contributing to overcome these critical health challenges and propose strategic actions for collaboration with the public health workforce. Methods: Taking global trends and public health challenges as starting point, a scoping literature review has been conducted to illustrate the possible synergies that architecture and public health workforce …
Tobacco smoking prevalence in pregnant women: metanalysis of cross sectional studies
Abstract Background Notwithstanding tobacco smoking during pregnancy is associated with negative health outcomes, its prevalence was not included by worldwide surveillance system. The main objective was to estimate the number of women who had smoked at least one cigarette during her pregnancy in comparison to not smoking women. Methods A systematic review and metanalysis was conducted searching on MEDLINE, Pubmed and Scopus on the 2 January 2020. Keywords were searched with English language limits from 2017 to 2019. Three authors independently screened all titles and abstracts applying the inclusion criteria, extracted the data, filled a database and two other authors assessed doubt eligibi…
Human papilloma virus infection and vaccination: Pre-post intervention analysis on knowledge, attitudes and willingness to vaccinate among preadolescents attending secondary schools of palermo, sicily
In recent years, vaccination coverage rates against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in Europe have shown a decreasing trend and remain below the required standard. The present study aims to assess knowledge and attitudes regarding HPV infection and vaccination among a representative sample of preadolescents of Palermo, Italy. A survey was carried out throughout two questionnaires, before and after carrying out an educational intervention scheduled during school hours. A total of 1702 students attending first-grade secondary schools of the province of Palermo were enrolled (response rate 68.9%). Students attending third classes (adj OR = 1.18
EFFICACIA DI UN INTERVENTO FORMATIVO RIVOLTO AGLI OPERATORI SANITARI DELL'AZIENDA OSPEDALIERA UNIVERSITARIA (AOU) POLICLINICO "P. GIACCONE" DI PALERMO, PRELIMINARE ALL'INIZIO DELLA CAMPAGNA DI VACCINAZIONE ANTINFLUENZALE STAGIONALE 2016/2017
INTRODUZIONE: La vaccinazione antin uenzale rappresenta la misura preventiva più ef cace nel limitare la diffusione del virus in uenzale ed il Ministero della Salute raccomanda fortemente tale misura precauzionale a tutti gli operatori sanitari (OS). Gli OS sono ripetutamente esposti al virus, rappresentando una delle principali fonti di contagio per i pazienti e anticipando la malattia in uenzale rispetto alla popolazione generale. In numerosi studi, gli OS hanno riportato che la strategia preferita per implementare le coperture antin uenzali tra gli stessi, era l’organizzazione di corsi di formazione multidisciplinare sulla tematica. In questa ottica è stato svolto un intervento formativo…
Pre-post school educational intervention assessment on HPV vaccination attitudes and willingness
Abstract Background In Italy, vaccination coverage against human Papilloma Virus (HPV) showed a decreasing trend during last years. Different reasons could lead to a decrease in HPV vaccination confidence, such as not taking part to school seminars on HPV infection and vaccination. A pre-post intervention study was conducted in order to assess the improvement of knowledge, attitudes and behavior on HPV-related diseases and willingness on HPV vaccination among secondary school students. Methods Two anonymous pre-post intervention questionnaires made up of 25 and 8 items, respectively, were administered to a representative sample of students attending secondary schools of Palermo, Italy. Betw…
Systematic review and meta-analysis of cardiovascular risk in rheumatological disease: Symptomatic and non-symptomatic events in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus
Abstract Although each autoimmune disease is associated with specific tissue or organ damage, rheumatic diseases share a pro-inflammatory pattern that might increase cardiovascular risk. Retrospective and prospective studies on patients affected by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) highlighted the concept of “accelerated atherosclerosis”. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is the assessment of symptomatic or asymptomatic cardiovascular events among patients with rheumatic diseases as RA and SLE. The literature research obtained all manuscripts published in the English language between 2015 and 2019 for a total of 2355 manuscript…
Impact of Communicative and Informative Strategies on Influenza Vaccination Adherence and Absenteeism from Work of Health Care Professionals Working at the University Hospital of Palermo, Italy: A Quasi-Experimental Field Trial on Twelve Influenza Seasons
Every year, about 20% of health care workers (HCWs) acquire influenza, continuing to work and encouraging virus spreading. Influenza vaccination coverage rates and absenteeism from work among HCWs of the University Hospital (UH) of Palermo were analyzed before and after the implementation of several initiatives in order to increase HCWs&rsquo
Determinants of vaccine hesitancy and effectiveness of vaccination counseling interventions among a sample of the general population in Palermo, Italy.
Counteract vaccine hesitancy is a public health priority. Main objectives of the cross-sectional study conducted were to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding vaccination issues, to estimate the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy and to estimate the effectiveness of vaccination counseling on community advocacy in a sample of general population. An anonymous validated questionnaire was administered in April 2017 at the main shopping center of Palermo and was followed by tailored vaccination counseling interventions. To estimate the effectiveness of the interventions four main connection parameters to the vaccinarsi.org website were evaluated, in the two months before and after …