The Erice 58 Charter on 'The health of migrants. An equity challenge for the public health system'.

Abstract: The Erice 58 Charter titled "The Health of Migrants: a Challenge of Equity for the Public Health System", was unanimously approved at the conclusion of the 58th Residential Course of the School of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine 'Giuseppe D'Alessandro' entitled "The Health of Migrants: a Challenge of Equity for the Public Health System. Epidemiological, clinical-relational, regulatory, organisational, training and public communication aspects at international, national and local level', which took place from 28 March to 2 April 2022 in Erice (Sicily, Italy), at the 'Ettore Majorana' Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture. The Course was promoted by the Italian Society of Migration Medicine (S.I.M.M.) and the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health (SItI), with the collaboration and patronage of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS). 72 learners participated (mainly resident doctors in 'Hygiene and Preventive Medicine' but also other health service professionals), whose average age was 37 years; on the basis of territorial origin, 13 of the 20 Italian regions were represented. During the intense learning experience, which consisted of 18 frontal lessons (with 20 lecturers from the bio-medical, socio-anthropological and journalistic fields) and 7 working group sessions (supported by 4 classroom tutors in addition to the lecturers) in 'blended learning' mode, the various dimensions and critical issues related to the possibility of guaranteeing truly inclusive health policies for foreigners/migrants, throughout the country, were identified and discussed from an 'Health Equity' perspective. This enabled a small editorial group to draw up the basic document that, in the last session of the Course, was discussed and modified by all participants into the version of the 'Erice 58 Charter' presented here.

Trends in thyroid function testing, neck ultrasound, thyroid fine needle aspiration, and thyroidectomies in North-eastern Italy.

PURPOSE: Evidence of an increased diagnostic pressure on thyroid has emerged over the past decades. This study aimed to provide estimates of a wide spectrum of surveillance indicators for thyroid dysfunctions and diseases in Italy. METHODS: A population-based study was conducted in North-eastern Italy, including 11.7 million residents (20% of the total Italian population). Prescriptions for TSH testing, neck ultrasound or thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA), surgical procedures, and drugs for hypo- or hyperthyroidism were extracted from regional health databases. Proportions and rates of selected examinations were calculated from 2010 to 2017, overall and by sex, calendar years, age, and region. RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2017 in North-eastern Italy, 24.5% of women and 9.8% of men received at least one TSH test yearly. In 2017, 7.1% of women and 1.5% of men were prescribed drugs for thyroid dysfunction, 94.6% of whom for hypothyroidism. Neck ultrasound examinations were performed yearly in 6.9% of women and 4.6% of men, with a nearly two-fold variation between areas. Thyroid FNA and thyroidectomies were three-fold more frequent in women (394 and 85 per 100,000) than in men (128 and 29 per 100,000) with a marked variation between areas. Both procedures decreased consistently after 2013. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this population-based study describe recent variations over time and between surrounding areas of indicators of 'diagnostic pressure' on thyroid in North-eastern Italy. These results emphasize the need to harmonize practices and to reduce some procedures (e.g., neck ultrasound and total thyroidectomies) in certain areas.

Human papillomavirus vaccine effectiveness within a cervical cancer screening programme: cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of an HPV vaccination programme in reducing the risk of cervical abnormalities identified at subsequent screening. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study using administrative health data. SETTING: General population of Ferrara Province, Italy. POPULATION: Female residents born in 1986-1993 and participating in the organized cervical screening programme in 2011-2018, who were eligible for HPV vaccination in catch-up cohorts. METHODS: Logistic regression to evaluate the potential association between abnormal cervical cytology and one, two, three or at least one dose of HPV vaccine. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cervical abnormalities, as predicted by low-grade or high-grade cytology, by number of vaccine doses, stratified by age. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 7785 women (mean age 27.5 years, SD 2.3). Overall, 391 (5.0%) were vaccinated with ≥1 dose and 893 (11.5%) had abnormal cytology. Women receiving at least one vaccine dose were significantly less likely to have an abnormal cytology (adjusted odds ratio 0.52; 95% confidence interval 0.34-0.79). Similar results were observed for women receiving a single dose, for both bivalent and quadrivalent vaccines, and applying buffer periods (excluding cytological outcomes within 1 month, 6 months and 1 year of the first dose). CONCLUSIONS: In the context of an organised cervical screening programme in Italy, catch-up HPV vaccination almost halved the risk of cytological abnormalities. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Among Ferrara women, vaccination against human papillomavirus halved the risk of screening cervical abnormalities.

Five-year risk of CIN3 after short-term HPV-DNA negativity in cytology-negative women: a population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the 5-year risk of high-grade lesions in women with a transient high-risk HPV infection. DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. SETTING: HPV primary testing within population-based organised cervical cancer screening programmes. POPULATION: Italian women enrolled in seven pilot projects and attending the second round. METHODS: On the basis of the cytology triage performed on HPV-positive women, immediate colposcopy or HPV repeat at 12 months was recommended. Data were collected at the subsequent round 3-4 years after HPV infection clearance. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of HPV infection, CIN2+ and CIN3+ detection at subsequent round after HPV clearance, and relative risks (RR) in comparison with HPV-negative women (with 95% confidence interval). RESULTS: Data on 1230 women (1027 aged 25-64 years and 203 aged 35-64 years) have been analysed. Overall compliance with repeat HPV testing was 84%. In comparison with HPV-negative women, those with a transient HPV infection had higher proportions of HPV positivity (15% versus 3.7%) and of CIN2+ lesions (0.87% versus 0.23%) in round two; most of these (7/10) were CIN2; no cancers were detected, and CIN3 occurred in 3/1230 (0.24%). CONCLUSIONS: HPV-based protocols for cervical cancer screening allow long intervals for HPV-negative women; it is important to monitor the clinical outcome in the women with transient high-risk HPV infection. CIN3 detection is similar to that observed in routine European cytology-based screening programmes (CIN3+: 2.7‰); 5-year intervals may provide reasonable protection but longer intervals are not recommended. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: A screening interval of 5 years (but no longer) appears safe in women with transient HPV detection.

Exposure to emissions from municipal solid waste incinerators and miscarriages: a multisite study of the MONITER Project.

BACKGROUND: Miscarriages are an important indicator of reproductive health but only few studies have analyzed their association with exposure to emissions from municipal solid waste incinerators. This study analyzed the occurrence of miscarriages in women aged 15-49years residing near seven incinerators of the Emilia-Romagna Region (Northern Italy) in the period 2002-2006. METHODS: We considered all pregnancies occurring in women residing during the first trimester of pregnancy within a 4km radius of each incinerator. Addresses were geocoded and exposures were characterized by a dispersion model (ADMS Urban model) producing pollution maps for incinerators based on PM10 stack measurements and for other pollution sources based on NOx ground measurements. Information on pregnancies and their outcomes was obtained from the Hospital Discharge Database. Simplified True Abortion Risks (STAR)×100 estimated pregnancies were calculated. We ran logistic regressions adjusting for maternal characteristics, exposure to other sources of pollution, and sites, considering the whole population and stratifying by miscarriage history. RESULTS: The study analyzed 11,875 pregnancies with 1375 miscarriages. After adjusting for confounders, an increase of PM10 due to incinerator emissions was associated with an increased risk of miscarriage (test for trend, p=0.042). The odds ratio for the highest quartile of exposed versus not exposed women was 1.29, 95% CI 0.97-1.72. The effect was present only for women without previous miscarriages (highest quartile of exposed versus not exposed women 1.44, 95% CI 1.06-1.96; test for trend, p=0.009). CONCLUSION: Exposure to incinerator emissions is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage. This result should be interpreted with those of a previous study on reproductive health conducted in the same area that observed an association between incinerator exposure and preterm births.

Self-sampling to increase participation in cervical cancer screening: an RCT comparing home mailing, distribution in pharmacies, and recall letter.

BACKGROUND: We performed a multicentre randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effect on participation in organised screening programmes of a self-sampling device mailed home or picked up at a pharmacy compared with the standard recall letter. METHODS: Women aged 30-64 non-responding to screening invitation were eligible. Response rate to first invitation ranged from 30% to 60% between centres. The control was the standard reminder letter to undergo the test used by the programme (Pap test in three centres and HPV DNA test in three other centres). Home mailing of the self-sampler was preceded by a letter with a leaflet about HPV. The analysis was intention-to-treat. RESULTS: In all, 14 041 women were randomised and recruited: 5012 in the control arm, 4516 to receive the self-sampler at home, and 4513 to pick up the self-sampler at a pharmacy. Participation was 11.9% in the control, 21.6% (relative participation: 1.75; 95% CI 1.60-1.93) in home, and 12.0% (relative participation: 0.96; 95% CI 0.86-1.07) in the pharmacy arms, respectively. The heterogeneity between centres was high (excess heterogeneity of that expected due to chance, i.e., I(2), 94.9% and 94.1% for home and pharmacy arm, respectively). The estimated impact on the overall coverage was +4.3% for home mail self-sampling compared with +2.2% for standard reminder. CONCLUSIONS: Home mailing of self-sampler proved to be an effective way to increase participation in screening programmes, even in those with HPV as primary testing. Picking up at pharmacies showed effects varying from centre to centre.

The cancer screening monitoring system: indicators for organised programmes and possible extension to spontaneous screening.

European Commission recommends the implementation of organized screening programs for cervical cancer based on active invitation of the target population and with a systematic monitoring system and quality assurance. Nevertheless, in many Member States opportunistic screening is still the only or the main way to access Pap test. In Italy, Pap test coverage in women aged 25-64 is close to 80%, about half of them are screened in organized programs and half by opportunistic screening. Organized programs are diffused in the vast majority of the country (78% in 2009) even if in some cases they are not able to actively invite all the target population every three years (actual extension 67%); furthermore, participation rate after invitation is quite low (39%). Organized screening programs showed performance indicators in line with most of the international standards: low referral rates (2.4%), low inadequate cytological results (4.7%), and high positive predictive value for high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (16.2%). Opportunistic screening has no systematic monitoring system. The coexistence of the two screening models, organized programs and opportunistic, can be a source of inappropriate use of secondary prevention duplicating the tests and favoring deviations from recommended protocols. The Italian Ministry of Health recommends re-organizing cervical cancer prevention favoring organized programs or integrating spontaneous Pap testing in an organized system. To implement such integration it is necessary to have monitoring system and quality assurance for all providers and to integrate archives in order to avoid over-testing and deviation from protocols.

Meta-analysis: adherence to colorectal cancer screening and the detection rate for advanced neoplasia, according to the type of screening test.

BACKGROUND: A variety of tests have been proposed for colorectal cancer (CRC), giving rise to uncertainty regarding the optimal approach. The efficacy and effectiveness of different tests are related to both screened participation and the detection rate. AIM: To perform a meta-analysis on adherence and detection rates of CRC screening tests. METHODS: Relevant publications were identified by MEDLINE/EMBASE and other databases for the period 1999-2012. A previous systematic review was used for the period before 1966-1999. RCTs and controlled studies including a direct comparison of the uptake rates among different options for CRC screening were included. Adherence and detection rates for advanced neoplasia and cancer were extracted. Risk for bias was ascertained according to CONSORT guidelines. Forrest plots were produced based on random-effect models. RESULTS: Fourteen studies provided data on 197 910 subjects. Endoscopic strategies were associated with a lower participation (RR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.56, 0.80) rate, but a higher detection rate of advanced neoplasia (RR: 3.21, 95% CI: 2.38, 4.32) compared with faecal tests. FIT was superior to g-FOBT with regard to both adherence (RR: 1.16, 95% CI 1.03, 1.30) and detection of advanced neoplasia (RR: 2.28, 95% CI 1.68, 3.10) and cancer (RR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.2, 3.2). CONCLUSION: The superior accuracy of endoscopy compared with faecal tests minimised any impact of the participation rate in determining the detection rate of advanced neoplasia in a screening setting.

How to increase uptake in oncologic screening: a systematic review of studies comparing population-based screening programs and spontaneous access.

BACKGROUND: Cervical, breast and colorectal cancer (CRC) screenings are universally recommended interventions. High coverage of the target population represents the most important factor in determining their success. This systematic review aimed at assessing the effectiveness of population-based screening programs in increasing coverage compared to spontaneous access. METHODS: Electronic databases and national and regional websites were searched. We included all studies on interventions aimed at increasing screening participation published between 1999 and 2009; for those published before, we consulted the Jepson et al. review (2000). We compared spontaneous access (including no intervention) vs population-based screening programs actively inviting the target population. Among the latter, we compared GP-based vs invitation letter-based interventions. RESULTS: The invitation letter vs no intervention showed significantly more participation (RR=1.60 95%CI 1.33-1.92; RR=1.52 95%CI 1.28-1.82; RR=1.15 95%CI 1.12-1.19, for breast, cervical and CRC screenings, respectively). GP-based interventions, although more heterogeneous, showed a significant effect when compared with no intervention for breast (RR=1.74 95%CI 1.25-2.43), but not for cervical and CRC. No significant differences were found between invitation letter-based and GP-based organization (RR=0.99 95%CI 0.94-1.05; RR=1.08 95%CI 0.99-1.17, for breast and cervical cancer, respectively). CONCLUSION: Population-based programs are more effective than spontaneous screening in obtaining higher testing uptake. Both invitation letter-based and GP-based programs are effective.

Suspected transmission of tuberculosis in a maternity ward from a smear-positive nurse: preliminary results of clinical evaluations and testing of neonates potentially exposed, Rome, Italy, 1 January to 28 July 2011.

We report preventive measures adopted after tuberculosis(TB) transmission from a nurse to a newborn assessed in late July 2011. All exposed neonates born between January and July 2011 were clinically evaluated and tested by QuantiFERON TB gold in-tube; newborns testing positive were referred for prophylaxis.Of 1,340 newborns, 118 (9%) tested positive and no other active cases of TB were found. Active surveillance for TB will be continued over the next three years for all those exposed.

Comparison of clinical performance of Abbott RealTime High Risk HPV test with that of hybrid capture 2 assay in a screening setting.

Randomized trials have produced sound evidence about the efficacy of screening with human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA tests in reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality. We evaluated the clinical performance and reproducibility of the Abbott RealTime High Risk (HR) HPV test compared with that of the HR hybrid capture 2 (HC2) assay as assessed by a noninferiority score test. A random sample of 998 cervical specimens (914 specimens of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia less severe than grade 2 [

The effect of self-sampled HPV testing on participation to cervical cancer screening in Italy: a randomised controlled trial (ISRCTN96071600).

BACKGROUND: In Italy, cervical cancer screening programmes actively invite women aged 25-64 years. Programmes are hindered by low participation. METHODS: A sample of non-responder women aged 35-64 years, belonging to three different programmes (in Rome, Florence and Teramo), was randomly split into four arms: two control groups received standard recall letters to perform either Pap-test (first group) or human papillomavirus (HPV) test (second group) at the clinic. A third arm was sent letters offering a self-sampler for HPV testing, to be requested by phone, whereas a fourth group was directly sent the self-samplers home. RESULTS: Compliance with standard recall was 13.9% (N619). Offering HPV test at the clinic had a nonsignificant effect on compliance (N616, relative risk (RR)=1.08; 95% CI=0.82-1.41). Self-sampler at request had the poorest performance, 8.7% (N622, RR=0.62; 95% CI=0.45-0.86), whereas direct mailing of the self-sampler registered the highest compliance: 19.6% (N616, RR=1.41; 95% CI=1.10-1.82). This effect on compliance was observed only in urban areas, Florence and Rome (N438, RR=1.69; 95% CI=1.24-2.30), but not in Abruzzo (N178, RR=0.95; 95% CI=0.61-1.50), a prevalently rural area. CONCLUSIONS: Mailing self-samplers to non-responders may increase compliance as compared with delivering standard recall letters. Nevertheless, effectiveness is context specific and the strategy costs should be carefully considered.

[Methodological aspects of clinical and economic impact of vaccine interventions and HTA. Focus on HPV vaccination]. / Aspetti metodologici della valutazione di impatto clinico ed economico negli interventi vaccinali in HTA. Focus sulla vaccinazione anti-HPV.

The aim of the present study is to analyze the methodological and technical aspects of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) as a tool for the clinical and economic impact of vaccine interventions, describe and comment the main studies at the national level, with a particular focus on HPV vaccination. The work was conducted in 3 phases: a) revision of the scientific literature, strictly linked to methodologies adopted in different studies on economic evaluations on HPV vaccines and analysis of Guidelines for building models for the economic assessment; b) analysis of the peculiarities and critical elements of economic evaluations in the field of vaccinology, from the clinical and epidemiological point of view, as well as the recognition of lack of knowledge on HPV infection dynamics; c) a comparative analysis of the two italian studies and of the results coming from them. Many differences between studies were found. Nevertheless, there is a general agreement on the economic profile of HPV vaccination for adolescent girls, if compared with the actual practice on the prevention of cervical carcinoma (pap-test screening). All the models showed a significant impact in terms of reduction of the incidence of cervical carcinoma and related mortality, in the long run, as well as a reduction of pre-cancer lesions and abnormal Pap tests. HTA approach has been recently recognized as a tool for decision making in vaccinology, and its methodologies and procedures are currently debated by public health experts. There is a strong need to continue the work in improving the model techniques of economic evaluations concerning HPV vaccination, as well as the adoption of homogeneous methods and standards, with the aim of helping the decision process in the field of Public Health.

Validity of caregiver-reported hospital admission in a study on the quality of care received by terminally ill cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The clinical status of terminally ill patients often makes it impossible for them to report information directly, which indicates the need to rely on information from indirect sources, such as from caregivers. This information needs to be validated, and particular attention must be given to the accuracy of recall. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the agreement between caregiver-reported hospital admissions with the data reported in the regional hospital information system. METHODS: A two-level probabilistic sample of cancer deaths from the ISDOC (Italian Survey on Dying of Cancer). For the 2,000 deceased sampled, hospitalizations were identified from the administrative data and reported by the caregivers via a questionnaire. We calculated Cohen's kappa, sensitivity and specificity using the regional archives as the gold standard. A multivariate analysis was performed to assess possible variables that may influence agreement. RESULTS: We interviewed 1,271 caregivers. Sensitivity and specificity were, respectively, 82% (95% confidence interval [CI]=79-84) and 65% (95% CI=60-69). Kappa statistic was 0.46 (95% CI=0.40-0.52). Multivariate analysis showed that agreement increases with educational level and caregiver age. CONCLUSION: The validation of caregiver's recall for medical procedures has important implications for research and care, because often it is the only information source we can rely on. The questionnaire showed good sensitivity and poor specificity concerning real hospitalizations, and had moderate degree of agreement with the data reported in the administrative data.

[Mass screening and early detection of cancer: organizational characteristics of preventive services in Italy]. / Prevenzione secondaria dei tumori in Italia: caratteristiche degli interventi di popolazione e individuali.

The commitment to fight against cancer is a part of European Community health strategies and of Italian health services planning. Interesting and useful results have been achieved in Europe and in our country where most of the population can participate to screening programmes. In Italy there are two main organisational models to deliver intervention for secondary prevention: population based and individual access. Several experimental data show population-based prevention is more fair and appropriate and achieves better results in reducing incidence and mortality rates; data are summarized. Because of this differences we go trough the different characteristics of the two models to handle them better planning and managing more efficiently a sustainable secondary-prevention.

Health and economic impact associated with a quadrivalent HPV vaccine in Italy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the health impact and cost-effectiveness of introducing a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme with a quadrivalent vaccine alongside the existing cervical cancer screening programme in comparison to the current context in Italy. METHODS: A US Markov model was adapted to the Italian context, assuming under base case 80% vaccine coverage rate, lifetime duration of protection in a cohort of girls aged 12 years and discount rates of 1.5% and 3% for health benefits and costs, respectively, and estimating direct medical costs. RESULTS: The HPV vaccination in association with the current screening programme would allow to avoid 1432 cases of cervical cancer (-63.3%) and 513 deaths (-63.4%) compared to screening only, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of 9569 euros per additional quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained. The sensitivity analysis highlighted that this model was robust to all parameters presenting uncertainties as the ICERs ranged from 2,781 euros to 48,122 euros per QALY gained. CONCLUSION: This study showed that HPV vaccination in adolescent girls would be a beneficial and cost-effective public health programme in Italy.

Syndromic surveillance: sensitivity and positive predictive value of the case definitions.

The aim of the study was to measure the positive predictive value (PPV) and sensitivity of operational case definitions of 13 syndromes in a surveillance system based on the Emergency online database of the Lazio region. The PPVs were calculated using electronic emergency department (ED) medical records and subsequent hospitalizations to ascertain the cases. Sensitivity was calculated using a modified capture-recapture method. The number of cases that fulfilled the case definition criteria in the 2004 database ranged from 27 320 for gastroenteritis to three for haemorrhagic diarrhoea. The PPVs ranged from 99.3 to 20; sepsis, meningitis-like and coma were below 50%. The estimated sensitivity ranged from 90% for coma to 22% for haemorrhagic diarrhoea. Syndromes such as gastroenteritis, where the signs, symptoms, and exposure history provide immediate diagnostic implications fit this surveillance system better than others such as haemorrhagic diarrhoea, where symptoms are not evident and a more precise diagnosis is needed.

Do women >or=50 years of age need as much screening as women <50 years after they have had negative screening results?

To assess the adequacy of a routine screening to identify cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 or worse (CIN2+) in women over 50 years of age, a retrospective cohort was set in six Italian organised population-based screening programmes. In all, 287 330 women (1 714 550 person-years of observation, 1110 cases) screened at age 25-64, with at least two cytological screening tests, the first negative, were followed from their first negative smear until a biopsy proven CIN2+ lesion or their last negative smear. For women aged 25-49 and 50-64 years, crude and age-standardised detection rate (DR), cumulative risk (CR), adjusted hazard risk for number of previous negative screens, probability of false-positive CIN2+ after two or more smear tests were calculated. Detection rate is significantly lower over 50 years of age. Multivariable analysis shows a significant protective effect from four screening episodes (DR=0.70, 95% CI: 0.51-0.97); the effect of age >or=50 is 0.29 (95% CI: 0.24-0.35). The CR of CIN2+ is at least eightfold higher in women <50 (CR=2.06, 95% CI: 1.88-2.23) after one previous negative test than in women >or=50 years with four screens (CR=0.23, 95% CI: 0.00-0.46). Over 50 years of age, after four tests at least three false-positive cases are diagnosed for every true positive. Benefits arising from cytological screening is uncertain in well-screened older women.

Tuberculosis incidence, hospitalisation prevalence and mortality in Lazio, Italy, 1997-2003.

SETTING: Lazio region (5.15 million, including Rome, 2.8 million), Italy. OBJECTIVE: To monitor pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) epidemiology from 1997 to 2003. DESIGN: We used data from the mandatory National Infectious Diseases Surveillance system, the regional Hospital Information System and the regional Mortality Register. The number of prevalent pulmonary TB cases hospitalised was determined by linking notifications and hospitalisations. To estimate incidence, we excluded all cases with previous TB hospitalisations since 1995, and those reported as a secondary diagnosis in the Hospital Information System. Mortality rates were ascertained from mortality records reporting TB as the principal cause of death. RESULTS: The record linkage identified 4885 incident cases, 9010 hospital prevalent cases and 217 deaths. Incidence decreased from 15/100000 in 1997 to 11 in 2003, and consistent decreases were also observed in hospitalisation prevalence and mortality (P for trend <0.0005, <0.0005 and =0.063, respectively). The number of AIDS-related TB cases dropped from 85 to 49 (P < 0.0005). The number of incident cases in non-Italians increased significantly, from 171 to 267 (P < 0.0005). Notification underreporting was estimated at 39%. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a decreasing trend, TB incidence is still over 10/100000 in Lazio region. Targeted interventions for immigrant populations are essential for controlling TB.

[Colorectal cancer screening: survey of endoscopy center's physicians in Lazio region]. / Screening per il cancro del colon retto: indagine sui medici endoscopisti della regione Lazio.

The aim of the present work is to describe the characteristics of digestive endoscopy centers and the physicians that work there, with particular attention to their attitudes and practices in colorectal cancer screening. A questionnaire was sent to all 80 digestive endoscopy centers in the Lazio region, identified by the annual census of Italian Society of Digestive Endoscopy (Società Italiana di Endoscopia Digestiva, SIED). Seventy-one centers (89%), returned the questionnaire. Screening activity on average represents 14% of the centers' colonoscopy workload. Colonoscopy was considered to be a "very effective" screening test by 96% of physicians, the faecal occult blood test "very effective" by 20%, and flexosigmoidoscopy "very effective" by 11%. Ninety-seven percent (97%) of physicians reported recommending any test for screening: 80% colonoscopy, 61% faecal occult blood test, 14% double contrast barium enema and 11% flexosigmoidoscopy. Despite the fact that almost all physicians reported recommending screening, the centres are only marginally involved in screening practice. Endoscopy centers' physicians tend to have an aggressive strategy for colorectal cancer prevention and exclusive trust in colonoscopy; an attitude more consistent with a clinical-diagnostic approach than with real mass screening of a healthy population.