Retirement and work values. An analysis of work values characterizing postretirement activities.

Purpose Long life expectancy and work continuity after retirement are common phenomena in industrialized countries. Understanding the values and needs of retirees still involved in labour market or volunteer activities could improve knowledge about vocational ageing. The present work investigates the elderly people\u2019s work-related values and their factorial structure. Design/Methodology A sample of 533 active Italian retirees was administered a questionnaire comprehending the Work Values Scale (WIS). Both confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses were used to test and investigate the relationship between the work values characterizing individuals in retirement. Results Data analysis revealed that people in retirement do not conform to previously hypothesized models of work values; in particular they show a strong interest in \u201caltruism\u201d and a reduced interest in towards more material values. Nevertheless, a five-factor underlying structure can still be detected that aligns values along dimensions of \u201cindependence\u201d, \u201cindividual social interaction\u201d, \u201ccontextual social interaction\u201d, \u201cprofessional rewards\u201d, and \u201cself-determination\u201d. Limitations This work focuses just on North Italian participants Research/Practical Implications This research could stimulate studies based on work values within the life span paradigm (from full-time job to post-retirement work) Originality/Value Work values are especially studied in the work field yet few studies have applied the WIS questionnaire to active retirees. This contribution could help to understand both activities and choices made by the elderly during retirement

Performance ed esami integrati Un’esperienza nell’ambito delle Università di Verona e Padova

Nel presente lavoro vengono riassunti alcuni risultati di una ricerca relativa alle performance di uno stesso esame in differenti corsi universitari. Vengono investigati fattori quali il genere, l’età, la frequenza alle lezioni, l’essere o meno studente lavoratore, la mediadei voti, il diploma. In particolare, vengono discussi possibili effetti negativi sulle performance dovute all’uso degli esami integrati.Tali risultati forniscono interessanti spunti di riflessione riguardo ad alcune tendenze della didattica e della valutazione particolarmente diffuse nell’Università Italiana. Le analisi sono state effettuate utilizzando i modelli misti lineari, noti anche come multilevel o modellilineari gerarchici

Unexpected early obstruction of a biological aortic valve prosthesis

A 64 years old male was submitted to the surgical substitution of a deteriorated biological aortic valve prosthesis with a new Hancock II biological prosthesis. The implantation was not followed by an anticoagulation or antiaggregation therapy. Two months later he was checked at our Institution because he complained symptoms and developed echocardiographic indexes suggestive of an aortic prosthesis obstruction by a clot. Both symptoms and the echocardiographic indexes of prosthesis obstruction faded away after giving warfarin; they arose again when the anticoagulation therapy was stopped and was replaced by aspirin. The following permanent use of warfarin normalized both clinic and echocardiographic aspects. The present case report underlines the utility of early controls after a biological prosthesis, yet aortic, implantation, when it is not followed by an anticoagulant therapy, also in subjects free from thrombosis high risk factors

Entrepreneurial potential for Italian undergraduates

Choosing to be an entrepreneur can be an opportunity for young especially since they have difficulties in finding jobs. To detect the knowledge, the attitude, and the aptitude towards the entrepreneurial job; To understand the variables that are related with the entrepreneurial choice in young male and female. The instrument is a questionnaire (50 multiple-choices items / Cronbachs Alpha .849) that analyses: personal data; entrepreneurial network of acquaintances; image of future job; ideas about male and female entrepreneurs; information about bureaucracy and investments in creating enterprises; entrepreneurial aptitude; attitude toward entrepreneurship. 560 Italian humanities students were involved. The difficulties described in enterprise creation are: economic aspects, bureaucracy, partners/co-workers, and getting credit from banks. The image of the profile of male entrepreneurs is characterized by leadership and perseverance; while females show perseverance and a strong spirit of sacrifice. Students have little knowledge about start-up processes. Attitudes toward entrepreneurship/self-employment are characterized by the choice of the adjectives: wonderful, prestigious, active, energetic, satisfying, interesting, suitable, various and flexible. Networking is an important variable that has a positive and significant effect on the others: people with a family/social network with entrepreneurs have access to a lot of information; they have a more positive image of an entrepreneurial job; and they think about it, try and are able to be self-employed more than others. We consider this research a step that help to identify a model that integrates elements of the entrepreneurial project: gender, attitudes, aptitudes, networking, information, and social support

[Standards and outcome measures in cardiovascular rehabilitation. Position paper GICR/IACPR].

Despite major improvements in diagnostics and interventional therapies, cardiovascular diseases remain a major health care and socio-economic problem in Italy. Costs and resources required are increasing in close correlation to both the improved quality of care and to the population ageing. There is an overwhelming evidence of the efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in terms of reduction in morbidity and mortality after acute cardiac events. CR services are by definition multi-factorial and comprehensive. Furthermore, systematic analysis and monitoring of the process of delivery and outcomes is of paramount importance. The aim of this position paper promoted by the Italian Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (GICR-IACPR) is to provide specific recommendations to assist CR staff in the design, evaluation and development of their care delivery organization. The position paper should also assist health care providers, insurers, policy makers and consumers in the recognition of the quality of care requirements, standards and outcome measure, quality and performance indicators, and professional competence involved in such organization and programs. The position paper i) include comprehensive CR definition and indications, ii) describes priority criteria based on the clinical risk for admission to both inpatient or outpatient CR, and iii) defines components and technological, structural and organizing requirements for inpatient or outpatient CR services, with specific indicators and standards, performance measures and required professional skills. A specific chapter is dedicated to the requirements for highly specialized CR services for patients with more advanced cardiovascular diseases

Gênese e gestão de um processo formativo ao empreendedorismo: desenvolvimento, avaliação e validação

Este artigo apresenta os primeiros passos de um projeto internacional financiado pelo Erasmus plus –Programa que trabalha com quatro países na realização de uma plataforma comum de desenvolvimento de competências empreendedoras. Aqui, nós relatamos as reflexões que estão conduzindo os idealizadores do projeto na construção de um processo não somente educacional mas também de avaliação e validação compartilhada por vários países para assegurar um processo de crescimento real, com normas comuns de formação e de avaliação. Por conseguinte, pretende-se trabalhar com um sumário das atuais orientações da Comunidade Europeia relativas à validação de competências, ao desenvolvimento de competências empreendedoras, ao mapeamento de competências empresariais na Europa e ao estabelecimento de programas de desenvolvimento dessas competências. Por fim, apresenta-se o projeto europeu House of Brain e as atividades que levaram os autores a questionar as ferramentas mais úteis para uma avaliação correta das competências para uma aprendizagem ao longo da vida

ATHerosclerosis of the lower extremIties as a liNKed comorbidity in Patients Admitted for carDiac rehabilitation (THINKPAD): rationale, design, and study group

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a frequent comorbidity among patients entering cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes and an important source of disability and impaired prognosis. The prevalence of PAD across the wide range of conditions for CR is poorly understood, as far as its impact on drug optimization and intervention delivered. The “ATHerosclerosis of the lower extremIties as a liNKed comorbidity in Patients Admitted for carDiac rehabilitation” (THINKPAD) study was carried out by the Italian Association for Cardiovascular Prevention, Rehabilitation and Epidemiology (GICR-IACPR) in order to explore PAD both as a comorbidity and a primary indication at the entry of CR. The study was a retrospective case series. In the study period (from May 1, 2012 to June 30, 2012), data on consecutive patients discharged from 17 CR units in Northern Italy were collected. Web-based electronic case report forms (e-CRF), accessible in a dedicated section of the IACPR website (www.iacpr.it), were used for data entry, and data were transferred via web to a central database. The data collection instrument was designed with a multiple choice format, with jump menus or select boxes and obligatory items. A sample size of 1,300 subjects is expected, with first data available by the end of 2012

Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation “3.0”: From acute to chronic phase. Position Paper of the ltalian Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (GICR-IACPR)

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is the subspecialty of clinical cardiology dedicated to the treatment of cardiac patients, early and in the long term after an acute event. The aim of CR is to improve both quality of life and prognosis through prognostic stratification, clinical stabilization and optimization of therapy (pharmacological and non), management of comorbidities, treatment of disability, as well as through the provision and reinforcement of secondary prevention interventions and maintenaince of adherence to treatment. The mission of CR has changed over time. Once centered on the acute phase, aimed primarily at short-term survival, the healthcare of cardiac patients now increasingly involves the chronic phase where the challenge is to guarantee continuity and quality of care in the medium and long-term. The aim of the present position paper is to provide the state-of-the-art of CR in Italy, discussing its trengths and weaknesses as well as future perspectives