The Communicative-Relational Operating Model of the Italian National Institute of Health for an Effective Telephone Intervention in Public Health, Structured on Basic Counselling Skills.

Introduction: Communication has a crucial role in public health, because it becomes an essential component of prevention; it is also a proactive tool in health promotion. From a planning perspective, it is appropriate to use communication means that can help the bidirectional communication process, such as face-to-face communication and telephone communication. Materials and methods: In relation to this, the Italian National Institute of Health has developed the "Modello Operativo Comunicativo-Relazionale" (the "Communicative-Relational Operating Model"). It is based on the fundamental skills of the counselling, this gives a protocol to the health professionals that is replicable and organized and it allows health professionals to carry out a telephone communication that is efficient with the user through technical-scientific and communication-relational skills. The goal is to answer in a customized way to the various users' health needs. The Operating Model was created by experts of the National AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections Helpline of the Operational Unit of Psycho-Socio-Behavioural Research, Communication, Training, of the Infectious Diseases Department. Later, the Operating Model was proposed to the experts of the Helplines in the National Centre on Addictions and Doping and the National Helpline of the National Centre for Rare Diseases in the National Institute of Health that integrated this method into their telephone approach. Results: The Operating Model illustrated above was applied to several helplines of the National Institute of Health as an example of correct scientific information, updated and customized on sexual transmitted infections, addictions and rare diseases. Conclusions: This article aims to illustrate the Operating Model, the theoretical prerequisites that subtend it and its possible application in the different public health structures that use the telephone for a profes-sional relationship with their users.

Knowledge and attitudes regarding preventative HIV vaccine clinical trials in Italy: results of a national survey.

We carried out a telephone survey to assess willingness to participate in HIV vaccine trials. The survey was conducted by interviewing randomly selected callers to the Italian National AIDS Help line. The questionnaire consisted of four sections: demographic information, knowledge about HIV vaccines and vaccines in general, factors related to participation in HIV vaccine trials, and acceptability of a future HIV vaccine. Over 50% of the sample had adequate knowledge about HIV and vaccines. Among the individuals interviewed, 37% would volunteer for a vaccine trial; those reporting high-risk behaviours were more likely to volunteer. Of the participants, 83% would agree to be vaccinated with a highly effective vaccine, and 92% would pay for the vaccine. Although the limits of telephone surveys should not be neglected, the results of this survey are encouraging.

Immigration and health: the Italian National Focal Point experience.

This report is a description of the situation of migrant populations in Italy. It was written by a committed team of experts from public institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGO) and volunteer associations that for three years have been part of the Italian National Focal Point (NFP) within the European Project "AIDS & Mobility", which is being co-ordinated by the Netherlands Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (the Netherlands) and financed by the European Commission DG/V. This year the Italian National Focal Point, co-ordinated by the Telefono Verde AIDS of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, has produced a second report (the first one was published in 1998) on health issues related to migrant populations. Besides providing an updated picture on the presence of foreigners in Italy, such report illustrates the present legislative situation within the sanitary area and some interventions regarding prevention, treatment and rehabilitation provided by each structure in the Italian NFP to foreign citizens. The initiatives carried out during the year 1999 by public institutions, NGO and volunteer associations are also reported in order to detect the psycho-social-sanitary needs of immigrants and target prevention programmes to their particular and specific needs.

Immigration and health: the Italian situation. Italian National Focal Point (NFP) of the AIDS & Mobility Project.

This report is a description of the situation of migrant populations in Italy. It was written as part of the European project "AIDS & Mobility", which is being co-ordinated by the Netherlands Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and financed by the European Union (EU). The report was written by the Italian National Focal Point (NFP) of the AIDS & Mobility Project, which consists of a committed team of experts from public institutions, non-governmental organizations, volunteer associations, and researchers from the Telefono Verde AIDS (National AIDS Help-line of Italy) of the Centro Operativo AIDS (COA, National AIDS Unit of Italy) of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità. The report illustrates the phenomenon of immigration in Italy, with demographic data (updated at 31 December 1997) on the presence of non-Italians and a review of the current laws pertinent to this phenomenon, with particular reference to health care laws. Moreover, epidemiological data on HIV/AIDS and on sexually transmitted diseases are provided, particularly as they relate to drug addiction and prostitution. Finally, following an accurate analysis of the situation and in light of the experience gained, the report includes proposals for identifying needs, objectives to pursue, and strategies to adopt, with respect to confronting the issue of immigration.

[A proposal for training in integrated counseling]. / Proposta di un percorso formativo sul counselling integrato.

The relationship between socio-health care workers and individuals seeking help has traditionally considered the individual seeking help as a "case" rather than an "individual". To change this attitude, counselling professionals must focus their attention on the individual's personality, through individualised interventions focussing on the "here and now", with the goal of overcoming any feelings of unease that the individual may have and of ultimately resolving the problem at hand. For this change to occur, knowledge and practical experience ("to know" and "to know how") are fundamental, but they do not suffice: reception, listening, empathy and relational skills ("to know how to be") must be given equal importance in the culture and training of the socio-health care worker. At present, to ensure that existing services and the interventions conducted are efficient and effective, it is fundamental to integrate the normal training and updating activities of socio-health care workers with training in integrated counselling and for improving the specific communication skills and strategies necessary in creating a "help relationship". The present document describes a proposal for organising courses on integrated counselling for socio-health workers.