Increased adherence to influenza vaccination among Palermo family pediatricians: a study on safety and compliance of qLAIV vaccination.

Background: Influenza represents a serious public health threat, especially for the management of severe cases and complications of the disease, requiring the implementation of control measures. We aimed to assess the acceptance and impact of qLAIV vaccination among a representative sample of family paediatricians (FPs) operating in Palermo Local Health Authority (LHA). To this end we evaluated vaccination coverage rates, comparing it with that observed in Sicilian context, while actively monitoring possible adverse reactions and their severity.

The 2008 Financial Crisis and Changes in Lifestyle-Related Behaviors in Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal: A Systematic Review.

Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal have all been strongly affected by the 2008 financial crisis, which has had a negative impact on health. We systematically evaluated the effects of the crisis on lifestyle and socioeconomic inequalities. We conducted a literature search using MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and health economics databases for studies reporting quantitative comparisons before and after (or during) the crisis on the following risk behaviors: alcohol consumption, smoking habit, healthy diet, physical activity, and psychotropic drugs and substance abuse, without setting any age restrictions.

A systematic review of economic evaluations of neonatal and maternal healthcare in immigrant and ethnic minority women.

Background: less access to appropriate care during pregnancy for immigrant/ethnic minority women can lead to worse health outcomes and higher costs for health services.

Objectives: to conduct a systematic review of studies on the economic evaluation of maternal and child healthcare among immigrants and racial/ethnic minority groups in advanced economy countries.

Methods: the main biomedical/economic bibliographic databases and institutional sources were searched.

Metformin, other antidiabetic drugs, and endometrial cancer risk: a nested case-control study within Italian healthcare utilization databases.

Metformin may reduce the risk of endometrial cancer whereas other drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus appear to increase it, although the evidence is still limited. We investigated this issue using data from a nested case-control study within the healthcare utilization databases of the Lombardy Region, Italy. This study included 376 diabetic women with endometrial cancer and 7485 diabetic controls matched for cases on age, date at cohort entry, and duration of follow-up.

The Particular Story of Italians' Relation with Alcohol: Trends in Individuals' Consumption by Age and Beverage Type.

Aims: In Italy, sales data show a dramatic fall in alcohol consumption between 1970 and 2010. The aim of our study is to provide updated information on trends, prevalence and determinants of alcohol drinking in Italy, using individual-level data.

Methods: Seven nationally representative cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Italy between 2006 and 2014, on a total sample of 21,416 participants aged ≥15 years, with available information on weekly consumption of wine, beer and spirits.

Insulin and other antidiabetic drugs and hepatocellular carcinoma risk: a nested case-control study based on Italian healthcare utilization databases.

Purpose: Insulin and other antidiabetic drugs may modulate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk in diabetics.

Methods: We have analyzed the role of various antidiabetic drugs on HCC in a nested case-control study using the healthcare utilization databases of the Lombardy Region in Italy. This included 190 diabetic subjects with a hospital discharge reporting a diagnosis of malignant HCC and 3772 diabetic control subjects matched to each case on sex, age, date at cohort entry, and duration of follow-up.

Smoking in Italy 2013-2014, with a focus on the young.

Aims: To update smoking prevalence trends in Italy among adult and young populations; to determine the recent spread, particularly among young smokers, of roll-your-own (RYO) cigarettes (which cost approximately half the price of manufactured cigarettes); and to evaluate the effects of 2013 legislation increasing the minimum tobacco purchasing age from 16 to 18 years in Italy.

Methods: Two surveys on smoking were conducted in 2013 and 2014 in Italy, on a total sample of 6052 individuals, representative each year of the national population aged ≥15 years, where we collected data on type of tobacco most frequently smoked and on the perception of the enforcement of the tobacco sales-to-minors legislation.

Results: A total of 21.

Regular use of aspirin for cardiovascular disease prevention in Italy.

Objective: Only a few European studies focused on aspirin use in the general population. We provide updated information on the prevalence and determinants of regular aspirin use for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the Italian adult population.

Method: We used data from a survey conducted in Italy in 2013, on a sample of 3000 individuals, representative of the general Italian population aged ≥15years.

Knowledge, risk perception and behaviours in swimming pool users of Palermo city, Sicily.

To assess knowledge, risk perception and behaviours of a sample of swimming pool users in Palermo. A total of 498 subjects were interviewed by self-administered anonymous questionnaire including socio-demographic questions, knowledge/risk perception and behaviours. Overall, 289 subjects (58%) had a mean of 1.

Are medical residents a "core group" for future improvement of influenza vaccination coverage in health-care workers? A study among medical residents at the University Hospital of Palermo (Sicily).

Despite international recommendations, vaccination coverage among European healthcare workers, including physicians, is widely recognized as unsatisfactory. In order to plan tailored vaccination campaigns and increase future coverage, we investigated reasons for refusing vaccination and determinants associated with influenza vaccine uptake among young health care workers. A survey was carried out during September and October 2010 on medical residents attending post-graduate Schools of the Medical Faculty at the University of Palermo (Italy).