515 research outputs found

    Physicians' knowledge of health-related quality of life and perception of its importance in daily clinical practice

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    Background: Health-related quality of life (QoL) has become a crucial outcome in medical care. However, few studies have assessed physician knowledge of QoL and rate of physicians adopting QoL measures in clinical practice. The present study aimed at assessing the level of knowledge of QoL and the perceived importance of incorporating QoL assessment in clinical practice among physicians of a tertiary level academic hospital in Rome, Italy. Materials and methods: A survey study performed through the distribution of a questionnaire assessing knowledge of QoL studies that used the SF-36 scale, participation in studies evaluating QoL as well as knowledge of journals publishing articles on QoL Physicians and residents at the hospital Policlinico Gemelli, Catholic University of Rome. Results: Three-hundred nine physicians completed the questionnaire. Thirty-eight percent % reported knowing studies on QoL and using their results in clinical practice or for research purposes; 29% reported knowing the SF-36 questionnaire; 30% stated that at least one study assessing QoL had been conducted in their department. Fourty-six percent % stated that QoL must influence much or very much diagnostic choices and an even higher percentage reported that QoL must influence much or very much therapeutic and palliative strategies (70.8% and 91.3%, respectively). Reported barriers to the use of QoL measures in clinical practice were related to time constraints (8.7%) but also to doubts on methodological issues of QoL (30.7%). The large majority of physicians (94.3%) would have used more expensive drugs if these could improve QoL. Conclusions: The present study shows that in a tertiary level academic italian hospital one third of the physicians, reported to know QoL measures and that more than 80% of them would like to use QoL in their daily clinical practice. Future studies are needed to identify the best strategies to implement the use of QoL measures in clinical practice

    Archeologia e storia delle trasformazioni del castello aragonese di Sassari

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    [EN] During works for the arrangement of the underground in Sassari’s historical center (Piazza Castello), remains of the structures related to the “a la moderna” fortification of the Aragonese castles have been discovered. The defensive systems included a fosse, a “barbican” with a covered alley and an embrasured path, which suffered a progressive filling from the second half of the 17th century AD. An hypogeum carved into limestone and characterized by bas reliefs depicting crucifixes, processions and several religious symbols, belonging to the Inquisition (16th century AD), was used as a prison until the area started to fill up, in the first half of the 17th century AD. The archaeological excavation of both the fosse and the prison, allowed to identify and document a previously unknown polychrome majolica produced in Sassari.Padua, G.; Panico, B.; Sanna, L. (2015). Archeologia e storia delle trasformazioni del castello aragonese di Sassari. En Defensive architecture of the mediterranean: XV to XVIII centuries. Vol. I. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 413-420. https://doi.org/10.4995/FORTMED2015.2015.1959OCS41342

    A new neurocognitive interpretation of shoulder position sense during reaching: unexpected competence in the measurement of extracorporeal space

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    Background.The position sense of the shoulder joint is important during reaching. Objective. To examine the existence of additional competence of the shoulder with regard to the ability to measure extracorporeal space, through a novel approach, using the shoulder proprioceptive rehabilitation tool (SPRT), during reaching. Design. Observational case-control study. Methods. We examined 50 subjects: 25 healthy and 25 with impingement syndrome with a mean age [years] of 64.52 +/− 6.98 and 68.36 +/− 6.54, respectively. Two parameters were evaluated using the SPRT: the integration of visual information and the proprioceptive afferents of the shoulder (Test 1) and the discriminative proprioceptive capacity of the shoulder, with the subject blindfolded (Test 2). These tasks assessed the spatial error (in centimeters) by the shoulder joint in reaching movements on the sagittal plane. Results. The shoulder had proprioceptive features that allowed it to memorize a reaching position and reproduce it (error of 1.22 cm to 1.55 cm in healthy subjects). This ability was lower in the impingement group, with a statistically significant difference compared to the healthy group ( < 0.05 by Mann–Whitney test). Conclusions. The shoulder has specific expertise in the measurement of the extracorporeal space during reaching movements that gradually decreases in impingement syndrome
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