Cardiovascular risk and protective factors in adults with and without diabetes mellitus (Italy, 2016-19).

Background: Cardiovascular (CV) diseases are a major cause of the disease burden worldwide and contribute substantially to health care costs, in particular in people with diabetes. Their incidence can be reduced by multi-factorial interventions. This study intends to describe the occurrence of CV risk and protective/preventive factors in the adult population resident in Italy, to better target public health interventions.

Epidemiology of chronic respiratory diseases and associated factors in the adult Italian population.

Background: Detailed epidemiology of Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRDs) and of their risk and protective factors is needed to plan preventive interventions to reduce the burden of CRDs on population health. This study determines the prevalence of doctor-diagnosed CRDs and its associated factors in the adult Italian population.

Methods: Data was collected from adults participating in the ongoing cross-sectional Italian Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System (PASSI) between 2013 and 2015.

Quit attempts and smoking cessation in Italian adults (25-64 years): factors associated with attempts and successes.

Background: Over the past 50 years there was a substantial decrease in the prevalence of smoking in Italy. The objective of this work is to describe attempts to quit and cessation success in Italian smokers.

Methods: A surveillance on health-related behaviors (PASSI) was conducted in 2007-13 on a sample of 203 610 Italian adults 25-64 years of age.

Depressive Symptoms and Behavior-Related Risk Factors, Italian Population-Based Surveillance System, 2013.

Introduction: Depression may increase the likelihood of adopting behaviors risky to health. Population studies investigating the association between depressive symptoms and behavior-related risk factors are lacking in Italy. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of various self-reported behavior-related risk factors and to study their associations with current depressive symptoms in the Italian adult general population.

Cancer screening uptake: association with individual characteristics, geographic distribution, and time trends in Italy.

Background: In Italy, organized screening programmes invite the vast majority of the population for cervical and breast cancer, and about one half of the population for colorectal cancer. Programme activity and quality are closely monitored. Nevertheless, there is a vast spontaneous activity, both public and private, for which information on service and coverage is missing.

Field substitution of nonresponders can maintain sample size and structure without altering survey estimates-the experience of the Italian behavioral risk factors surveillance system (PASSI).

Purpose: Field substitution of nonrespondents can be used to maintain the planned sample size and structure in surveys but may introduce additional bias. Sample weighting is suggested as the preferable alternative; however, limited empirical evidence exists comparing the two methods. We wanted to assess the impact of substitution on surveillance results using data from Progressi delle Aziende Sanitarie per la Salute in Italia-Progress by Local Health Units towards a Healthier Italy (PASSI).

Surveillance of perceptions, knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of the Italian adult population (18-69 years) during the 2009-2010 A/H1N1 influenza pandemic.

Monitoring perceptions, knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of populations during pandemic flu outbreaks is important as it allows communication strategies to be adjusted to meet emerging needs and assessment to be made of the effects of recommendations for prevention. The ongoing Italian Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (PASSI) offered the setting for investigating people's opinions and behaviors regarding the A/H1N1 pandemic. PASSI surveillance is carried out in 126/148 Italian Local Health Units (LHU) through monthly telephone interviews administered by public health staff to a random sample of the resident population 18-69 years.

Features and initial assessment of the Italian Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (PASSI), 2007-2008.

Introduction: Surveillance systems for health status and behaviors of populations are fundamental for planning, implementing, and monitoring preventive interventions. In 2006, the Italian Ministry of Health provided funding to the National Institute of Public Health to develop an ongoing surveillance system for adult behavioral risk factors. We describe the main features of the system (known as PASSI) and provide a preliminary assessment of its activity.

Depressive symptoms among adults 18-69 years in Italy: results from the Italian behavioural risk factor surveillance system, 2007.

Background: Little is known about the prevalence of depressive symptoms in the Italian general population, nor about help-seeking behaviours among those with depressive symptoms.

Methods: We used 2007 data from PASSI, the Italian behavioural risk factor surveillance system, based on telephone interviews of residents aged 18- 69 years. A modified version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 was used to explore the presence of depressive symptoms.