Symptoms of mental health problems among Italian adolescents in 2017–2018 school year: a multicenter cross-sectional study

Background Identifying individual and contextual factors that influence adolescent well-being is a research priority. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of symptoms of mental health problems and some related factors in Italian adolescents in 2017–2018. Methods The present study was a cross-sectional survey among 3002 students aged 15–16 years who resided in two Italian provinces, in North and South Italy. Symptoms of mental health problems were assessed using the SDQ and CES-DC, and students’ risk-taking behaviors and school climate perception were assessed. All information was collected anonymously. Logistic regression models were used to assess the associations of tobacco and alcohol use, screen time, bullying, and school climate with symptoms of mental health problems. Results One student out of five reported symptoms of mental health problems, with a more than double proportion among girls than boys (28.7% vs 10.4% with depressive symptoms, respectively). Thirty percent and 40% of students smoked tobacco or drank alcoholic beverages at least once in the past month, and more than 40% reported being victims or authors of bullying in the past 6 months. Smoking behavior, alcohol consumption, screen time, bullying, and negative school climate had 1.2- to 3.3-fold increased odds of symptoms of mental health problems without substantial differences between sexes and geographical areas. Conclusions Tobacco and alcohol use, screen time, bullying, and school climate were independently associated with symptoms of mental health problems in a large sample of 15–16-year-old Italian adolescents without substantial gender and geographical differences

Knowledge and beliefs on vaccines among a sample of Italian pregnant women: results from the NAVIDAD study

BACKGROUND: Vaccine hesitancy is an emerging phenomenon in European countries and leads to decreasing trends in infant vaccine coverage. The aim of this study was to analyze the level of confidence and correct awareness about immunizations, which are crucial for the success of vaccination programmes. METHODS: As part of the NAVIDAD multicentre study, we examined vaccination confidence and complacency among a sample of 1820 pregnant women from 14 Italian cities. The questionnaire assessed the interviewee's knowledge, beliefs and misconceptions, as well as their socioeconomic status, information sources about vaccines and confidence in the Italian National Healthcare Service. RESULTS: Only 9% of women completely believed to the efficacy, necessity and safety of vaccinations. Almost 20% of them had misconceptions on most of the themes. There was a significant difference in the level of knowledge considering educational level: women with a high educational level have less probability of obtaining a low knowledge score (odds ratio (OR) 0.43 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34-0.54]). The level of knowledge was also influenced by the sources of information: women who received information from their general practitioner (GP) and from institutional websites had a significantly lower chance of having misconceptions (OR 0.74 [95% CI 0.58-0.96]; OR 0.59 [95% CI 0.46-0.74]). Finally, the results underlined the influence of trust in healthcare professional information on the likelihood of having misconceptions (OR 0.49 [95% CI 0.27-0.89]). CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest the efficacy of GPs and institutional websites as a source of information to contrast misconceptions and underline the importance of confidence in the healthcare system to increase complacency and confidence in vaccines

Use of adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccine in older-age adults: a systematic review of economic evidence

Seasonal influenza is a very common disease. Yearly vaccination of at-risk population groups is a well-recognized cost-effective/cost-saving preventive measure. It is, however, unclear which available alternative has the most favorable economic profile. Some available options are: trivalent (TIV) and quadrivalent (QIV) inactivated vaccines, adjuvanted TIV (aTIV). Because of immunosenescence, aTIV has been specifically developed for elderly. The present study aimed at assessing the available evidence of aTIV use in elderly from the economic perspective. A systematic literature review targeting aTIV economic evaluations in adults aged ≥65 years was performed using Medline via Ovid, Embase, DARE and NHS/EED. Of a total of 3,654 papers screened, 18 studies (13 full papers, 5 conference abstracts) were included. It emerged that compared with both non-vaccination or non-adjuvanted vaccines, aTIV was cost-effective or cost-saving. The vaccinations strategies incorporating aTIV based on age and/or risk profile are associated with the most favorable economic outcomes

Analysis of the adequacy of admissions in a Complex Operative Unit of General Surgery and Day Surgery and Breast Unit

Hospital admissions and surgical activities have undergone substantial changes due to the spread of the coronavirus 19 (CoViD-19) pandemic. To date, however, there are in increasingly number studies that have quantified the effect of the pandemic and its protocols on hospital activity. Unlike other studies, which identify protocols for the containment of infections, in this study, logistic regression and statistical analysis were used to evaluate the type of patients admitted to the Complex Operative Unit (COU) of General Surgery and Day Surgery and Breast Unit in "San Giovanni di Dio and Ruggi d'Aragona" University Hospital of Salerno (Italy) in CoViD-19 era. Specifically, the aim is to study how hospitalized patients has changed by investigating the relative parameters extracts from hospital discharge forms, comparing year 2019 and year 2020. The result shows that in year 2020, the weight of Diagnostic Related Group (DRG) was significantly higher and it highlighted an increased use of the emergency hospitalization

Use of statistical analysis and logistic regression to study the length of stay in an Emergency Medicine Department in CoViD-19 era

Since the first case recorded in China in 2019, CoViD-19 has overwhelmed the health systems of all countries. The highly complex request for assistance combined with the fear of contagion have changed the normal activity of hospitals. Conversely, as the pandemic spreads, fewer people are going to the Emergency Department (ED) for non-CoViD diseases. In this study, logistic regression and statistical analysis were used to investigate how the pandemic changed the activity of the Emergency Medicine Department of "San Giovanni di Dio and Ruggi d'Aragona" University Hospital of Salerno (Italy). Patients admitted in 2020 have a higher Length of Stay (LOS) and the mode of discharge is mostly "at home". While the discharge modality 'transferred to another regime in the same hospital' had significantly decreased in order to counter the internal contagion