Pub Date : 2023-11-01Epub Date: 2023-06-15DOI: 10.7416/ai.2023.2576
E Alonzo, G Bonaccorsi, G Cairella, V Carreri, E Guberti, D Nucci, M F Panunzio, E Valerio
Abstract: Our letter discusses the concept of 'Nutritional Prevention Hesitancy', comparing it to the well-studied phenomenon of 'Vaccine Hesitancy'. Both hesitancies can be fueled by 'infodemics', the rapid spread of accurate and inaccurate information that can lead to public confusion and mistrust in authoritative sources. Drawing parallels between the two, the text highlights that nutritional prevention hesitancy can result in individuals not adopting evidence-based nutritional strategies, potentially leading to poorer health outcomes. The text emphasizes the critical role of diet in preventing diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer, and underscores the need for multifaceted strategies to combat misinformation and promote healthier dietary habits.
{"title":"The hesitancy in the nutritional prevention.","authors":"E Alonzo, G Bonaccorsi, G Cairella, V Carreri, E Guberti, D Nucci, M F Panunzio, E Valerio","doi":"10.7416/ai.2023.2576","DOIUrl":"10.7416/ai.2023.2576","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Our letter discusses the concept of 'Nutritional Prevention Hesitancy', comparing it to the well-studied phenomenon of 'Vaccine Hesitancy'. Both hesitancies can be fueled by 'infodemics', the rapid spread of accurate and inaccurate information that can lead to public confusion and mistrust in authoritative sources. Drawing parallels between the two, the text highlights that nutritional prevention hesitancy can result in individuals not adopting evidence-based nutritional strategies, potentially leading to poorer health outcomes. The text emphasizes the critical role of diet in preventing diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer, and underscores the need for multifaceted strategies to combat misinformation and promote healthier dietary habits.</p>","PeriodicalId":7999,"journal":{"name":"Annali di igiene : medicina preventiva e di comunita","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9627848","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}
Pub Date : 2023-11-01Epub Date: 2023-07-24DOI: 10.7416/ai.2023.2577
M Marceca, G M Fara, G Giammanco, C Signorelli, F Vitale, S Declich, M E Tosti, M Fabiani, W Mazzucco, P Giorgi Rossi, P Barretta, M Affronti, S La Placa, E Petrona Baviera, M Aragona, M Mazzetti, G Baglio, E Eugeni, S Geraci, A Sparaco, P Immordino, M L Russo, D Giannini, F Turatto, A Gatta, C De Marchi, G De Marchi, L Siena, A Bellini, S Scarso, M Sabato, The 58Th Course Participant, The Other Signatories Of The Final Document
Abstract: The Erice 58 Charter titled "The Health of Migrants: a Challenge of Equity for the Public Health System", was unanimously approved at the conclusion of the 58th Residential Course of the School of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine 'Giuseppe D'Alessandro' entitled "The Health of Migrants: a Challenge of Equity for the Public Health System. Epidemiological, clinical-relational, regulatory, organisational, training and public communication aspects at international, national and local level', which took place from 28 March to 2 April 2022 in Erice (Sicily, Italy), at the 'Ettore Majorana' Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture. The Course was promoted by the Italian Society of Migration Medicine (S.I.M.M.) and the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health (SItI), with the collaboration and patronage of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS). 72 learners participated (mainly resident doctors in 'Hygiene and Preventive Medicine' but also other health service professionals), whose average age was 37 years; on the basis of territorial origin, 13 of the 20 Italian regions were represented. During the intense learning experience, which consisted of 18 frontal lessons (with 20 lecturers from the bio-medical, socio-anthropological and journalistic fields) and 7 working group sessions (supported by 4 classroom tutors in addition to the lecturers) in 'blended learning' mode, the various dimensions and critical issues related to the possibility of guaranteeing truly inclusive health policies for foreigners/migrants, throughout the country, were identified and discussed from an 'Health Equity' perspective. This enabled a small editorial group to draw up the basic document that, in the last session of the Course, was discussed and modified by all participants into the version of the 'Erice 58 Charter' presented here.
{"title":"The Erice 58 Charter on 'The health of migrants. An equity challenge for the public health system'.","authors":"M Marceca, G M Fara, G Giammanco, C Signorelli, F Vitale, S Declich, M E Tosti, M Fabiani, W Mazzucco, P Giorgi Rossi, P Barretta, M Affronti, S La Placa, E Petrona Baviera, M Aragona, M Mazzetti, G Baglio, E Eugeni, S Geraci, A Sparaco, P Immordino, M L Russo, D Giannini, F Turatto, A Gatta, C De Marchi, G De Marchi, L Siena, A Bellini, S Scarso, M Sabato, The 58Th Course Participant, The Other Signatories Of The Final Document","doi":"10.7416/ai.2023.2577","DOIUrl":"10.7416/ai.2023.2577","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>The Erice 58 Charter titled \"The Health of Migrants: a Challenge of Equity for the Public Health System\", was unanimously approved at the conclusion of the 58th Residential Course of the School of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine 'Giuseppe D'Alessandro' entitled \"The Health of Migrants: a Challenge of Equity for the Public Health System. Epidemiological, clinical-relational, regulatory, organisational, training and public communication aspects at international, national and local level', which took place from 28 March to 2 April 2022 in Erice (Sicily, Italy), at the 'Ettore Majorana' Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture. The Course was promoted by the Italian Society of Migration Medicine (S.I.M.M.) and the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health (SItI), with the collaboration and patronage of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS). 72 learners participated (mainly resident doctors in 'Hygiene and Preventive Medicine' but also other health service professionals), whose average age was 37 years; on the basis of territorial origin, 13 of the 20 Italian regions were represented. During the intense learning experience, which consisted of 18 frontal lessons (with 20 lecturers from the bio-medical, socio-anthropological and journalistic fields) and 7 working group sessions (supported by 4 classroom tutors in addition to the lecturers) in 'blended learning' mode, the various dimensions and critical issues related to the possibility of guaranteeing truly inclusive health policies for foreigners/migrants, throughout the country, were identified and discussed from an 'Health Equity' perspective. This enabled a small editorial group to draw up the basic document that, in the last session of the Course, was discussed and modified by all participants into the version of the 'Erice 58 Charter' presented here.</p>","PeriodicalId":7999,"journal":{"name":"Annali di igiene : medicina preventiva e di comunita","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9836899","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}
Pub Date : 2023-11-01Epub Date: 2023-06-15DOI: 10.7416/ai.2023.2575
N T Tran, T N T Phan, T T Pham, T T Le, H M Le, D T Nguyen, A N Lam, T T Pham, H T Le, N B Dang, K C Tran, V D Tran
Background: In Vietnam, cervical cancer is a significant public health concern for women. Unfortunately, despite the availability of the HPV vaccine, low vaccination rates persist.
Objectives: This study investigates the discrepancy between urban and rural areas in the willingness to receive HPV vaccination with or without fees.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 648 women aged between 15 and 49, living in two urban and two rural Vietnamese districts of Can Tho, between May and December 2021.
Results: The overall vaccination rate was 4%, with urban women having a higher rate of 4.9% compared to rural women at 3.1%. Among unvaccinated women, those from rural areas expressed a significantly higher desire to receive the free vaccine (91.4%) than urban women (84.4%). However, the intention to vaccinate declined when rural women and urban women were advised to pay the cost (63.4% and 57.1%, respectively). A strong correlation was found between a positive attitude and intention for vaccination, irrespective of its price or free availability. Education and access to information about the HPV vaccine were also identified as the most significant factors influencing the intention to vaccination among urban and rural women.
Conclusion: The low HPV vaccination rates among women aged 15-49 living in both urban and rural regions of Vietnam are a notable public health concern. These outcomes emphasize the critical need for effective programs of vaccine laterization, as an introduction to the offer of affordable and accessible HPV vaccines for women in Can Tho, Vietnam.
{"title":"Urban-rural disparities in acceptance of human papillomavirus vaccination among women in Can Tho, Vietnam.","authors":"N T Tran, T N T Phan, T T Pham, T T Le, H M Le, D T Nguyen, A N Lam, T T Pham, H T Le, N B Dang, K C Tran, V D Tran","doi":"10.7416/ai.2023.2575","DOIUrl":"10.7416/ai.2023.2575","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In Vietnam, cervical cancer is a significant public health concern for women. Unfortunately, despite the availability of the HPV vaccine, low vaccination rates persist.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study investigates the discrepancy between urban and rural areas in the willingness to receive HPV vaccination with or without fees.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 648 women aged between 15 and 49, living in two urban and two rural Vietnamese districts of Can Tho, between May and December 2021.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The overall vaccination rate was 4%, with urban women having a higher rate of 4.9% compared to rural women at 3.1%. Among unvaccinated women, those from rural areas expressed a significantly higher desire to receive the free vaccine (91.4%) than urban women (84.4%). However, the intention to vaccinate declined when rural women and urban women were advised to pay the cost (63.4% and 57.1%, respectively). A strong correlation was found between a positive attitude and intention for vaccination, irrespective of its price or free availability. Education and access to information about the HPV vaccine were also identified as the most significant factors influencing the intention to vaccination among urban and rural women.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The low HPV vaccination rates among women aged 15-49 living in both urban and rural regions of Vietnam are a notable public health concern. These outcomes emphasize the critical need for effective programs of vaccine laterization, as an introduction to the offer of affordable and accessible HPV vaccines for women in Can Tho, Vietnam.</p>","PeriodicalId":7999,"journal":{"name":"Annali di igiene : medicina preventiva e di comunita","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9627847","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}
L Cofone, I Pindinello, G D'Ancona, F Grassi, A Antonucci, M Vitali, C Protano
Background: The aim of the present systematic review was to evaluate the correlation between the exposure to environmental and/or occupational pollutants and possible alteration of semen quality, focalizing the attention on the studies performed using a biomonitoring approach.
Methods: The review was conducted from inception to May 11 2023, according to the PRISMA Statement 2020 and using the following databases: Scopus, Pubmed and Web of Science. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023405607). Studies were considered eligible if they reported data about the association between exposure to environmental pollutants and alteration of semen quality using human biomonitoring. The quality assessment was carried out by the use of the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale.
Results: In total, 21 articles were included, conducted in several countries. The main matrices used for biomonitoring were urine and blood and the most sought-after contaminants were bisphenols, phthalates, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals and other inorganic trace elements. The results of the studies demonstrated a significant positive correlation between the increase of the pollutants' levels in the biological matrices examined and some alterations of the semen quality indicators, such as a decrease in motility, concentration and morphology of the spermatozoa.
Conclusions: Male fertility can be negatively affected by the exposure to environmental and/or occupational pollutants. Human biomonitoring programs may be considered a useful tool for specific surveillance programs devoted to early highlight subjects who are more exposed to environmental pollutants in order to reduce risk exposure.
背景:本系统综述的目的是评估暴露于环境和/或职业污染物与精液质量可能变化之间的相关性,重点关注使用生物监测方法进行的研究。方法:根据2020年PRISMA声明,使用以下数据库进行审查:Scopus、Pubmed和Web of Science。该方案已在PROSPERO上注册(CRD42023405607)。如果研究报告了暴露于环境污染物与使用人类生物监测的精液质量变化之间的关联数据,则认为这些研究符合条件。使用Newcastle Ottawa质量评估量表进行质量评估。结果:共纳入21篇文章,在几个国家进行。用于生物监测的主要基质是尿液和血液,最受欢迎的污染物是双酚、邻苯二甲酸酯、杀虫剂、多氯联苯、多环芳烃、重金属和其他无机微量元素。研究结果表明,所检查的生物基质中污染物水平的增加与精液质量指标的一些变化之间存在显著的正相关,如精子的活力、浓度和形态的降低。结论:暴露于环境和/或职业污染物会对男性生育能力产生负面影响。人类生物监测项目可以被认为是专门针对早期暴露于环境污染物的受试者的特定监测项目的有用工具,以减少风险暴露。
{"title":"Human semen quality and environmental and occupational exposure to pollutants: A systematic review.","authors":"L Cofone, I Pindinello, G D'Ancona, F Grassi, A Antonucci, M Vitali, C Protano","doi":"10.7416/ai.2023.2581","DOIUrl":"10.7416/ai.2023.2581","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The aim of the present systematic review was to evaluate the correlation between the exposure to environmental and/or occupational pollutants and possible alteration of semen quality, focalizing the attention on the studies performed using a biomonitoring approach.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The review was conducted from inception to May 11 2023, according to the PRISMA Statement 2020 and using the following databases: Scopus, Pubmed and Web of Science. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023405607). Studies were considered eligible if they reported data about the association between exposure to environmental pollutants and alteration of semen quality using human biomonitoring. The quality assessment was carried out by the use of the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 21 articles were included, conducted in several countries. The main matrices used for biomonitoring were urine and blood and the most sought-after contaminants were bisphenols, phthalates, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals and other inorganic trace elements. The results of the studies demonstrated a significant positive correlation between the increase of the pollutants' levels in the biological matrices examined and some alterations of the semen quality indicators, such as a decrease in motility, concentration and morphology of the spermatozoa.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Male fertility can be negatively affected by the exposure to environmental and/or occupational pollutants. Human biomonitoring programs may be considered a useful tool for specific surveillance programs devoted to early highlight subjects who are more exposed to environmental pollutants in order to reduce risk exposure.</p>","PeriodicalId":7999,"journal":{"name":"Annali di igiene : medicina preventiva e di comunita","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41097723","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}
Pub Date : 2023-11-01Epub Date: 2023-09-20DOI: 10.7416/ai.2023.2578
M T Montagna, S Brigida, F Fasano, C M Leone, M D'Ambrosio, V Spagnuolo, M Lopuzzo, F Apollonio, F Triggiano, M E Caringella, O De Giglio
<p><strong>Background: </strong>Legionnaires' disease is caused by inhalation or aspiration of small water droplets contaminated with Legionella, commonly found in natural and man-made water systems and in moist soil. Over the past 5 years, notification rates of this disease have almost doubled in the European Union (EU) / European Environmental Agency (EEA), from 1.4 in 2015 to 2.2 cases per 100,000 population in 2019. Some studies show that the greater presence of the microorganism in the water network and the increase in cases of legionellosis could be related to the variations in some environmental factors, such as air temperature, which may influence the water temperature.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Climate change is currently a prominent topic worldwide because of its significant impact on the natural environment. It is responsible for the increase in numerous waterborne pathologies. The purpose of this study was to correlate the air temperature recorded in Apulia region from January 2018 to April 2023 with the presence of Legionella in the water networks of public and private facilities and the incidence rates of legionellosis during the same period.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>During the period from January 2018 to April 2023, water samples were collected from facilities involved in legionellosis cases and analyzed for Legionella. During the same period, all the cases notified to the regional epidemiological observatory (OER-Apulia) were included in this study. Statistical analyses were conducted using the Shapiro-Wilk test to determine whether the Legionella load was distributed normally, the Wilcoxon rank sum test to compare the air temperatures (average and range) of the negative and positive samples for Legionella detection, and the multivariate analysis (Poisson regression) to compare the Legionella load with the water sample temperature, average air temperature, and temperature range on the day of sampling. The Wilcoxon test for paired samples was used to compare legionellosis cases between the warmer and colder months.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 13,044 water samples were analyzed for Legionella and 460 cases of legionellosis were notified. Legionella was isolated in 20.1% of the samples examined. The difference in the air temperature between negative samples and positive samples was statistically significant (p-value < 0.0001): on days when water samples tested positive for Legionella a higher temperature range was observed than on days when water samples tested negative (p-value = 0.004). Poisson regression showed a direct correlation between Legionella load, water temperature, and average air temperature. The incidence of legionellosis cases in warmer months was higher than in colder months (p-value = 0.03).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our study highlights a significant increase in the load of Legionella in the Apulian water network, and an association between warmer temperatures and legionello
{"title":"The role of air temperature in Legionella water contamination and legionellosis incidence rates in southern Italy (2018-2023).","authors":"M T Montagna, S Brigida, F Fasano, C M Leone, M D'Ambrosio, V Spagnuolo, M Lopuzzo, F Apollonio, F Triggiano, M E Caringella, O De Giglio","doi":"10.7416/ai.2023.2578","DOIUrl":"10.7416/ai.2023.2578","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Legionnaires' disease is caused by inhalation or aspiration of small water droplets contaminated with Legionella, commonly found in natural and man-made water systems and in moist soil. Over the past 5 years, notification rates of this disease have almost doubled in the European Union (EU) / European Environmental Agency (EEA), from 1.4 in 2015 to 2.2 cases per 100,000 population in 2019. Some studies show that the greater presence of the microorganism in the water network and the increase in cases of legionellosis could be related to the variations in some environmental factors, such as air temperature, which may influence the water temperature.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Climate change is currently a prominent topic worldwide because of its significant impact on the natural environment. It is responsible for the increase in numerous waterborne pathologies. The purpose of this study was to correlate the air temperature recorded in Apulia region from January 2018 to April 2023 with the presence of Legionella in the water networks of public and private facilities and the incidence rates of legionellosis during the same period.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>During the period from January 2018 to April 2023, water samples were collected from facilities involved in legionellosis cases and analyzed for Legionella. During the same period, all the cases notified to the regional epidemiological observatory (OER-Apulia) were included in this study. Statistical analyses were conducted using the Shapiro-Wilk test to determine whether the Legionella load was distributed normally, the Wilcoxon rank sum test to compare the air temperatures (average and range) of the negative and positive samples for Legionella detection, and the multivariate analysis (Poisson regression) to compare the Legionella load with the water sample temperature, average air temperature, and temperature range on the day of sampling. The Wilcoxon test for paired samples was used to compare legionellosis cases between the warmer and colder months.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 13,044 water samples were analyzed for Legionella and 460 cases of legionellosis were notified. Legionella was isolated in 20.1% of the samples examined. The difference in the air temperature between negative samples and positive samples was statistically significant (p-value < 0.0001): on days when water samples tested positive for Legionella a higher temperature range was observed than on days when water samples tested negative (p-value = 0.004). Poisson regression showed a direct correlation between Legionella load, water temperature, and average air temperature. The incidence of legionellosis cases in warmer months was higher than in colder months (p-value = 0.03).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our study highlights a significant increase in the load of Legionella in the Apulian water network, and an association between warmer temperatures and legionello","PeriodicalId":7999,"journal":{"name":"Annali di igiene : medicina preventiva e di comunita","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41100203","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}
A Bechini, A Vannacci, C Salvati, G Crescioli, N Lombardi, F Chiesi, J Shtylla, M Del Riccio, P Bonanni, S Boccalini
Background: The topic of vaccine confidence is increasingly relevant, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. This issue is even more critical for students in healthcare settings, given their future role not only as vaccine recipients but also as advocates for vaccination. In light of this, achieving a good level of vaccine acceptance is crucial. Hence, the aim of our study was to evaluate the attitudes and perceptions of healthcare students regarding vaccines and COVID- 19 vaccination.
Methods: Medical and pharmaceutical area students attended an Elective Teaching Activity on COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination campaign, organized at the University of Florence (Italy) and participated in filling two anonymous questionnaires. The first questionnaire was submitted before the Elective Teaching Activity was focused on students' attitudes and perceptions toward vaccines. The second questionnaire was designed to evaluate the students' satisfaction with the course topics. Both descriptive and inferential analyses were performed on the results. In addition, the Vaccine Confidence Index was calculated to evaluate the propensity of students toward vaccinations.
Results: A total of 423 students attended the Elective Teaching Activity in the early beginnings of 2022. Overall, students have shown greater confidence in vaccines, compared to COVID-19 vaccines, especially as regards the safety profile. Students' Vaccine Confidence Index was very close to 0.25 value, which indicates being in favor of vaccinations. Nevertheless, in the satisfaction questionnaire filled in at the end of the course, the percentage of students in favor of COVID-19 vaccination increased for both medical (from 94% to 99%) and pharmaceutical area students (from 81% to 97%).
Conclusions: Our study suggests that educational activities such as this Elective Teaching Activity, could be considered an effective teaching strategy to improve vaccine acceptance rates among students in healthcare settings.
{"title":"Attitudes and perceptions of Italian Students in Healthcare Settings on COVID-19 vaccines and vaccinations strategies, one year after the immunization campaign.","authors":"A Bechini, A Vannacci, C Salvati, G Crescioli, N Lombardi, F Chiesi, J Shtylla, M Del Riccio, P Bonanni, S Boccalini","doi":"10.7416/ai.2023.2584","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7416/ai.2023.2584","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The topic of vaccine confidence is increasingly relevant, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. This issue is even more critical for students in healthcare settings, given their future role not only as vaccine recipients but also as advocates for vaccination. In light of this, achieving a good level of vaccine acceptance is crucial. Hence, the aim of our study was to evaluate the attitudes and perceptions of healthcare students regarding vaccines and COVID- 19 vaccination.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Medical and pharmaceutical area students attended an Elective Teaching Activity on COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination campaign, organized at the University of Florence (Italy) and participated in filling two anonymous questionnaires. The first questionnaire was submitted before the Elective Teaching Activity was focused on students' attitudes and perceptions toward vaccines. The second questionnaire was designed to evaluate the students' satisfaction with the course topics. Both descriptive and inferential analyses were performed on the results. In addition, the Vaccine Confidence Index was calculated to evaluate the propensity of students toward vaccinations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 423 students attended the Elective Teaching Activity in the early beginnings of 2022. Overall, students have shown greater confidence in vaccines, compared to COVID-19 vaccines, especially as regards the safety profile. Students' Vaccine Confidence Index was very close to 0.25 value, which indicates being in favor of vaccinations. Nevertheless, in the satisfaction questionnaire filled in at the end of the course, the percentage of students in favor of COVID-19 vaccination increased for both medical (from 94% to 99%) and pharmaceutical area students (from 81% to 97%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our study suggests that educational activities such as this Elective Teaching Activity, could be considered an effective teaching strategy to improve vaccine acceptance rates among students in healthcare settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":7999,"journal":{"name":"Annali di igiene : medicina preventiva e di comunita","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71419951","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}
Pub Date : 2023-09-01Epub Date: 2023-04-21DOI: 10.7416/ai.2023.2569
E Alonzo, G Bonaccorsi, G Cairella, V Carreri, E Guberti, D Nucci, M F Panunzio, E Valerio
Abstract: Italy's National Prevention Plan 2020-25 is the first to address nutritional prevention, highlighting its importance in combating chronic diseases. This letter discusses the relationship between food safety, nutritional security, and the need for nutritional prevention in the plan. Chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes, are significant public health concerns in Italy, with poor nutrition being a critical risk factor. Incorporating nutritional prevention can promote healthy eating habits, food security and sustainability, reduce healthcare costs, and promote social cohesion and equality. Successful implementation will require cooperation among the government, the private sector, and the civil society to ensure healthier food choices and prevent chronic diseases in Italy.
{"title":"The \"Nutritional Prevention\" within Italy's National Prevention Plan 2020-25.","authors":"E Alonzo, G Bonaccorsi, G Cairella, V Carreri, E Guberti, D Nucci, M F Panunzio, E Valerio","doi":"10.7416/ai.2023.2569","DOIUrl":"10.7416/ai.2023.2569","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Italy's National Prevention Plan 2020-25 is the first to address nutritional prevention, highlighting its importance in combating chronic diseases. This letter discusses the relationship between food safety, nutritional security, and the need for nutritional prevention in the plan. Chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes, are significant public health concerns in Italy, with poor nutrition being a critical risk factor. Incorporating nutritional prevention can promote healthy eating habits, food security and sustainability, reduce healthcare costs, and promote social cohesion and equality. Successful implementation will require cooperation among the government, the private sector, and the civil society to ensure healthier food choices and prevent chronic diseases in Italy.</p>","PeriodicalId":7999,"journal":{"name":"Annali di igiene : medicina preventiva e di comunita","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9680844","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}
Pub Date : 2023-09-01Epub Date: 2023-04-21DOI: 10.7416/ai.2023.2563
P Marzocca, D Daleno, G B Orsi, C Napoli, V Marcotrigiano
Abstract: The sharing economy provides many new business opportunities, particularly in local areas where culinary traditions guarantee major appreciable sensorial features. In this context, home food and home restaurant find their place. The first one refers to businesses that, in a home kitchen or in premises used mainly as a private home, produce food for retail, while the second one is defined as food businesses producing and administering food and beverages in a private dwelling house. This manuscript analyses the sector legi-slation applicable to these new business forms, the adherence to the requirements prescribed by the recent guidelines, the executive compliance applicable to the inspection phases, as well as the perspectives and future challenges that healthcare workers designated for food safety official controls will face.
{"title":"Ensuring safety requirement to home food and home restaurant: focus on a regional experience based on sector legislation, and future perspectives.","authors":"P Marzocca, D Daleno, G B Orsi, C Napoli, V Marcotrigiano","doi":"10.7416/ai.2023.2563","DOIUrl":"10.7416/ai.2023.2563","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>The sharing economy provides many new business opportunities, particularly in local areas where culinary traditions guarantee major appreciable sensorial features. In this context, home food and home restaurant find their place. The first one refers to businesses that, in a home kitchen or in premises used mainly as a private home, produce food for retail, while the second one is defined as food businesses producing and administering food and beverages in a private dwelling house. This manuscript analyses the sector legi-slation applicable to these new business forms, the adherence to the requirements prescribed by the recent guidelines, the executive compliance applicable to the inspection phases, as well as the perspectives and future challenges that healthcare workers designated for food safety official controls will face.</p>","PeriodicalId":7999,"journal":{"name":"Annali di igiene : medicina preventiva e di comunita","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9680847","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}
Pub Date : 2023-09-01Epub Date: 2023-04-15DOI: 10.7416/ai.2023.2568
C Costantino, N Bonaccorso, F Balsamo, M Belluzzo, A Carubia, L D'Azzo, F Grimaldi, M Sciortino, T Vitello, L Zagra, G Graziano, C M Maida, C M Maida, A Pieri, W Mazzucco, F Tramuto, F Vitale, V Restivo
Background: Increasing adherence to influenza vaccination among healthcare workers is a public health priority, stated that actually remains far below than international recommendations. During the 2020/2021 pandemic season, COVID-19 vaccines were not yet available until the end of December 2020, and influenza vaccines were the only one available to protect against seasonal respiratory diseases. The main objective of the present study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and adherence to influenza and other vaccinations recommended by the National Immunization Plan 2017-2021 for healthcare workers.
Methods: Enrollment lasted from October and December 2020 at the vaccination unit of the University Hospital of Palermo. Data were collected through an anonymous and self-administered questionnaire, divided into 5 sections and 31 items.
Results: Among 734 healthcare professionals that completed the survey, a significantly higher adherence to influenza vaccination was observed among healthcare workers that were more prone to receive COVID-19 vaccination (OR=4.02; 95% CI: 1.63-9.91). Moreover, higher influenza vaccination rates were observed among healthcare professionals that received influenza vaccination during previous 2019/2020 season (OR=15.3; 95% CI: 5.17-45.1) and that were favorable to the possible impact on increasing adherence of influenza mandatory vaccination (OR=4.88; 95% CI: 2.43-9.80).
Conclusions: Propensity of healthcare workers to undergo vaccinations recommended in the National Immunization Plan increased during the first pandemic season. At the end of the vaccination season, flu vaccination coverage reached highest rates ever at the University Hospital of Palermo (around 60%), remaining anyway below the recommended minimum value of 75%. During next seasonal flu vaccination campaigns, it becomes essential to promote communication and information strategies to increase flu vaccination among healthcare workers, also focusing on co-administration with the anti-COVID-19 booster/seasonal doses.
{"title":"Knowledge, attitudes and adherence towards influenza and other vaccinations among healthcare workers at the University Hospital of Palermo, Italy, during the first COVID-19 pandemic season (2020/2021).","authors":"C Costantino, N Bonaccorso, F Balsamo, M Belluzzo, A Carubia, L D'Azzo, F Grimaldi, M Sciortino, T Vitello, L Zagra, G Graziano, C M Maida, C M Maida, A Pieri, W Mazzucco, F Tramuto, F Vitale, V Restivo","doi":"10.7416/ai.2023.2568","DOIUrl":"10.7416/ai.2023.2568","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Increasing adherence to influenza vaccination among healthcare workers is a public health priority, stated that actually remains far below than international recommendations. During the 2020/2021 pandemic season, COVID-19 vaccines were not yet available until the end of December 2020, and influenza vaccines were the only one available to protect against seasonal respiratory diseases. The main objective of the present study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and adherence to influenza and other vaccinations recommended by the National Immunization Plan 2017-2021 for healthcare workers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Enrollment lasted from October and December 2020 at the vaccination unit of the University Hospital of Palermo. Data were collected through an anonymous and self-administered questionnaire, divided into 5 sections and 31 items.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 734 healthcare professionals that completed the survey, a significantly higher adherence to influenza vaccination was observed among healthcare workers that were more prone to receive COVID-19 vaccination (OR=4.02; 95% CI: 1.63-9.91). Moreover, higher influenza vaccination rates were observed among healthcare professionals that received influenza vaccination during previous 2019/2020 season (OR=15.3; 95% CI: 5.17-45.1) and that were favorable to the possible impact on increasing adherence of influenza mandatory vaccination (OR=4.88; 95% CI: 2.43-9.80).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Propensity of healthcare workers to undergo vaccinations recommended in the National Immunization Plan increased during the first pandemic season. At the end of the vaccination season, flu vaccination coverage reached highest rates ever at the University Hospital of Palermo (around 60%), remaining anyway below the recommended minimum value of 75%. During next seasonal flu vaccination campaigns, it becomes essential to promote communication and information strategies to increase flu vaccination among healthcare workers, also focusing on co-administration with the anti-COVID-19 booster/seasonal doses.</p>","PeriodicalId":7999,"journal":{"name":"Annali di igiene : medicina preventiva e di comunita","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9673933","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}
Pub Date : 2023-09-01Epub Date: 2023-04-21DOI: 10.7416/ai.2023.2570
C Quercioli, R Bosco, G Bova, M Mandò, M F De Marco, S Dei, R Gusinu, G Messina
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the Healthcare System, changing the patterns of Emergency Department access. In fact, accesses for trauma and less severe cases decreased significantly. This decline has generally been attributed to both the effects of the lockdown, imposed by the government, and the fear of being infected by SARS-CoV-2 in the hospital. However, the correlation between these elements is not yet clear, since the accesses to the Emergency Department did not increase either at the end of the lockdown or in the summer when the epidemiological situation was more favorable. Aim: To evaluate the association between trends of Emergency Department accesses and COVID-19 incidence in 2020.
Methods: Data on Emergency Department accesses, by month and severity triage code, from 14 hospitals in southeastern Tuscany (Italy) were obtained from hospitals' data warehouse. Official data on new cases of COVID-19 infection were used to calculate incidence. Hospitals were classified into 4 categories. Differences in Emergency Department access by month, triage code, and hospital type were investigated using Kruskal-Wallis analysis. Association between Emergency Department accesses and COVID-19 incidence was evaluated using a random-effect panel data analysis, adjusting for hospital type and triage code.
Results: The trend of 268,072 Emergency Department accesses decreases substantially at the first pandemic peak; thereafter, it increased and decreased again until the minimum peak in November 2020. COVID-19 incidence appeared to be overlapping with an inverse direction. Monthly differences were significant (p<0.01) except for most severe codes. There was a significant inverse association between Emergency Department accesses and COVID-19 incidence (Coef. =-0.074, p<0.001) except for most severe cases (triage code 1: Coef. =-0.028, p=0.154).
Conclusion: Emergency Department admissions trend followed the COVID-19 incidence, except for the most severe cases. Fear of infection seems to discourage patients from accessing Emergency Department for illnesses perceived as not serious.
{"title":"Evaluating the effect of COVID-19 incidence on Emergency Departments admissions. Results from a retrospective study in Central Italy during the first year of pandemic.","authors":"C Quercioli, R Bosco, G Bova, M Mandò, M F De Marco, S Dei, R Gusinu, G Messina","doi":"10.7416/ai.2023.2570","DOIUrl":"10.7416/ai.2023.2570","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the Healthcare System, changing the patterns of Emergency Department access. In fact, accesses for trauma and less severe cases decreased significantly. This decline has generally been attributed to both the effects of the lockdown, imposed by the government, and the fear of being infected by SARS-CoV-2 in the hospital. However, the correlation between these elements is not yet clear, since the accesses to the Emergency Department did not increase either at the end of the lockdown or in the summer when the epidemiological situation was more favorable. Aim: To evaluate the association between trends of Emergency Department accesses and COVID-19 incidence in 2020.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data on Emergency Department accesses, by month and severity triage code, from 14 hospitals in southeastern Tuscany (Italy) were obtained from hospitals' data warehouse. Official data on new cases of COVID-19 infection were used to calculate incidence. Hospitals were classified into 4 categories. Differences in Emergency Department access by month, triage code, and hospital type were investigated using Kruskal-Wallis analysis. Association between Emergency Department accesses and COVID-19 incidence was evaluated using a random-effect panel data analysis, adjusting for hospital type and triage code.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The trend of 268,072 Emergency Department accesses decreases substantially at the first pandemic peak; thereafter, it increased and decreased again until the minimum peak in November 2020. COVID-19 incidence appeared to be overlapping with an inverse direction. Monthly differences were significant (p<0.01) except for most severe codes. There was a significant inverse association between Emergency Department accesses and COVID-19 incidence (Coef. =-0.074, p<0.001) except for most severe cases (triage code 1: Coef. =-0.028, p=0.154).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Emergency Department admissions trend followed the COVID-19 incidence, except for the most severe cases. Fear of infection seems to discourage patients from accessing Emergency Department for illnesses perceived as not serious.</p>","PeriodicalId":7999,"journal":{"name":"Annali di igiene : medicina preventiva e di comunita","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9680845","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}