Influenza vaccination coverage among medical residents: An Italian multicenter survey

Although influenza vaccination is recognized to be safe and effective, recent studies have confirmed that immunization coverage among health care workers remain generally low, especially among medical residents (MRs). Aim of the present multicenter study was to investigate attitudes and determinants associated with acceptance of influenza vaccination among Italian MRs. A survey was performed in 2012 on MRs attending post-graduate schools of 18 Italian Universities. Each participant was interviewed via an anonymous, self-administered, web-based questionnaire including questions on attitudes regarding influenza vaccination. A total of 2506 MRs were recruited in the survey and 299 (11.9%) of these stated they had accepted influenza vaccination in 2011-2012 season. Vaccinated MRs were older (P = 0.006), working in clinical settings (P = 0.048), and vaccinated in the 2 previous seasons (P < 0.001 in both seasons). Moreover, MRs who had recommended influenza vaccination to their patients were significantly more compliant with influenza vaccination uptake in 2011-2012 season (P < 0.001). "To avoid spreading influenza among patients" was recognized as the main reason for accepting vaccination by less than 15% of vaccinated MRs. Italian MRs seem to have a very low compliance with influenza vaccination and they seem to accept influenza vaccination as a habit that is unrelated to professional and ethical responsibility. Otherwise, residents who refuse vaccination in the previous seasons usually maintain their behaviors. Promoting correct attitudes and good practice in order to improve the influenza immunization rates of MRs could represent a decisive goal for increasing immunization coverage among health care workers of the future. © 2014 Landes Bioscience

Palleggiando – Campagna di prevenzione del tumore del testicolo negli atleti del CUS Pavia. Nota 2.

Il tumore del testicolo è la neoplasia più comune tra i giovani uomini (15-40 a.) e la sua incidenza è in crescita. Ad oggi, l’unico intervento di prevenzione possibile è la manovra di autopalpazione. In una precedente nota erano stati riportati i risultati relativi alla prima fase di uno studio rivolto agli atleti del CUS Pavia che aveva previsto la somministrazione di un questionario sulle abitudini di vita e sulle conoscenze del tumore al testicolo, la dimostrazione pratica della tecnica di autopalpazione e una lezione teorica. Obiettivo di questa nota è la valutazione delle conoscenze acquisite e della compliance a distanza di tre mesi da parte degli stessi atleti che avevano partecipato alla prima fase

Executive Functioning in Older Adult Outpatients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Preliminary Study

Given the multi-componential nature of executive functions, we compared 48 outpatients affected by Type 2 diabetes and 49 control subjects on the executive domains of inhibition, updating, shifting, and word fluency. Variables commonly associated with diabetes were considered in explaining the relationship between diabetes and executive functioning. Each participant underwent a clinical and cognitive (addressing the four executive domains) evaluation. Raw test scores were standardized per domain and compared between groups. Possible risk factors related to diabetes were examined. The diabetes group scored lower than the control subjects only in the inhibition measure, whereas no differences resulted in the other executive domain

Alzheimer caffè, l’esperienza di Premosello-Chiovenda

La malattia di Alzheimer è la più comune forma di demenza ed è caratterizzata da disorientamento e disturbi della memoria e del comportamento, fino alla perdita delle normali funzioni fisiologiche e cognitive. In Italia circa 600.000 persone ne sono affette, molte di loro assistite a casa da un familiare. Lo stress cronico a cui sono sottoposti i caregiver ha un impatto negativo sulla loro salute fisica e mentale e per aiutare le famiglie ad accettare e a gestire questa patologia sono nati gli Alzheimer Caffè, ambienti informali dove si possono incontrare persone che vivono gli stessi disagi. Nel 2013 nasce il Caffè di Premosello-Chiovenda (VB), vi partecipano i caregiver e, se possibile, i loro familiari malati. Gli incontri prevedono una prima parte terapeutica ed educativa seguita da un secondo momento conviviale