Strengthening the Evidence-Based Approach to Guiding Effective Influenza Vaccination Policies.

The availability of several effective and safe vaccines enables health systems to counteract annual influenza epidemics. However, the criteria of appropriateness and sustainability require that each citizen should receive the right vaccine. The value of each vaccine can be assessed within well-known frameworks, such as the Health Technology Assessment (HTA), a step that is fundamental to the process of allocating resources to vaccination strategies.

[How to evaluate the application of Clinical Governance tools in the management of hospitalized hyperglycemic patients: results of a multicentric study].

Risk management is a key tool in Clinical Governance. Our project aimed to define, share, apply and measure the impact of tools and methodologies for the continuous improvement of quality of care, especially in relation to the multi-disciplinary and integrated management of the hyperglycemic patient in hospital settings. A training project, coordinated by a scientific board of experts in diabetes and health management and an Expert Meeting with representatives of all the participating centers was launched in 2014.

[Burden of medical errors in Italy: an analysis of the literature].

Introduction: Medical malpractice and litigation have a significant impact on the Italian National Health Service. The aim of this study was to analyze the state of the art of medical errors in Italy, in particular, assessing which specialties are most affected.

Methods: We performed a literature search in PubMed, Google Scholar; institutional websites (Ministry of Health, Higher Institute of Health, National Agency for Regional Health Services, National Institute of Statistics, National Research Council, Court of Auditors), gray literature and specialized magazines.

Extracorporeal Photopheresis for Second-Line Treatment of Chronic Graft-versus-Host Diseases: Results from a Health Technology Assessment in Italy.

Objectives: To develop a comparative, cost-effectiveness, and budget impact analysis of Therakos online extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) compared with the main alternatives used for the treatment of steroid-refractory/resistant chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD) in Italy.

Methods: The current therapeutic pathway was identified by searching medical databases and from the results of a survey of practice in Italian clinical reference centers. A systematic review was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of second-line alternatives.

Economic impact of adult obesity on health systems: a systematic review.

Background: Obesity represents an important public health issue. An assessment of its costs would be useful to provide recommendations for policy and decision-making strategies. The aims of our study were to carry out a systematic review to assess the economic burden of adult obesity in terms of direct and indirect costs and to perform a quality appraisal of the analysed studies.

The incidence of adverse events in an Italian acute care hospital: findings of a two-stage method in a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The promotion of safer healthcare interventions in hospitals is a relevant public health topic. This study is aimed to investigate predictors of Adverse Events (AEs) taking into consideration the Charlson Index in order to control for confounding biases related to comorbidity.

Methods: The study was a retrospective cohort study based on a two-stage assessment tool which was used to identify AEs.

Survey on knowledge, attitudes, and training needs of Italian residents on genetic tests for hereditary breast and colorectal cancer.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess knowledge and attitudes of medical residents working in Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy, on genetic tests for breast and colorectal cancer.

Methods: We distributed self-administered questionnaire to the residents. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the determinants of knowledge and attitudes towards the tests.

Building successful collaborations between Public Health and Primary Health Care.

Public Health (PH) and Primary Health Care (PHC) need to be better integrated, at different levels of the healthcare system, in order to improve health and social outcomes. The aim of this study was to review international models and approaches supporting the integration of PH and PHC and to classify these according to their main focus. A literature search was performed using the main scientific databases, to identify national and international journal publications regarding models to support integration between PH and PHC.

Peer pressure and public reporting within healthcare setting: improving accountability and health care quality in hospitals.

In the last few years, the need of public reporting of health outcomes has acquired a great importance. The public release of performance results could be a tool for improving health care quality and many attempts have been made in order to introduce public reporting programs within the health care context at different levels. It would be necessary to promote the introduction of a standardized set of outcome and performance measures in order to improve quality of health care services and to make health care providers aware of the importance of transparency and accountability.

Legionella on board trains: effectiveness of environmental surveillance and decontamination.

Background: Legionella pneumophila is increasingly recognised as a significant cause of sporadic and epidemic community-acquired and nosocomial pneumonia. Many studies describe the frequency and severity of Legionella spp. contamination in spa pools, natural pools, hotels and ships, but there is no study analysing the environmental monitoring of Legionella on board trains.

[Prevalence of emerging foodborne pathogens and illness: Campylobacter and Listeria].

This study evaluated the proportion of food samples, examined by the Italian Istituti Zooprofilattici Sperimentali (Experimental Zooprophylactic Institutes) in the years 2000-2005, positive for Campylobacter and Listeria. A correlation was found between food samples found positive for Listeria in the years 2002-2005 and the number of hospitalisations for Listeria illness in the same years (as reported in hospital discharge abstract forms). This confirms that attention should be given in the evaluation of phenomena known to be under reported and for which data are collected and analysed by different methods.