The social cost of chronic kidney disease in Italy

This study aims to estimate the mean annual social cost per patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) by stages 4 and 5 pre-dialyses and cost components in Italy. The multicenter cross-sectional study included all adult outpatients in charge of the 14 main Nephrology Centers of Tuscany Region during 7 weeks from 2012 to 2013. Direct medical costs have been estimated using tariffs for laboratory tests, diagnostic exams, visits, hospitalization and prices for drugs. Non-medical costs included expenses of low-protein special foods, travel, and formal and informal care. Patients' and caregivers' losses of productivity have been estimated as indirect costs using the human capital approach. Costs have been expressed in Euros (2016). Totals of 279 patients in stage 4 and 205 patients in stage 5 have been enrolled. The estimated mean annual social cost of a patient with CKD were a,notsign7422 (+/- a,notsign6255) for stage 4 and a,notsign8971 (+/- a,notsign6503) for stage 5 (p < 0.05). Direct medical costs were higher in stage 5 as compared to stage 4; direct non-medical costs and indirect costs accounted, respectively, for 41 and 5 % of the total social cost of CKD stage 4 and for 33 and 9 % of CKD stage 5. In Italy, the overall annual social cost of CKD was a,notsign1,809,552,398 representing 0.11 % of the Gross Domestic Product. Direct non-medical costs and indirect costs were weighted on the social cost of CKD almost as much as the direct medical cost. Patients, their families and the productivity system sustain the burden of the disease almost as much as the healthcare system. © 2016, The Author(s)

Evaluating school based comprehensive sexuality education using non randomized cluster design study

Existing evidence demonstrated the effectiveness of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in providing adolescents with rightful and appropriate information to improve knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours about sexuality. However, there is no consensus on the optimal methodological approach to evaluate CSE interventions. Here we propose a protocol to assess the outcome of a standardized evaluation strategy on adolescents’ knowledge about sexuality. This research is part of a national Italian project on school-based CSE (EduForIST), funded by the Italian Ministry of health

Preliminary results of a pilot comprehensive sexuality education activity in Italy.

Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) is a key strategy to promote adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in school context. However, CSE is not part of Italian school curricula. This study, funded by the Ministry of Health, describes the preliminary results of a CSE pilot activity in upper secondary schools (USS), in 4/20 Italian regions, started in February 2023. Project/population and settings The pilot activity has been developed by an interdisciplinary team of academics, public health professionals and civil society organisations (CSOs) with expertise in SRH promotion in schools. It consisted of 5 interventions on the following topics: 1) adolescence and healthy relationships; 2) sexual identity and diversity; 3) sexual consent and contraception; 4) sexually transmitted infections (STIs) prevention and sexual health services; 5) insights into topics chosen by the students. The evaluation consisted of pre-post tests on knowledge and satisfaction

The social cost of chronic kidney disease in Italy

This study aims to estimate the mean annual social cost per patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) by stages 4 and 5 pre-dialyses and cost components in Italy. The multicenter cross-sectional study included all adult outpatients in charge of the 14 main Nephrology Centers of Tuscany Region during 7 weeks from 2012 to 2013. Direct medical costs have been estimated using tariffs for laboratory tests, diagnostic exams, visits, hospitalization and prices for drugs. Non-medical costs included expenses of low-protein special foods, travel, and formal and informal care. Patients’ and caregivers’ losses of productivity have been estimated as indirect costs using the human capital approach. Costs have been expressed in Euros (2016). Totals of 279 patients in stage 4 and 205 patients in stage 5 have been enrolled. The estimated mean annual social cost of a patient with CKD were €7422 (±€6255) for stage 4 and €8971 (±€6503) for stage 5 (p < 0.05). Direct medical costs were higher in stage 5 as compared to stage 4; direct non-medical costs and indirect costs accounted, respectively, for 41 and 5 % of the total social cost of CKD stage 4 and for 33 and 9 % of CKD stage 5. In Italy, the overall annual social cost of CKD was €1,809,552,398 representing 0.11 % of the Gross Domestic Product. Direct non-medical costs and indirect costs were weighted on the social cost of CKD almost as much as the direct medical cost. Patients, their families and the productivity system sustain the burden of the disease almost as much as the healthcare system