The completion of human DNA sequencing in the early 2000s initially generated widespread excitement and hope that it would revolutionize medicine. Over time, however, it revealed major limitations due to a lack of understanding of the highly complex genotype-phenotype pathway. Precision medicine has emerged as a response to these biotechnological innovations, tailoring treatments based on an array of new molecular and clinical "omics" data. However, the large volume and heterogeneity of data available today requires the use of dedicated and highly efficient computational analyses. Widely used today are artificial intelligence techniques (such as machine learning) based on artificial neural networks, i.e., a mathematical model of how biological neurons work. Here, we show that artificial neural networks have nothing to do with biology, although their popularity is largely due to their alleged ability to simulate the human brain. Furthermore, we argue that the analysis of large molecular datasets cannot be left to the computational side alone, i.e., to be exclusively data-driven, but on the contrary must meet the challenge of integrating data and expertise, of getting clinicians and data analysts to work together to take into account the absolute and ineradicable uniqueness of each patient's characteristics.
人类 DNA 测序工作于 2000 年代初完成,最初引起了广泛的关注,人们希望它能彻底改变医学。然而,随着时间的推移,由于缺乏对高度复杂的基因型-表型途径的了解,它暴露出了很大的局限性。作为对这些生物技术创新的回应,精准医疗应运而生,它根据一系列新的分子和临床 "omics "数据来定制治疗方案。然而,目前可用的数据量大、异质性强,需要使用专用的高效计算分析。目前广泛使用的人工智能技术(如机器学习)基于人工神经网络,即生物神经元如何工作的数学模型。在这里,我们要说明的是,人工神经网络与生物学毫无关系,尽管它们的流行在很大程度上是因为它们据称能够模拟人脑。此外,我们还认为,对大型分子数据集的分析不能只由计算一方来完成,即不能完全由数据驱动,相反,必须迎接将数据与专业知识相结合的挑战,让临床医生和数据分析师共同努力,考虑到每位患者的绝对和不可改变的独特性。
{"title":"AI will not give us precision medicine.","authors":"Lorenzo Farina","doi":"10.4415/ANN_24_01_03","DOIUrl":"10.4415/ANN_24_01_03","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The completion of human DNA sequencing in the early 2000s initially generated widespread excitement and hope that it would revolutionize medicine. Over time, however, it revealed major limitations due to a lack of understanding of the highly complex genotype-phenotype pathway. Precision medicine has emerged as a response to these biotechnological innovations, tailoring treatments based on an array of new molecular and clinical \"omics\" data. However, the large volume and heterogeneity of data available today requires the use of dedicated and highly efficient computational analyses. Widely used today are artificial intelligence techniques (such as machine learning) based on artificial neural networks, i.e., a mathematical model of how biological neurons work. Here, we show that artificial neural networks have nothing to do with biology, although their popularity is largely due to their alleged ability to simulate the human brain. Furthermore, we argue that the analysis of large molecular datasets cannot be left to the computational side alone, i.e., to be exclusively data-driven, but on the contrary must meet the challenge of integrating data and expertise, of getting clinicians and data analysts to work together to take into account the absolute and ineradicable uniqueness of each patient's characteristics.</p>","PeriodicalId":502090,"journal":{"name":"Annali dell'Istituto superiore di sanita","volume":"60 1","pages":"8-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141452633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: At the beginning of 2020, worldwide public debate focused on the fight against the climate crisis. Many challenges are ahead of us, from health emergencies, with the pandemics underway, to the exhaustion of natural resources, to major climate change.
Discussion: Many cities face health threats related to urban and land use planning, while infectious diseases thrive in overcrowded cities: living in unhealthy environments killed 12,6 million people in 2012 and air pollution killed 7 million people in 2016. Urbanization is one of the major global trends of the 21st century and has a significant impact on health. Over 55% of the world's population lives in urban areas, a percentage that is expected to increase to 68% by 2050.
Conclusions: Developing new and more sustainable ways of living, moving, utilizing resources, and accessing services including healthcare and education, is crucial to preserve our future and the future of the next generations.
{"title":"From COVID-19 to a \"new normal\": could we support a \"healthy renaissance\" for our cities?","authors":"Laura Mancini, Ornella Punzo, Silvio Brusaferro","doi":"10.4415/ANN_24_01_10","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4415/ANN_24_01_10","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>At the beginning of 2020, worldwide public debate focused on the fight against the climate crisis. Many challenges are ahead of us, from health emergencies, with the pandemics underway, to the exhaustion of natural resources, to major climate change.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Many cities face health threats related to urban and land use planning, while infectious diseases thrive in overcrowded cities: living in unhealthy environments killed 12,6 million people in 2012 and air pollution killed 7 million people in 2016. Urbanization is one of the major global trends of the 21st century and has a significant impact on health. Over 55% of the world's population lives in urban areas, a percentage that is expected to increase to 68% by 2050.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Developing new and more sustainable ways of living, moving, utilizing resources, and accessing services including healthcare and education, is crucial to preserve our future and the future of the next generations.</p>","PeriodicalId":502090,"journal":{"name":"Annali dell'Istituto superiore di sanita","volume":"60 1","pages":"72-76"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141452571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chiara Stival, Alessandra Lugo, Giulia Carreras, Anna Odone, Piet A van den Brandt, Giuseppe Gorini, Sabrina Molinaro, Sonia Cerrai, Roberta Pacifici, Silvano Gallus
Introduction: It is crucial to monitor changes in body weight and physical activity (PA) to understand if short-term effects of COVID-19 pandemic have had implications over time.
Methods: This longitudinal study is based on data from 4,831 Italians aged 18-74 years interviewed during the first phase of COVID-19 pandemic (April-May 2020) and two years later (February-March 2022). Changes in body weight and PA were assessed through multivariable analyses in association with socio-demographic and psychological characteristics.
Results: Over the two years, 17.4% reported a weight gain of at least 5 kg and 32.8% a decreased PA by at least 4 hours per week. Weight gain and decreased PA were more frequent in participants from the less wealthy areas, with lower educational level and those who reported a worsening in mental health.
Conclusions: After two years from the start of the pandemic, in Italy we observed a trend toward a renormalization of body weight and PA. The segments of the population mostly affected by the pandemic are subjects with more disadvantaged socio-economic status and with an impaired mental health.
{"title":"Consequences of COVID-19 pandemic on weight gain and physical activity: a prospective cohort study from Italy.","authors":"Chiara Stival, Alessandra Lugo, Giulia Carreras, Anna Odone, Piet A van den Brandt, Giuseppe Gorini, Sabrina Molinaro, Sonia Cerrai, Roberta Pacifici, Silvano Gallus","doi":"10.4415/ANN_24_01_06","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4415/ANN_24_01_06","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>It is crucial to monitor changes in body weight and physical activity (PA) to understand if short-term effects of COVID-19 pandemic have had implications over time.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This longitudinal study is based on data from 4,831 Italians aged 18-74 years interviewed during the first phase of COVID-19 pandemic (April-May 2020) and two years later (February-March 2022). Changes in body weight and PA were assessed through multivariable analyses in association with socio-demographic and psychological characteristics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Over the two years, 17.4% reported a weight gain of at least 5 kg and 32.8% a decreased PA by at least 4 hours per week. Weight gain and decreased PA were more frequent in participants from the less wealthy areas, with lower educational level and those who reported a worsening in mental health.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>After two years from the start of the pandemic, in Italy we observed a trend toward a renormalization of body weight and PA. The segments of the population mostly affected by the pandemic are subjects with more disadvantaged socio-economic status and with an impaired mental health.</p>","PeriodicalId":502090,"journal":{"name":"Annali dell'Istituto superiore di sanita","volume":"60 1","pages":"37-46"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141452634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alberto Stefana, Loredana Cena, Alice Trainini, Gabriella Palumbo, Antonella Gigantesco, Fiorino Mirabella
Background: Maternal antenatal depression affects 21-28% of expectants globally and negatively impacts both maternal and child health in the short and long term.
Objective: To compare the psychometric properties and clinical utility of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) in pregnant individuals.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 953 third-trimester pregnant Italian individuals completed both the EPDS and the PHQ-9.
Results: Both scales demonstrated good internal consistency (EPDS ω=0.83, PHQ-9 ω=0.80) and a moderate correlation between their scores (r=0.59). Concordance at recommended cut-off points (≥14 for both) was moderate (k=0.55). Factor analyses indicated a bifactor solution for the EPDS (dimensions: "depression" and "anxiety") and for the PHQ-9 (dimensions: "depression", "pregnancy symptoms", "somatic"). Benchmarks for clinical change were also established.
Conclusions: The EPDS and PHQ-9 capture distinct aspects of perinatal depressive symptomatology. Clinically, these findings recommend using both scales in obstetric and gynaecologic settings to minimize false positives and negatives.
{"title":"Screening for antenatal maternal depression: comparative performance of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire-9.","authors":"Alberto Stefana, Loredana Cena, Alice Trainini, Gabriella Palumbo, Antonella Gigantesco, Fiorino Mirabella","doi":"10.4415/ANN_24_01_08","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4415/ANN_24_01_08","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Maternal antenatal depression affects 21-28% of expectants globally and negatively impacts both maternal and child health in the short and long term.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To compare the psychometric properties and clinical utility of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) in pregnant individuals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this cross-sectional study, 953 third-trimester pregnant Italian individuals completed both the EPDS and the PHQ-9.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Both scales demonstrated good internal consistency (EPDS ω=0.83, PHQ-9 ω=0.80) and a moderate correlation between their scores (r=0.59). Concordance at recommended cut-off points (≥14 for both) was moderate (k=0.55). Factor analyses indicated a bifactor solution for the EPDS (dimensions: \"depression\" and \"anxiety\") and for the PHQ-9 (dimensions: \"depression\", \"pregnancy symptoms\", \"somatic\"). Benchmarks for clinical change were also established.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The EPDS and PHQ-9 capture distinct aspects of perinatal depressive symptomatology. Clinically, these findings recommend using both scales in obstetric and gynaecologic settings to minimize false positives and negatives.</p>","PeriodicalId":502090,"journal":{"name":"Annali dell'Istituto superiore di sanita","volume":"60 1","pages":"55-63"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141452575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Daniela Mancini, Marina Maffoni, Valeria Torlaschi, Alessandra Gorini, Maria Teresa La Rovere, Cira Fundarò, Francesco Fanfulla, Maurizio Bussotti, Sergio Masnaghetti, Antonia Pierobon
Background: The management of Long COVID symptoms is necessary. This study proposes a screening tool for psycho-physical COVID-19 sequelae. Patients' experiences after COVID-19 are also described.
Method: 84 COVID-19 patients (66.2±11.0 years old; 71.4% male) underwent a phone interview 1-2 years after the disease using the ad-hoc "Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 Checklist (PASC-C)". It explores 30 physical, psychological, and cognitive symptoms clustered into 10 areas, with possible clinical recommendations in case of high severity scores (>50) of a symptom or the presence of two or more ones within the same area.
Results: Overall, fatigue (69%), dyspnea (52.4%), memory disturbances (44%), joint-muscle pain (41.7%), vision/hearing loss (40.5%), anxiety (40.5%) persist one-two years after COVID-19 disease. Being a survivor was primarily defined in terms of being "lucky".
Conclusions: PASC-C seems promising in monitoring psycho-physical sequelae of Long COVID and providing tailored suggestions to care for the patient over time.
{"title":"Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 Checklist (PASC-C): a screening tool for Long COVID physical, psychological, and cognitive symptoms.","authors":"Daniela Mancini, Marina Maffoni, Valeria Torlaschi, Alessandra Gorini, Maria Teresa La Rovere, Cira Fundarò, Francesco Fanfulla, Maurizio Bussotti, Sergio Masnaghetti, Antonia Pierobon","doi":"10.4415/ANN_24_01_07","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4415/ANN_24_01_07","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The management of Long COVID symptoms is necessary. This study proposes a screening tool for psycho-physical COVID-19 sequelae. Patients' experiences after COVID-19 are also described.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>84 COVID-19 patients (66.2±11.0 years old; 71.4% male) underwent a phone interview 1-2 years after the disease using the ad-hoc \"Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 Checklist (PASC-C)\". It explores 30 physical, psychological, and cognitive symptoms clustered into 10 areas, with possible clinical recommendations in case of high severity scores (>50) of a symptom or the presence of two or more ones within the same area.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, fatigue (69%), dyspnea (52.4%), memory disturbances (44%), joint-muscle pain (41.7%), vision/hearing loss (40.5%), anxiety (40.5%) persist one-two years after COVID-19 disease. Being a survivor was primarily defined in terms of being \"lucky\".</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>PASC-C seems promising in monitoring psycho-physical sequelae of Long COVID and providing tailored suggestions to care for the patient over time.</p>","PeriodicalId":502090,"journal":{"name":"Annali dell'Istituto superiore di sanita","volume":"60 1","pages":"47-54"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141452573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploitation of immunological approaches for the quality testing of human vaccines to phase out the use of animals. Editorial.","authors":"Marilena P Etna, Enrico Alleva, Eliana M Coccia","doi":"10.4415/ANN_24_01_01","DOIUrl":"10.4415/ANN_24_01_01","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":502090,"journal":{"name":"Annali dell'Istituto superiore di sanita","volume":"60 1","pages":"1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141452635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
There is "no Flexibility without Stability and no Stability without Flexibility": this is a crucial feature common to any system interacting with its environment. This tight link between two apparently opposite features is at the basis of the time-honoured concept of homeostasis (the tendency of any adaptive system to go back to its "comfort zone" contrasting the incoming perturbations) and is widely recognized since long time. On the contrary, the fact that the escape from a stable attractor state is a consequence of the same homeostasis mechanisms is often overlooked. In this brief note, we will try to give a proof-of-concept of the relation existing between stability/flexibility based homeostasis and the state changes at all the levels of biological organization. The ubiquity of the same principles across very different systems is a signature of a new attitude to look at scientific enterprise from a network-based viewpoint.
{"title":"Stability/Flexibility: the tightly coupled homeostasis generator is at the same time the driver of change.","authors":"Alessandro Giuliani, Alessandro Vici","doi":"10.4415/ANN_24_01_11","DOIUrl":"10.4415/ANN_24_01_11","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>There is \"no Flexibility without Stability and no Stability without Flexibility\": this is a crucial feature common to any system interacting with its environment. This tight link between two apparently opposite features is at the basis of the time-honoured concept of homeostasis (the tendency of any adaptive system to go back to its \"comfort zone\" contrasting the incoming perturbations) and is widely recognized since long time. On the contrary, the fact that the escape from a stable attractor state is a consequence of the same homeostasis mechanisms is often overlooked. In this brief note, we will try to give a proof-of-concept of the relation existing between stability/flexibility based homeostasis and the state changes at all the levels of biological organization. The ubiquity of the same principles across very different systems is a signature of a new attitude to look at scientific enterprise from a network-based viewpoint.</p>","PeriodicalId":502090,"journal":{"name":"Annali dell'Istituto superiore di sanita","volume":"60 1","pages":"77-80"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141452577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rosastella Principe, Vincenzo Zagà, Paola Martucci, Loreta Di Michele, Carlo Barbetta, Antonella Serafini, Maria Sofia Cattaruzza, Claudia Giacomozzi
Background: The percentage of smokers who develop COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) peaks at 40-50% in most recent publications.
Summary: Tobacco smoke remains the main cause of COPD, though smoking-related limitation of the flow is rather subjective. For patients who keep on smoking, general practitioners (GPs) and pulmonologists should be able to offer smoking cessation programs as an important part of COPD treatment. This narrative article aims to provide the scientific basis to help healthcare professionals develop this therapy; with this aim in mind, the authors have analyzed the most recent literature.
Key messages: Only 3% of smokers who try to quit without availing themselves of any support succeed. Effective smoking cessation methods are counselling and pharmacotherapy, which, combined together, are credited with a 24% success rate. Although there are no therapeutic novelties with strong scientific evidence for smoking cessation, it is however advisable to keep the literature updated to new devices and new digital therapies.
{"title":"Smoking cessation in the management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): narrative review and recommendations.","authors":"Rosastella Principe, Vincenzo Zagà, Paola Martucci, Loreta Di Michele, Carlo Barbetta, Antonella Serafini, Maria Sofia Cattaruzza, Claudia Giacomozzi","doi":"10.4415/ANN_24_01_04","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4415/ANN_24_01_04","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The percentage of smokers who develop COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) peaks at 40-50% in most recent publications.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Tobacco smoke remains the main cause of COPD, though smoking-related limitation of the flow is rather subjective. For patients who keep on smoking, general practitioners (GPs) and pulmonologists should be able to offer smoking cessation programs as an important part of COPD treatment. This narrative article aims to provide the scientific basis to help healthcare professionals develop this therapy; with this aim in mind, the authors have analyzed the most recent literature.</p><p><strong>Key messages: </strong>Only 3% of smokers who try to quit without availing themselves of any support succeed. Effective smoking cessation methods are counselling and pharmacotherapy, which, combined together, are credited with a 24% success rate. Although there are no therapeutic novelties with strong scientific evidence for smoking cessation, it is however advisable to keep the literature updated to new devices and new digital therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":502090,"journal":{"name":"Annali dell'Istituto superiore di sanita","volume":"60 1","pages":"14-28"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141452576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Camilla Cocchi, Maria Beatrice Zazzara, Rosa Liperoti, Raffaella Antonione, Sabrina Dispenza, Gino Gobber, Eleonora Meloni, Italo Penco, Maria Adelaide Ricciotti, Graziano Onder
Background: In western countries, the increasing life expectancy and the growing number of individuals with advanced chronic conditions have resulted in a greater demand for palliative care. Specifically, Italy has witnessed substantial growth in the palliative care field, marked by the establishment of Palliative Care Networks and an academic fellowship program in 2022. To further enhance this field, it is crucial to conduct high-quality scientific research that produces results applicable in clinical practice.
Aim: This article explores challenges and potential solutions in conducting effective palliative care research, considering sample definition, research settings, outcomes, and ethical concerns. While focusing on the Italian context, the presented research framework can be applied to other contexts and regions.
Results: Palliative care research is complex and challenging due to its holistic approach, which encompasses various vital dimensions of patients and their families, including physical, emotional, and social needs. The Italian and worldwide experience provides insights into managing these challenges and enhancing the methodological rigor of studies and the practical application of research findings.
Conclusions: This article emphasizes the importance of developing protocols tailored to palliative care's unique characteristics, and the necessity of dedicated funding for palliative care research, calling for increased support and recognition. The article advocates for improvement of the quality and relevance of palliative care studies, promoting better patient outcomes and enhanced caregiving.
{"title":"How to conduct research in palliative care? A perspective from Italy.","authors":"Camilla Cocchi, Maria Beatrice Zazzara, Rosa Liperoti, Raffaella Antonione, Sabrina Dispenza, Gino Gobber, Eleonora Meloni, Italo Penco, Maria Adelaide Ricciotti, Graziano Onder","doi":"10.4415/ANN_24_01_09","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4415/ANN_24_01_09","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In western countries, the increasing life expectancy and the growing number of individuals with advanced chronic conditions have resulted in a greater demand for palliative care. Specifically, Italy has witnessed substantial growth in the palliative care field, marked by the establishment of Palliative Care Networks and an academic fellowship program in 2022. To further enhance this field, it is crucial to conduct high-quality scientific research that produces results applicable in clinical practice.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This article explores challenges and potential solutions in conducting effective palliative care research, considering sample definition, research settings, outcomes, and ethical concerns. While focusing on the Italian context, the presented research framework can be applied to other contexts and regions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Palliative care research is complex and challenging due to its holistic approach, which encompasses various vital dimensions of patients and their families, including physical, emotional, and social needs. The Italian and worldwide experience provides insights into managing these challenges and enhancing the methodological rigor of studies and the practical application of research findings.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This article emphasizes the importance of developing protocols tailored to palliative care's unique characteristics, and the necessity of dedicated funding for palliative care research, calling for increased support and recognition. The article advocates for improvement of the quality and relevance of palliative care studies, promoting better patient outcomes and enhanced caregiving.</p>","PeriodicalId":502090,"journal":{"name":"Annali dell'Istituto superiore di sanita","volume":"60 1","pages":"64-71"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141452572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}