Recommended Vaccinations During Adolescence: Parents' Knowledge and Behaviors.

Background: This study aims to evaluate parents' knowledge about vaccination targeted for adolescents.

Methods: The cross-sectional survey was conducted between February and April 2024 in a sample of parents of adolescents attending middle and high schools in Southern Italy.

Results: Only 10.

Risky Behaviors for Non-Communicable Diseases: Italian Adolescents' Food Habits and Physical Activity.

Background: Driving adolescents to more correct food habits and physical activity is crucial to promoting health and avoiding the increase in morbidity and mortality in adulthood. Literature has focused on these behaviors in the adult population, while studies on adolescents are more limited. This study aims to explore the level of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding nutrition and physical activity to acquire insight into adolescents and identify the associated predictors.

Are knowledge, attitudes and practices about dietary supplements and nutraceuticals related with exercise practice and setting? A cross-sectional study among Italian adults.

This cross-sectional study was aimed to investigate knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding dietary supplements (DS) and nutraceuticals among athletes, gym practitioners, and individuals who did not exercise regularly. A total of 372 participants, aged 18-65, completed a questionnaire covering demographics, supplement usage, and three validated tools: the Knowledge about Dietary Supplements (KaDS), Supplements Knowledge Score (SKS), and Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice towards Nutraceuticals (KAPN). Significant differences were found in the use of vitaminised water, protein powder, glucosamines, beetroot juice, creatine, omega-3, and pre-workout supplements among the groups, with gym practitioners reporting the highest usage.

Prevention of Meningococcal Disease: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of General Practitioners and Primary Care Pediatricians in South Italy.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and current practices about prevention of meningococcal disease among general practitioners (GPs) and primary care pediatricians (PCPs) in Italy.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out between February 2022 and July 2023 among a random sample of GPs and PCPs in Southern Italy. The data were collected using a questionnaire accessible via an internet link with the free software Google Forms.

Evaluating levels of knowledge and food safety practices among food handlers in the Southern part of Italy.

The purpose of the present study is to assess the extent of knowledge and food safety practices among food handlers (FHs) to prevent food risks. This cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2021 and February 2022 in a random sample of FHs working in three regions of the Southern part of Italy. A two-stage cluster random sampling strategy was used to select FHs working at food businesses in the Regions.

Sedentary Behaviors and Eating Habits in Active and Inactive Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Population from Southern Italy.

The aim of this study was to analyze sedentary behaviors and dietary habits assumed by individuals regularly practicing exercise in a gym, sports athletes and inactive individuals. The Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire and the Healthy Dietary Habits Index were administered online to evaluate the time spent in sedentary activities during the week and the habits of food consumption among adult individuals from the Campania region, in the south of Italy. Of the 411 participants, 25% were inactive, 34% were gym practitioners and 41% practiced different sport disciplines.

Genital and Oral HPV Geno-Prevalence Measured through Urine and Saliva Samples in Young Adults in Italy.

Background: The aims of the study were to determine, in the urine and oral samples of young adults, the genotype-specific prevalence of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection, the HPV DNA type-specific prevalence in unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals, and the determinants of HPV infection.

Methods: Selected participants were asked to fill in a self-administered questionnaire and to self-collect urine and saliva samples.

Results: Among the 1002 participants, 81 (8.

Willingness to receive Herpes Zoster vaccination among adults and older people: A cross sectional study in Italy.

The objective of this study was to explore the Herpes Zoster (HZ) knowledge and the willingness to receive the HZ vaccination in adults and older people in Italy. The study was conducted on a sample of patients aged ≥65 years and over 50 years with chronic conditions who went to the clinics of general practitioners (GPs) in Campania region, Italy. Data was collected with a questionnaire administered through an interview.

Immunization during pregnancy: do healthcare workers recommend vaccination against influenza?

Background: A variety of circumstances can influence how widely vaccination during pregnancy is accepted. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are often seen as the main resource for recommending vaccination. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether Italian HCWs advise and recommend pregnant people to receive the influenza vaccinations, as well as what knowledge and attitudes affect their practices.

Bivalent second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine: Eligible populations' reasons for receiving in Italy.

The Italian Ministry of Health recommended the administration of the bivalent second booster dose of the new available mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for subjects aged 60 y and over, aged 12 y and over with high frailty motivated by concomitant/preexisting conditions, and health-care workers. The purposes of this cross-sectional survey were to investigate the reasons for receiving the bivalent second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and associated influencing factors among the eligible population attending two immunization centers randomly selected in the city of Naples, Italy. A total of 535 subjects participated.

Antimicrobial Prescribing Practices in Hospital Settings in Italy: A Retrospective Study.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial prescribing practices in hospital settings in Italy, focusing on the appropriateness of antibiotic use.

Methods: This study was carried out through a retrospective review of medical records of patients admitted in three public hospitals located in Campania Region (Italy) between 1 January and 31 December 2018.

Results: More than one third (34.

Effects of Probiotic Supplementation on Sports Performance and Performance-Related Features in Athletes: A Systematic Review.

This review aims to evaluate the effects of probiotic supplementation on performance and performance-related conditions in athletes by evaluating randomized controlled studies from the MEDLINE (Pubmed), Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus (EBSCO) databases. From a total of 2304 relevant articles, 13 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Seven studies concern endurance athletes, one to rugby players, three refer to non-specified athletes, one to badminton players, and one involves baseball players.

Assessment of dietary supplement consumption among Italian university students: The multicenter DiSCo study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the consumption of dietary supplements (DSs) and related sociodemographic characteristics or behaviors in Italian undergraduates.

Methods: A questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study was carried out between October 2021 and May 2022 involving undergraduates from 12 public universities. The use of DSs in the previous 6 mo, the aim and reason for use, the purchasing channel, and related adverse effects were explored and compared by sex.

Assessment of Perceived Health Status and Access to Health Service during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Survey in Italy.

(1) Background: The aims of this survey were to assess the perceived health status and to evaluate the use of healthcare services during the pandemic period. (2) Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted from May to October 2021 in the Campania and Calabria regions, Southern Italy. The sample was selected among 655 subjects attending vaccination or primary care physician clinics.

Preventive Measures for SARS-CoV-2 in the Workplace and Vaccine Acceptance: Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors of Workers in Southern Italy.

(1) Background: this study investigated the preventive measures implemented in the workplace and evaluated knowledge, attitudes and adherence behaviors regarding SARS-CoV-2 routes of transmission and preventive measures in a group of workers. (2) Methods: this cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July 2021 among 501 workers in the Campania region, in Southern Italy. (3) Results: 80.

Screening for colorectal cancer: awareness and adherence among Italian women.

Objective: To evaluate women's awareness about and attendance to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs in an area of Southern Italy, and to investigate related potential determinants.

Methods: The survey was conducted among women through a self-administered questionnaire.

Results: Overall, only 20.

Schoolteachers and Vaccinations: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Campania Region.

Background: This cross-sectional survey aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding vaccinations among schoolteachers in Italy.

Methods: Data were collected through an online questionnaire from September 2020 to May 2021 from a sample of schoolteachers in the Campania region of southern Italy.

Results: Only 27% of the participants had good knowledge about the vaccinations recommended for schoolteachers.

Effects of Probiotics Supplementation on Risk and Severity of Infections in Athletes: A Systematic Review.

The aim of this review was to appraise the literature on the effects of probiotics supplementation on gastrointestinal (GI) and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) risk and prognosis in athletes. The search was conducted using the following electronic databases: MEDLINE (PubMed); Web of Science; Scopus; and SPORTDiscus (EBSCO). According to the PRISMA guidelines, randomized controlled studies performed on healthy athletes with a note dose of probiotics supplementation were considered.

Surveying Parents' Awareness and Adherence to Influenza Vaccination Recommendations in Children in Southern Italy.

Background: This study explored awareness and adhesion of parents to the recommendations for influenza vaccination for their children.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2022 among parents of 6 months-6 years-old children in Southern Italy.

Results: Only 22.

COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake and Related Determinants in Detained Subjects in Italy.

Background: This study explored the extent of COVID-19 vaccination coverage and investigated drivers and barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake among people in prison.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July to October 2021 among 517 detained people in the Campania region of South Italy.

Results: In total, 47.

Do Pediatricians and Nurses Recommend Vaccines for Preterm Infants? A Survey in Italy.

Objective: To assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding vaccination in preterm infants among primary care pediatricians (PCPs) and health care workers (HCWs) in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Study Design: Data were collected from PCPs through a confidential questionnaire distributed by email, whereas the research team distributed a self-administered anonymous questionnaire to all HCWs working in the selected NICUs.

Results: Overall, 64.