EFFECTS OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC AND JOBS CRISIS ON THE HEALTH STATUS OF THE ITALIAN AND SICILIAN POPULATIONS: FROM THE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE TO NOT OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE?

The economic crisis that started in 2008 in many countries of the world, has resulted in the reduction of many jobs in all the regions of Italy, most especially in the Southern part of the Country. The employment difficulties experienced by both the unemployed and employed workers, experiencing increasingly precarious conditions, will inevitably result in a worsening of psycho-physical conditions of the population; especially as an increase in stress-related diseases. Aims: The aim of this study is to point-out the possible effects of the economic crisis on the health status of the population resident in Italy and Sicily, evaluating data from years preceding and following the year 2008. Methods: We have selected two populations: the first comprising the inhabitants of the Italian territory, the second comprising the inhabitants in the Sicilian territory. We evaluated official statistical data regarding demographics, information about lifestyles that can cause cardiovascular diseases, and also statistical data about job accidents and occupational diseases. We also investigated the use of antidepressant drugs, as indicators of psychological distress and metabolic diseases in the two populations. Results: Data analysis shows an overall increase of people migrating to foreign countries, increased unemployment for all age groups, with dramatic spikes in Sicily, and degenerating lifestyles associated with increasing numbers of subjects suffering from depression, diabetes and ischemic heart disease, although treatments and prognosis have improved. Work-related accidents only have been significantly reduced, while at the same time reports of occupational diseases increase. Conclusions: It is necessary to change economic policies and development throughout the country; especially in the Southern regions, in order to substantially improve the mental and physical health of the population

Casa e salute - rischi domestici e salute nelle casalinghe

This study discuss home security and shows that "the house" is very rich of dangers. In fact housewives are exposed to various risk factors and have a high incidence of physical and mental disorders

Cromemia e cromuria: valori a confronto tra soggetti professionalmente esposti al cromo e popolazione generale

Aim of present study is the valutation and quantification of chromium in blood and urine. We compared 3 groups of persons formed by building workers, in particular masons, because cement contains potassium chromate that is dangerous for health, and by common people: urban population and outside the town population. In fact, exposure to CrVI risk is high for people who live near chromate industries. We maked a medical examination, blood and instrumental tests, chromium measuring in blood (recent exposure indicator) and urine (recent and previous indicator). Then we used statistical methods to estimate obtained values of blood and urine chromium among professional exposed people and common people. At the end we think that preventive measures in working environment reduced exposure to CrVI but environmental exposure (for example road dust from catalytic converter erosion, from brake lining erosion, cement dust and tobacco smoke), in the last years, has increased. So there are no difference between urban population and outside the town population and there are also no difference with professional exposed people for work prevention according to law in force, that let down professional risk using safe limits

Cardiovascular effects of occupational exposure to urban airborne pollution on a group of newsagents in the city of Palermo

Aims: To verify the possible correlation between exposure to airborne particulate matter the average size less than 10 μm (PM 10) of a group of newsagents working in kiosks in Palermo and evidence of carotid intimal thickening. Materials and methods: data were collected relating to environmental monitoring of airborne pollutants. We have selected a sample of newsagents, who were submitted to some clinical investigations, including the carotid echo-color doppler examination. Results: The results show no correlation between the location of the kiosks, and the presence of intimal thickening. Conclusion: Exposition to urban pollutants in Palermo is likely homogenous in the different areas and can be considered an ubiquitous atherogenic risk factor

Research-development partnerships for scaling complex innovation: Lessons from the Farmer Business School in IFAD-supported loan-grant collaborations in Asia

The Farmer Business School (FBS) is a participatory, action learning process focused on product and business development, and like the Farmer Field School, is a complex, multi-dimensional innovation with the potential to benefit large numbers of farming households economically, socially and institutionally. Scaling this approach requires rethinking both innovation and scaling. The paper draws on the insights of recent research which argues that a systems approach to innovation can better address the complexity of scaling processes and provides frameworks that link together processes of innovation and scaling. In examining these frameworks, the paper identifies the key role of partnership dynamics in those processes. Drawing on both the innovation and scaling literature and literature on partnership dynamics, a conceptual framework is developed to analyze how partnership dynamics contribute to and constrain the transition from small-scale ‘niche’ innovation testing led by researchers, to large scale integration of the approach by development partners in agricultural ‘regimes’. Using case studies involving partnerships between a small international agricultural research grant recipient and six large development projects supported by IFAD multilateral loans and managed by government agencies undertaken in four Asian countries between 2011 and 2018, the study analyses the variable dynamics of the partnerships from initial networking to integrated collaboration, in the process of scaling the FBS innovation. Responding to the main research question about the drivers of partnership dynamics that contribute to scaling, the paper examines the partnerships in terms of six drivers which derived both from the literature and also from the empirical evidence presented in the study. The drivers include two dimensions of “fit”, one about the convergence of research expertise and development demand, the other about the systematic integration of the innovation with different elements of the development actions. Other drivers relate to the issue of the convergence of project cycles, the stability of staffing in partner organizations, internal decision-making processes and the dimension of “partnering” – the value-based and behavioral aspects of collaboration. The paper also discusses the results of a “partnership health check-up” process conducted periodically during the partnerships and reconsiders the driver about system fit to understand the extent to which there had been a transformation in the conventional ‘regime’ approach to innovations and scaling. Finally, the paper proposes to adjust the conceptual framework based on the analysis of these partnerships for scaling innovations

Disability and work: fitness for work judgement

The role of physicians, in particular those dealing with health promotion in the workplace, takes on a specific meaning in relation to the difficulties that disabled people encounter both in order to reach the workplace and to reconcile their working activity with the difficulties that result from their condition. Observing the data concerning employment of disabled persons in Italy, it becomes dramatically evident that among the disabled subjects of working age only 17% are employed. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the occupational health physician is to recognise the impairment, study the disability and, possibly, eliminate or reduce the handicap. Achieving this target is difficult, and there is often a lack in understanding the discomforts experienced by disabled people in their working activity. Expression of a judgement of work fitness for a specific task is a particularly delicate matter, all the more so if the worker is a disabled person. A judgement of work fitness of a disabled person should include evaluation of the person's ability and an analysis of the working task and the workplace. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our experience, one can safely say that working inclusion and integration in work is possible, without any decrease in productivity, if an appropriate position is found for disabled workers. The occupational health physician has a primary role in the entire process of inclusion of disabled people at work, since he/she knows the company, the tasks, and the associated risks, and furthermore is able to assess the capabilities and abilities of the worker and can thus identify the most suitable and safe working situation

Occupational exposure to home risk factors: analysis of physical and mental health condition of a group of Sicilian housewives.

INTRODUCTION: The work of housewives, in many ways, still lacks professional respect; particularly with respect to the neglect of exposure to risk factors such as: chemical, physical, biological, psychological and accidents. The purpose of this study is to analyze the possible impact of environmental risk factors on the physical and mental health of a group of Sicilian housewives. METHODS: We enrolled housewives living in Palermo and Catania and administered an anonymous questionnaire to obtain knowledge of three factors: (1) the habits of the respondents, (2) the type of house in which they lived and worked, (3) the diseases they suffered. We also administered them a hospital anxiety and depression scale questionnaire. A statistical analysis was performed calculating the p value and a Yates chi square test to compare the percentages of diseases that emerged in three different groups: (1) the sample, (2) an ISTAT report on women of the same average age performing various work tasks ‘other than housework’ and (3) an ISTAT nationwide report on the housewives of the same average age. Finally, we evaluated the average questionnaire scores measuring anxiety and depression, and correlated those scores with age. RESULTS: The sample group consisting of 468 housewives showed high percentage of allergic disorders (35.6%), which is statistically significant when compared to the ISTAT national data on women generally and housewives particularly of the same average age. The evaluation of data on anxiety and depression showed an average score indicating borderline pathology for both (anxiety and depression) and increasing proportionally with increasing age. DISCUSSION: It is considered appropriate to inform society and the scientific community about the issues concerning these housewife workers, who must be regarded as and recognized as workers

Analisi sull'ultimo aggiornamento dell'elenco delle malattie per le quali è obbligatoria la denuncia

Giornale Italiano di Medicina del Lavoro ed Ergonomia 2010 Vol. XXXII supplemento 2 al N. 4 Ottobre-Dicembre 201

Linee Guida per il primo soccorso nei luoghi di lavoro (art. 15 D.Lgs. 626/94)

Lo studio degli acufeni in audiologia clinica con le metodiche soggettive note, riveste una particolare importanza per il valore sociale dell'affezione, che in determinati ambiti professionali. determina un cospicuo disturbo nel campo delle applicazioni intelletive. Utilizzando le più moderne tecniche di otoneurologia ed avvalendosi dell'ausilio dell'imaging, si ha la possibilità della corretta identificazione e caratterizzazione dell'etiologia specifica della maggior parte degli acufeni.Lo studio audiometrico tonale multifrequenziale consiste nel suo range frequenziale di indagine