Risk of labour market marginalisation among young refugees and non-refugee migrants with common mental disorders.

Purpose: Labour market marginalisation (LMM), i.e. long-term unemployment (LTU), long-term sickness absence (LTSA) and disability pension (DP), among young individuals with common mental disorders (CMDs) are a challenge for the welfare system, and refugees and non-refugee migrants seem particularly vulnerable.

Trajectories of sickness absence, disability pension and unemployment in young immigrants with common mental disorders.

Background: The aims were to elucidate if trajectories of labour market marginalization (LMM), measured as sickness absence (SA)/disability pension (DP) or unemployment, differed between young immigrants and natives before and after an incident diagnosis of a common mental disorder (CMD), and to investigate if educational level, psychiatric comorbidity and duration of residence in Sweden (in immigrants) had different associations with subsequent LMM in natives compared with immigrants.

Methods: A total of 28 971 young adults (19-30 years), with an incident CMD (inpatient or specialized outpatient healthcare due to CMDs or dispensed prescribed antidepressants during 2007) were included. Group-based trajectory models were utilized to identify trajectories of annual months of LMM 3 years before and 6 years after the diagnosis.

Healthcare use among immigrants and natives in Sweden on disability pension, before and after changes of regulations.

Background: There is limited knowledge regarding psychiatric healthcare utilization around the time of granting disability pension (DP) due to common mental disorders (CMD) among immigrants and if this is related to social insurance regulations. The aim was to evaluate patterns of psychiatric healthcare utilization before and after DP due to CMD among immigrants and natives. A second aim was to evaluate if such patterns differed before and after changes in social insurance regulations in Sweden in 2008.

Risk of disability pension in first and second generation immigrants: the role of age and region of birth in a prospective population-based study from Sweden.

Background: In several countries, immigrants have higher disability pension (DP) rates than natives. Reasons for this are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate if the risk of diagnosis-specific DP differed in first, second, and second/intermediate generation immigrants compared to natives, in general and across regions of birth, and stratified by age.

Oral Health Status and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Italian Deinstitutionalized Psychiatric Patients.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to investigate the oral health status and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL, measured with OHIP- 14) in psychiatric patients assisted by the unique Italian mental health care system, in accordance to regulatory Law 180/78.

Materials And Methods: Demographic and medical variables were retrieved from institutional medical records. General health and oral health variables, oral health-related behavior and last dental contact were recorded.

The relationship between physical activity and quality of life in prisoners: a pilot study.

Introduction: Imprisoned people have usually a poor health status in comparison with the general population. The aim is to investigate a possible association between the quality of life and physical activity level in male inmates.

Methods: A cross-sectional pilot study was carried out between 2010 and 2011.

Low level of attention to health inequalities in prevention planning activities of the Italian Regions.

Background: Health promotion and prevention activities should tackle health inequalities to reduce disparities in health among disadvantaged populations. This study aimed to assess the extent to which the Italian Regions considered health inequalities during the planning of prevention activities, to detect geographical differences and to identify the possible determinants of differences in attention to health inequalities.

Methods: The 19 Regional Prevention Plans (RPPs) developed by Italian Regions within the National Prevention Plan (NPP) 2010-2013 were assessed using a specific tool to address the level of attention to health inequalities.

A cross-sectional study on dermatological diseases among male prisoners in southern Lazio, Italy.

Background: Prisoners have heightened health needs, and only recently has the importance of skin diseases in this group been recognized. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalences of dermatological diseases among prisoners in the jails of southern Lazio and to investigate the determinants of these.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in three jails in southern Lazio.

H1N1 pandemic influenza: habits and behaviour of the nurses. A public health issue.

Background: One of the main concerns related to pandemic H1N1 influenza 2009 is the overwhelming burden on medical structures. The aim of this work is to study the behaviour and attitudes of Nurses in relation to the spreading pandemic in order to develop public health strategies.

Methods: During the spread of Pandemic, in winter 2009, an anonymous questionnaire online of thirty-four questions was available for participants.

[Randomized controlled trial on the promotion of healthy lifestyles among adolescents in the orthodontic setting: study protocol].

Many studies have shown that the bad lifestyles are the major factors thought to influence susceptibility to many diseases in our society and often these habits during the adolescence begin. The aim of the study was to evaluate the health promotion intervention effect in an orthodontic adolescent sample, in particular: deterring adolescents from smoking; discourage the use and abuse of alcoholic beverages; encourage the adherence to the Mediterranean style diet. A blinded randomized controlled trial will be performed.

Do the quality of the trials and the year of publication affect the efficacy of intervention to improve seasonal influenza vaccination among healthcare workers?: Results of a systematic review.

Introduction: Despite longstanding recommendations by public-health authorities vaccination coverage in health care workers worldwide are poor. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review of the trials conducted to increase seasonal influenza vaccination rates among health care workers.

Results: Ten articles met the pre-determined criteria.

[Implementation of the stewardship model in public health: proposal of an assessment tool for the Italian national prevention plan].

The stewardship model has been adopted as a system of governance in several countries. In Italy, the Ministry of Health has proposed the use of the stewardship model for implementing the activities of the National Prevention Plan 2010-2012. The authors present the conceptual foundations and methodology used in the development of an assessment tool (audit tool) for evaluating the level of implementation of the stewardship model with regards to the activities of the national prevention plan in all Italian regions.

A survey of visually induced symptoms and associated factors in spectators of three dimensional stereoscopic movies.

Background: The increasing popularity of commercial movies showing three dimensional (3D) computer generated images has raised concern about image safety and possible side effects on population health.This study aims to (1) quantify the occurrence of visually induced symptoms suffered by the spectators during and after viewing a commercial 3D movie and (2) to assess individual and environmental factors associated to those symptoms.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out using a paper based, self administered questionnaire.

[Workplace safety in private companies of freights and on the road workers: comparison between small and medium enterprises].

Background: The road freight and passenger transport sector exposes the workers of this sector to a considerable health risk. Application of the relative legislation to safeguard worker's safety is an obligation for the employer.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the application of current legislation in the trucking sector and ascertain whether there are differences between large and small enterprises.

[Risk communication during health crises: results of a cross-sectional study to evaluate the effectiveness of adopted corporate communication strategies during the H1N1 influenza pandemic in Italy and on the training needs of health professionals].

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of corporate communication activities carried out during the A(H1N1) pandemic influenza in Italy and to identify educational needs of health professionals with regards to crisis communication. The study compared two samples representing respectively the general population and health professionals, living in different regions of northern, central and southern Italy. A self-administered questionnaire was used, with questions on knowledge about preventive measures during a pandemic and on satisfaction with the adopted communication campaigns.

Data display format and hospital ward reports: effects of different presentations on data interpretation.

Background: Graphs are often used in medical communication, both in clinical practice and health management. They can help the processing of quantitative information but may also contribute to drawing wrong conclusions. The aim of the survey is to study the graphical perception of the data at the management level and its possible effects, showing how some criteria of appraisal of a phenomenon are influenced by the graphical format.

Knowledge about pandemic flu among Italian health care workers (HCWs): an Italian survey.

Introduction: In case of pandemics, healthcare workers (HCWs) are the main actors and, at the same time, one of the main targets of preventive measures. This is what occurred in 2009 during the A/HINI pandemic flu. The aim of our survey was to get information about HCWs' knowledge of the A/HINI pandemic flu prevention.

Seasonal and pandemic influenza: the role of communication and preventive strategies.

Appropriate, timely, and data-driven health information is a very important issue in preventive strategies against influenza. Intuitively, a link between willingness to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza and against pandemic influenza exists, given the similarities in decision-making for this vaccine. International and national literature reviews suggest that progress has been made in order to incorporate and disseminate crisis risk communication principles into public health practice, as such investments in public health could be important for building capacity and practice which aid in the realization of countermeasures in response to a future pandemic and epidemic situation.

Behaviours regarding preventive measures against pandemic H1N1 influenza among Italian healthcare workers, October 2009.

A survey on attitudes and behaviours towards preventive measures against pandemic H1N1 influenza 2009 was carried out during the month of October 2009 in Italy through an online questionnaire adapted to the Italian situation from a similar survey of the Harvard School of Public Health in the United States (US). Results show that the intention to get vaccinated against pandemic H1N1 influenza 2009 is generally low and that there are differences in attitudes and behaviours towards preventive measures against pandemic H1N1 influenza 2009 between physicians and nurses, especially concerning vaccination. Differences relate also to sex, region of residence and marital status.

[What do we talk about when we talk about immigrant's health in Europe? Considerations from the 2nd Conference of Migrant Health in Europe].

The present contribution aims to highlight the trends in current research at a European level with regard to immigrant's health. With this aim we analyzed the Abstract Book contributions of the "2nd Conference of Migrant Health in Europe" organized in Malmö, Sweden (May 2008), by the 'Migrant Health' section of the European Public Health Association (EUPHA). The analysis of these abstracts permitted to identify the major tipping points and challenges connected with immigration phenomenon in health care systems in hosts countries.

[Closing the gap in a generation: health equity through action on the social determinants of health. A challenge for the international community].

The aim of this contribution is to present the Report of 'Commission on Social Determinants of Health' (Who) published in August 2008, 30th Alma Ata Conference anniversary. The Report highlights major inequalities in life expectancy and rates of disease between rich and poor within countries as well as among different parts of the world. The report makes wide ranging recommendations in order to 'close the gap in a generation', emphasizing action on living conditions, access to services, social support, information and research.