Parent's perception of respiratory syncytial virus and subsequent wheezing burden: A multi-country cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the leading cause of hospitalization in infants. RSV bronchiolitis is associated with an increased risk of subsequent wheezing. We aimed to document the parents' perception of the link between RSV infection and subsequent wheezing, wheezing-related healthcare and family resources use, and its impact on family daily life. METHODS: This cross-sectional online survey enrolled 1200 parents with at least one child ≤6y living in the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy. Children diagnosed with RSV bronchiolitis before age of 2 years were included in the RSV group, and those never diagnosed with RSV bronchiolitis in the Reference group. RESULTS: The odds of wheezing were 4.5-fold (95%CI 3.5-5.9) higher in the RSV than in the Reference group. The odds increased to 7.7-fold (95%CI 5.4-11.1) among children who were hospitalized, and 9-fold (95%CI 5.1-16.6) among those admitted to pediatric intensive care with RSV bronchiolitis. Similar trends were observed across all countries. In total, 57% of parents reported their child's wheezing to have moderate to severe impact on their emotional well-being, and 53% on their daily life activities and/or social life. 64% of parents reported moderate-severe impact of wheezing on child's quality of sleep and 49% and 46% reported a moderate-severe impact on their children's emotional well-being and physical activities. CONCLUSIONS: This survey suggests an association between RSV infection and subsequent wheezing in children across different countries. Wheezing, especially in association with RSV infection, was associated with increased healthcare utilization and costs, and significantly impacted parents' and children daily life.

PERSIST: a pre-post study to assess an educational methodology to enhance youth climate literacy and systems thinking ability.

BACKGROUND: Education has a pivotal role in preparing society to address the forthcoming health impacts of the climate crisis. Education provides the tools necessary to instil both individual and collective attitudes for mitigating climate change, fosters the development of adaptive skills and mindsets, and promotes a critical understanding of climate change. The aim of the PERSIST project was to assess the effectiveness of a school educational intervention to strengthen literacy on the climate crisis, pro-environmental behaviours, and systems thinking in high school students (aged 14-18 years). METHODS: Three meetings were carried out in a scientific high school in the suburbs of Rome (Italy) between March 21, and April 12, 2023, using complex systems models, group activities, and collective discussions. Pre-intervention and post-intervention questionnaires were administered to students to record knowledge, climate-related emotions, and pro-environmental behaviours. Questionnaires that were complete were considered valid. The anonymously collected data were processed using descriptive statistics and t test. FINDINGS: A total of 273 students in ten different classes attending between grades 1 and 4 took part in the project. 78 (36%) participants were female, 133 (62%) were male, and four (2%) did not disclose their gender. The mean age was 15 years. We received 211 pairs of valid pre-intervention and post-intervention questionnaires. The preliminary analysis showed an average increase of 19% in correct responses to knowledge questions, a 21·2% increase in pro-environmental behaviours, and no discernible differences in climate-related emotions between pre-intervention and post-intervention questionnaires. INTERPRETATION: An interactive approach and the use of complex systems might improve students' literacy and attitudes towards the climate crisis, without increasing negative ecological emotions. This pilot project can guide similar, repeatable programmes in other schools and countries and it represents the first measure of climate-related emotions after school intervention. FUNDING: None.

Knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of a sample of Italian paediatricians towards RSV and its preventive strategies: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection mainly affects newborns, infants and young children aged < 2 years. Since an RSV vaccine is in the European Medicines Agency's waitlist validation, nowadays the prevention only includes passive immunization with monoclonal antibodies (mAb). In the present study we aimed at investigating Italian paediatricians' knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards RSV and its prevention. METHODS: From February to May 2023, an anonymous online questionnaire, with answers based on the Likert scale, was administered to a sample of Italian paediatricians' members of the Italian Society of Paediatrics. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed using STATA 17. RESULTS: The paediatricians who answered the questionnaire were 507, mostly women (70.6%), aged 30-45 (33.1%), employed in hospitals in 66.6% of cases. The 10.8% of respondents reported that RSV is transmitted only among children younger than 2 years of age and 80.33% of participants that school-age children are not at risk of developing severe forms of RSV disease. The 25% of participants thought that active immunization is currently available to prevent RSV infection and 35.7% that does not exist passive immunization to prevent RSV for infants and newborns aged < 2 years. The 97.5% of physicians managed bronchiolitis cases and 65.6% of participants did not prescribe the administration of mAb. Higher age, seniority and RSV knowledge score were found to be associated with having a higher mAb knowledge score (p < 0.001) and having a higher RSV knowledge was associated with a higher mAb knowledge score (p < 0.001). The logistic regression model found that the odds of a positive attitude towards mAB knowledge score increased by over 3 times (OR 3.23, 95% CI [1.41, 7.40], p = 0.006) for being female and the odds of a positive attitude towards mAB knowledge score increased by almost 10 times (OR 9.73, 95% CI [3.06, 30.89], p < 0.001) for a one-unit increase in RSV knowledge score. CONCLUSIONS: Paediatricians' limited knowledge or awareness could represent a barrier to the implementation of preventive strategies against RSV infection. Strategies to improve paediatricians' education on RSV prevention are, therefore, crucial.

Integrating China in the International Consortium for Personalised Medicine: a position paper on innovation and digitalization in Personalized Medicine.

BACKGROUND: The advent of Personalized Medicine (PM) holds significant promise in revolutionizing healthcare by tailoring treatments to individual patients based on their data. However, its successful implementation requires the seamless integration of innovative technologies and presents formidable challenges in terms of sustainability. To tackle these challenges head-on, the International Consortium for Personalized Medicine (ICPerMed) was established, and the IC2PerMed project, as part of this consortium, seeks to foster collaboration between the European Union (EU) and China in the field of Personalized Medicine. Based on the results collected by the project, the objective of this study is to discern the key priorities for the implementation of Personalised Medicine concerning Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Big Data and digital solutions, with a particular emphasis on data management and protection. METHODS: A Delphi survey was conducted to gather expert's consensus on the main priorities for actions on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Big Data and digital solutions in the field of Personalized Medicine. RESULTS: The survey identified seven priorities in the area of Big Data and digital solutions, including data interoperability, standards, security measures, and international partnerships. Additionally, twelve priorities were identified for the innovation-to-market process, emphasizing cost-effectiveness, need assessment, and value definition in resource allocation. CONCLUSIONS: The effective implementation of new technologies in Personalized Medicine research and practice is essential for the advancement of healthcare systems in both the European and Chinese contexts. The identified priorities play a pivotal role in promoting the sustainability of health systems and driving innovation in the implementation of Personalized Medicine. Addressing challenges related to data interoperability, standards, security, international collaboration, cost-effectiveness, and value assessment is of utmost importance in order to propel the progress of Personalized Medicine in healthcare systems.

Vaccine-preventable diseases: Immune response in a large population of healthcare students.

BACKGROUND: Students in medicine and other health professions are exposed to numerous occupational hazards, primarily biological hazards, during their academic careers at university. The aim of the present study was to investigate the seroprevalence characteristics of anti-HBsAg, anti-Measles, anti-Mumps, anti-Rubella and anti-Varicella IgG antibodies in healthcare students of a large teaching hospital in Rome. METHODS: To accomplish the study's aims, antibody serology data were gathered from students of Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry, and Health Professions at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Rome Campus) during their first Health Surveillance visit, that took place from 2013 to 2023. RESULTS: Our study sample included 2523 students, 44.4 % were protected against Hepatitis B, 87.3 % against measles, 85.5 % against mumps, 94.6 % rubella and 95.2 % against varicella. Differences in antibody coverage between age groups were statistically significant (p < 0.001), except for mumps. It found a lower probability of having seronegative anti-HBVs with an older date since the presumed primary vaccination. CONCLUSION: In our sample, seropositivity rate against vaccine-preventable diseases, especially for Hepatitis B, was often inadequate to prevent possible biological risks connected with the activities carried out on the ward.

Use of oxygen-ozone therapy to improve the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment on infected arthroplasty: protocol for a superiority, open-label, multicentre, randomised, parallel trial.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical site infections still remain a major public health challenge and have become an increasing universal risk, especially for the implantation of orthopaedic devices.Unfortunately, the discovery and increasingly widespread use (especially the misuse) of antibiotics have led to the rapid appearance of antibiotic-resistant strains today; more and more infections are caused by microorganisms that fail to respond to conventional treatments.Oxygen-ozone therapy has been extensively used and studied for decades across various potential medical applications and has provided consistent effects with minimal side effects.This study aims to determine the superiority of oxygen-ozone therapy in combination with oral antibiotic therapy in patients with wound infections after an orthopaedic device implantation when compared with antibiotic therapy alone. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is an open-label, multicentre, randomised, parallel-group study that aims to assess the efficacy and safety of oxygen-ozone therapy in combination with oral antibiotic therapy to treat infections in patients (male or female aged ≥18 years) having undergone surgery for the implant of an orthopaedic device. Patients must have at least one (but no more than three) postoperative wounds in the site of surgery (ulcers, eschars and sores) and at least one symptom (pain, burning, redness and malodour) and at least one sign (erythema, local warmth, swelling and purulent secretion) of infection of at least moderate intensity (score ≥2) in the target lesion at the screening visit (patients with wounds without signs of localised infection or with undermining wounds will be excluded).Patients (n=186) will be recruited from five Italian hospitals and studied for 7 weeks. All will be assigned to one of the two treatment groups according to a web-based, centralised randomisation procedure and placed into either the (1) intervention: oxygen-ozone therapy 2-3 times a week for 6 weeks (for a maximum of 15 sessions) simultaneously with an appropriate oral antibiotic therapy prescribed at baseline or (2) control: oral antibiotic therapy prescribed at baseline.The primary outcome is the efficacy and superiority of the treatment (ozone and oral antibiotic therapies); secondary outcomes include the resolution of signs and symptoms, modifications in lesion size and the treatment's safety and tolerability. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been reviewed and approved by the responsible Independent Ethics Committee (IEC) of COMITATO ETICO CAMPANIA NORD, located at 'Azienda Ospedaliera San Giuseppe Moscati di Avellino'.After completion of the study, the project coordinator will prepare a draft manuscript containing the final results of the study on the basis of the statistical analysis. The manuscript will be derived by the co-authors for comments, and after revision, it will be sent to a major scientific journal. Findings will be disseminated via online and print media, events and peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04787575.

Rethinking the Healthcare Facilities: The Role of the Buffer Space.

OBJECTIVES: A working group conducted a survey on the use of the principle of buffer space (BS), which in case of emergencies, could benefit healthcare settings. The aim of the preliminary investigation is to define new research lines in hospitals' functional design. BACKGROUND: The global experience of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted challenges faced by hospitals when responding promptly to emergencies, including spatial reorganization and suspension of ordinary medical activities for ensuring adequate management of the emergency surge of patients. METHODS: The group designed questionnaires to be administered to healthcare staff and healthcare designers aimed at understanding varied conceptions and features of BSs. Content across the two surveys overlapped significantly, allowing for direct comparisons of responses, while also including tailored questions in relation to the respective experience and skills of the two groups of respondents. RESULTS: 102 healthcare professionals and 56 designers took part to the survey. Analysis of the responses permitted for initial recommendations regarding BS typology including (a) proximity to the emergency department (ED), intensive care units (ICUs), and inpatient wards (IWs); (b) location within hospitals but separate from other medical areas; (c) need for independent access; (d) organizational and spatial features similar to ED, ICUs, and IWs; (e) existing as a fully flexible operational space; and (f) BS bed capacity to be approximately 12% of ED beds. CONCLUSIONS: Although the analysis is related to the Italian context, the expansion of this preliminary research to alternate healthcare facilities and geographic areas is necessary for reaching a wide consensus by different professionals on this field. It serves as a starting point for future investigations regarding the implementation of BS in hospital settings.

Integrating China in the International Consortium for Personalized Medicine: A Position Paper on Personalized Medicine in Sustainable Healthcare.

INTRODUCTION: Over the last decade, the emergence and spread of personalized medicine (PM) have defined a substantial revolution in healthcare. In principle, healthcare system sustainability is challenged by the investments required for research and development, as well as the adoption of PM techniques in routine clinical care. The "Integrating China in the International Consortium for Personalized Medicine" (IC2PerMed) EU-funded project aims to integrate China into the "International Consortium for Personalized Medicine" (ICPerMed). IC2PerMed aims to align the EU and China's research agendas in this field to enable a swift development of approaches in the EU and China with strong leverage upon EU-Chinese collaborations. METHODS: Within this project, we first mapped relevant policies on PM in both the EU and China, and then we involved European and Chinese experts in PM in workshops and Delphi surveys in order to identify relevant priorities for the implementation of PM in sustainable healthcare. RESULTS: As a result of this process, we identified nine overarching priorities, each addressing specific aspects of the sustainability of healthcare systems and PM implementation, with the main goal of supporting policymakers in integrating PM approaches in the EU and China. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: The implementation of PM in health systems is appealing in terms of improved accuracy in diagnostics, treatment, and prevention of disease, as well as reduction of the side effects resulting from inefficient use of drugs. Research, development, and implementation of needed techniques require time and resources that can slow the adoption of PM in healthcare systems. The nine priorities we identified address some of the most critical points, trying to lay the foundations for a comprehensive approach.

Co-administration of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza vaccines in healthcare workers: Results of two vaccination campaigns in a large teaching hospital in Rome.

The concurrent administration of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines has arisen as a promising approach to bolster protection against respiratory pathogens and improve vaccination rates. However, there remains a lack of data regarding the prevalence of co-administration across several vaccination campaigns, especially among healthcare workers (HCWs). Therefore, this study aims to shed light on the acceptance of co-administration strategies among HCWs during the two campaigns following the introduction of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among the HCWs of the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, a research hospital in Rome. Hospital administrative databases were accessed to gather information about vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza during the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 vaccination campaigns. The study included 7399 HCWs. The co-administration of anti-SARS-CoV-2 and influenza vaccines presented a significant rise in 2022/2023 compared to the previous vaccination campaign (+38%): this was confirmed for every professional category, with the largest increases among resident doctors (+47%) and physicians (+44%), and also for every age category, but it was particularly evident for the youngest health professionals. The probability of co-administration uptake during the 2022/2023 campaign was significantly higher for males, and for those that received co-administration during the 2021/2022 campaign, while the probability was lower for nurses and administrative staff. This study highlights the co-administration procedure as a valuable and effective tool in annual vaccination campaigns for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. The procedure's safety and streamlined logistics make it increasingly attractive for implementation, particularly among HCWs.

Structural accreditation of healthcare facilities: comparison of the requirements by Italian Presidential Decree 14/01/1997 and regional regulations. A proposal for updating the minimum environmental units at national level.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The Decree of the President of the Italian Republic 14/01/1997 is the reference norm related to the accreditation of public and private healthcare structures. This guideline establishes the minimum structural, technological and organizational requirements that each structure operating in the Italian territory must comply with. METHODS: In occasion of the project work for the postgraduate training course in healthcare management by ALTEMS School, a team of researchers conducted a survey on the state of updating of the minimum structural requirements indicated in the norm-in particular those relating to hospital facilities- with those adopted by the individual regions through the analysis of the most up-to-date regional regulations. RESULTS: Precisely starting from the comparison of regional references and from the regulations on the subject of structural accreditation which suggest strategic environmental units and which address some key-aspects relating to the contemporary design of healing environments (i.e. semi-intensive care units, hybrid operating theatres, etc.), the outcome of the project work is to define a proposal to update the national reference document, also in the light of the currently changing needs in terms of hospital design. CONCLUSIONS: The research aims to become a starting milestone for future investigations. The team investigated - in this first phase - the functional areas listed in the norm, and the next step aims to extend the analysis also to the innovative functions (i.e. buffer spaces, hybrid operating theatres, sub-intensive care units, etc.) and/or introduced only the last years which have only been regulated in some regions.

Editorial for the Special Issue "COVID-19 Vaccines: A Public Health Perspective".

Public health is aimed at protecting and promoting citizens' and communities' health through different interventions, including vaccinations [...].

Integrating China in the international consortium for personalised medicine. a position paper on healthcare professionals' education and citizens' empowerment in personalised medicine.

BACKGROUND: Personalised medicine (PM) has been fostered by technological and medical advances, but all stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, citizens and policy makers, should achieve adequate health literacy to promote PM implementation. The "Integrating China in the International Consortium for Personalised Medicine" (IC2PerMed) project, funded by the International Consortium for Personalised Medicine, focuses on this issue by highlighting the need to educate healthcare professionals and empower citizens. Within the aforementioned project, building on a mapping of European and Chinese policies in PM, experts in the field of PM participated in an online workshop and a following two-round Delphi survey, in order to identify the priority areas of intervention for healthcare professionals' education and curricula, engagement and empowerment of citizens and patients. RESULTS: Nine experts completed the survey and reached a consensus on seventeen priorities: seven were related to health professionals' education and curricula, whereas ten on citizen and patients' awareness and empowerment. CONCLUSION: These priorities emphasized the importance of education and health literacy, multidisciplinary and international collaboration, public trust, and consideration of ethical, legal, and social issues. The present experience highlights the relevance of the involvement of stakeholders in informing decision-makers, developing appropriate national plans, strategies, and policies, and ensuring the adequate implementation of PM in health systems.

Conspiracy beliefs, COVID-19 vaccine uptake and adherence to public health interventions during the pandemic in Europe.

BACKGROUND: Conspiracy beliefs can be a major hindrance causing a lack of compliance with public health measures, including vaccination. We examined the relationship between individual attitudes, socio-demographic factors, conspiracy beliefs, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and preferences about pandemic policies in Europe. METHODS: We used data from the 10th round of the European Social Survey, conducted in 2021-22 in 17 European countries. Both a conspiracy index and a personal attitude index for each participant were built by using a Latent Class Analysis model. Then, we used a multilevel regression model to investigate the relationship between a personal attitudes index, socio-demographic factors and country of residence, and a conspiracy index. We descriptively analyse the relationship between the conspiracy index and four main items related to COVID-19. RESULTS: We found that a higher probability of believing in conspiracy theories was associated with male gender, middle age, lower levels of education, unemployment, lower levels of trust and satisfaction and right-wing political orientation. The country of residence was a contextual factor, with eastern European countries having higher levels of conspiracy beliefs. Individuals who expressed conspiracy beliefs had lower COVID-19 vaccine uptake, were less satisfied with the way health services coped with the pandemic and less supportive of governmental restrictions. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides valuable insights into the factors associated with conspiracy beliefs and their potential impact on public health. The findings highlight the need for effective strategies to address the underlying factors driving conspiracy beliefs, reduce vaccine hesitancy and promote acceptance of public health interventions.

Training needs assessment of European frontline health care workers on vaccinology and vaccine acceptance: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The issue of reluctance towards vaccination is becoming more worrisome. Health care workers (HCWs) are the primary point of contact with individuals who make decisions about vaccination. Therefore, it is crucial that HCWs receive sufficient training and periodic updates. The main objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the HCWs' training needs in vaccination and vaccine uptake. METHODS: In February 2022, a search was conducted on MEDLINE, Scopus and Google Scholar databases. The search included papers written in English, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, French and Romanian, with a publication date ranging from 1 January 2011 to 24 February 2022 and conducted in Europe. To assess the methodological quality of the papers, the Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies was utilized. RESULTS: The search of scientific literature yielded 640 outcomes on PubMed, 556 on Scopus and 15 on Google Scholar, for a total of 1211 records. After eliminating duplicates, screening titles and abstracts and evaluating the full text of the articles, only 25 of them were found suitable for inclusion. The studies' overall quality ranged from moderate to good. The majority of the research emphasized the need for improved knowledge of vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine efficacy, immunization schedules and vaccine adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: It is vital to prioritize educational programmes on vaccinology and vaccine hesitancy for HCWs, with the objective of improving their knowledge, awareness and attitudes. Addressing the diversity of educational backgrounds, roles and training requirements of HCWs involved in vaccination across Europe is a critical issue that must be tackled for future initiatives.

Research and innovation in personalized medicine: a descriptive synthesis of actors in the EU and China.

Aim: Research and innovation (R&I) actors are fundamental in shortening the translational gap of personalized medicine in health systems. In the context of the 'Integrating China in the International Consortium for Personalized Medicine' project, we aimed to map the current landscape of R&I actors in the field of personalized medicine in the EU and China. Methods: A two-phase desk research study was conducted. Results: We identified 78 R&I actors. Research and technology organizations were the most frequent in both the EU and China. The identified R&I actors were active in a wide range of fields. The EU and China have many different R&I actors addressing personalized medicine-related issues, with few characteristics in common. Conclusion: More efforts are needed to ensure these R&I actors are encouraged to work together to bridge each other's gaps.

A survey of experts on personalized medicine landscape in European Union and China.

INTRODUCTION: Personalized Medicine (PM) is one of the main priorities of the research agenda of the European Commission and the focus of the European Coordination and Support Action titled "Integrating China into the International Consortium for Personalized Medicine" (IC2PerMed). Similar to the European focus, PM is a current priority of the Chinese Government, through dedicated policies and its five-year investment plans. In the context of IC2PerMed, we implemented a survey to understand the state of the art of the implementation of PM related policies in EU and China, and to identify opportunities for future Sino-European collaborations. METHODS: The survey was elaborated by the IC2PerMed consortium and validated by a focus group of experts. The final version, in English and Chinese, was administered online to a pool of accurately selected experts. Participation was anonymous and voluntary. The survey consists of 19 questions in 3 sections: (1) personal information; (2) policy in PM; (3) facilitating and hindering factors for Sino-European collaboration in PM. RESULTS: Forty-seven experts completed the survey, 27 from Europe and 20 from China. Only four participants were aware of the implementation of PM-related policies in their working country. Expert reported that PM areas with greatest policy impact so far were: Big Data and digital solutions; citizen and patient literacy; and translational research. The main obstacles found were the lack of shared investment strategies and the limited application of scientific developments in clinical practice. Aligning European and Chinese efforts, finding common ground across cultural, social, and language barriers, were considered as actions needed to enhance efforts in applying PM strategies internationally. CONCLUSION: To achieve efficiency and sustainability of health systems, it remains crucial to transform PM into an opportunity for all citizens and patients with the commitment of all the stakeholders involved. The results obtained aim to help define common research and development approaches, standards and priorities and increase collaboration at international level, as well as provide key solutions to enable convergence towards a common PM research, innovation, development and implementation approach between Europe and China.

Increasing urban health awareness in adolescents using an interactive approach: evidence from a school-based pre-post pilot study in Rome, Italy.

BACKGROUND: Cities contribute to and are affected by the climate crisis, determining significant health issues in urban settings. Educational institutions have a privileged position to contribute to achieving the transformations needed for a healthier future, so Urban Health education is fundamental to empowering the health of the youth living in cities. This study aims to measure and raise the awareness of Urban Health among students attending a high school in Rome (Italy). METHODS: An interactive educational intervention, consisting of four sessions, was conducted in a Roman high school during spring 2022. Overall, 319 students aged between 13 and 18 attended the sessions and were asked to complete a 11-items questionnaire before and another after the interventions. Data was gathered anonymously and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Fifty-eight percent of respondents improved their post-intervention questionnaire score, while 15% did not improve and 27% got worse. The mean score significantly improved after the intervention (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.39). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that school-based interventions using interactive approaches on Urban Health could be effective in increasing students' awareness and promoting health especially in urban settings.

Assessing Doubts, Knowledge, and Service Appreciation among Pregnant Women Who Received the COVID-19 Vaccination in an Italian Research Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic is considered one of the deadliest pandemics in history. Pregnant women are more susceptible to developing serious diseases during COVID-19 than their non-pregnant peers. Pregnant women often express doubt about accepting the vaccination, especially in regard to their security and safety. This study aims to investigate the appreciation of the vaccination offer, and if there are any determinants impacting vaccine hesitancy. A questionnaire was administered to a sample of pregnant women who had just received their immunization against COVID-19 at the vaccination service of a teaching hospital in Rome, from October 2021 to March 2022. A high appreciation of the vaccination services was found, both for the logistic organization and the healthcare personnel, with mean scores above 4 out of 5. The degree of pre-vaccinal doubt was low (41%) or medium (48%) for the largest part of the sample, while the degree of COVID-19 vaccine knowledge was high for 91% of the participants. Physicians were the most decisive information source for the vaccination choice. Our results highlighted that a supportive approach could increase appreciation and improve the setting of vaccinations. Healthcare professionals should aim for a more comprehensive and integrated role of all figures.

The added value of applying a disinvestment approach to the process of health technology assessment in Italy.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present policy analysis was to understand how a disinvestment approach to the process of health technology assessment (HTA), applied to the field of medical devices, might help Italian policymakers to properly spend the resources in healthcare. METHODS: Previous international and national experiences in disinvestment for medical devices were reviewed. Precious insights for the rational expenditure of the resources were derived by assessing the evidence available. RESULTS: The disinvestment of ineffective or inappropriate technologies or interventions with an inadequate value-for-money ratio has become a growing priority for National Health Systems. Different international disinvestment experiences of medical devices were identified and described through a rapid review. Although most of them have a strong theoretical framework, their practical application remains difficult. In Italy, there are no examples of large and complex HTA-based disinvestment practices, but their importance is becoming increasingly acknowledged, especially given the need to prioritize the funds provided by Recovery and Resilience Plan. CONCLUSIONS: Anchoring decisions on health technologies without reassessing the current technological landscape through a robust HTA model might expose to the risk of not ensuring the best employment of the resources available. Thus, it is necessary to develop a strong HTA ecosystem in Italy through adequate consultation with stakeholders to enable a data-driven and evidence-based prioritization of resources toward choices characterized by high value for both patients and society as a whole.