Annali dell'Istituto Superiore di Sanità
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EpiWEAT: a new digital assessment tool for epigenetic studies
Full text linkIntroduction. Intimate partner violence (IPV) profoundly impacts women’s health, increasing the risk of chronic and non-ommunicable diseases. Recent findings underscore the promise of epigenetic indicators to uncover the enduring effects of trauma on the human genome, especially concerning stress-related conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Objectives. To evaluate the lasting health impacts of violence against women, developing a digital tool specifically structured to consolidate crucial details about the contexts of violence, the relationship between victim and perpetrator, and health outcomes.Methods. A Microsoft Forms-based questionnaire was developed, organized into nine sections addressing socio-personal information, external conditions of violence, health statuses, and psychological evaluations, incorporating PTSD assessment via the InternationalTrauma Questionnaire and depression measurement through the Center for epidemiologic studies depression scale revised (CESD-R) module. Data is securely archived, and participation includes optional consent for epigenetic analysis through blood samples.Conclusions. The assessment tool presents a thorough tool for gathering information on IPV, evaluating health outcomes, and identifying PTSD and depression in survivors. It also aids in the collection of biological specimens for epigenetic exploration. This instrument could enhance intervention strategies and contribute to precision medicine methodologies, facilitating early detection of chronic health risks in women who have experienced violence
Publications from International Organizations on Public Health
Full text linkThe Publications from International Organizations on Public Health section includes a wider selection of the most recent publications edited by the main international organizations active in the field of public health, such as: the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and the World Health Organization (WHO)
Uncovering accessibility gaps. Geospatial and diagnostic practices analysis of the Centres for Cognitive Disorders and Dementias (CCDD) in Apulia and Basilicata, Italy
Full text linkBackground. This study analysed accessibility, patient and healthcare professionals’ characteristics, neuropsychological practices, and patient care gaps at Centres for Cognitive Disorders and Dementias (CCDD) in Apulia and Basilicata, Italy.Methods. Geographic information systems (GIS) analysis and online survey were employed. CCDDs clinicians completed a self-report questionnaire covering “Characteristics of the CCDD” and “Neuropsychological assessment”, from July 2021 to January 2023. Geographical coordinates were used to identify peripheral areas, based on the Italian strategy for Inner Areas.Results. Thirty-three CCDDs were identified. Geospatial analysis revealed ultra-peripheral municipalities and inadequate public transport to CCDDs in several areas. Most patients were women aged 70-89. Neurologists played a key role in diagnosis and test administration. Diagnostic criteria and neuropsychological tools varied: international criteria were rarely applied, recommended tests were underutilised, and some cognitive domains undervalued.Conclusion. These findings highlight the need for effective healthcare interventions for cognitive disorders and the potential for teleneuropsychology to bridge care gaps
Psychoeducational group for acute psychiatric care. The Italian experience and suggestions for future needs
Full text linkIntroduction. The implementation of an innovative psychoeducational group intervention in Italian general hospital psychiatric units started in the years 2000-2001 in two Italian regions. The aim of this contribution is to describe the intervention method and the experience of its application, its spread, the results of evaluation studies and its evolution.Method. The methodology is qualitative/quantitative. The qualitative approach concerns the description of the prevalent clusters of topics in the most used intervention modules. The quantitative approach concerns the analysis of indicators used in the evaluationstudies carried out since 2000-2001.Results. Over time, three topics of the intervention have remained constant: “What happened before the crisis”; “Stress-vulnerability-coping model”; “Psychotropic drugs: shared decisions”. Other topics have been introduced based on the patients’ preferences: “Psychophysical well-being”, “Awareness”, “Emotions-thoughts-behaviors connection”, “Problem-solving” and “Stigma”. The intervention has been applied over time in 15% of Italian psychiatric wards with positive results (main result: decrease in readmissions and restraints).Discussion. Two main topics are discussed: a) the advantages and obstacles in applying the intervention; b) the need for addressing also the issues of substance dependence and antisocial personality
Life project: a scoping review of assessment tools for persons with autism spectrum disorder
Full text linkBackground. Persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may face significant challenges during transition from adolescence to adulthood. This phase necessitates tailored support to address all needs, underscoring the importance of a comprehensive life project(LP) planning. This scoping review aims to identify methods and tools used in the development of LP for persons with ASD.Methods. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) extension for scoping reviews was used. The literature search was performed across Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. The selection process involved screening titles and abstracts, followed by full-text reading, data extraction, and narrative synthesis of findings.Results. A total of 899 records were identified, and 8 studies were included in the review. Preference assessment and ecological balance emerged as crucial elements in developing LP.Conclusions. This review highlights the importance of tools that accurately capture individual preferences and support needs for persons with ASD but also reveals a gap in the literature concerning the development of tailored LP for this population
Integrated care pathways for people with dementia in Italy: assessing key elements for quality of care in a nationwide evaluation
Full text linkBackground. Person-centred care is central to global and European Union (EU) dementia strategies. This Italian study evaluates compliance of integrated care pathways (ICPs) with the National Guidance for People with Dementia (NGICPD). Methods. ICPs obtained from national and official sources evaluated using a 43-item NGICPD-based checklist across three domains: framework, elements, and development.Results. Thirty-nine ICPs were analysed. Fourteen of 21 regions and 30 of 110 Local Health Authorities developed an ICP. Mean scores were 23.5±7.9 for regional and 23.1±5.0 for LHA ICPs, showing low compliance with the NGICPD.Conclusions. The study assessed national and regional ICPs for dissemination, guideline alignment, and implementation gaps, emphasizing the need for improved monitoring through key quality indicators
Monitoring of antibiotic residues in muscles, milk and eggs of food-producing animals in Umbria and Marche regions (Central Italy) during the period time 2012-2021
Full text linkIntroduction. The use of antibiotics in food-producing animals for infections treatment, metafilaxis and, although not allowed in Europe, as growth enhancer is responsible for the presence of antibiotic residues in animal derived foodstuffs. For this reason, it is veryimportant to perform a monitoring.Methods and results. Muscle samples from bovine, pig, poultry, turkey and fish, as well as bovine milk and hen’s egg samples, deriving from 444 farms of both Umbria and Marche regions (Italy) were analyzed by well-established and validated analytical methods in order to evaluate the presence or not of antibiotic residues (penicillins, quinolones, tetracycline and sulphonamides). The samples were collected during 2012-2021 period of time. In total, 15/2,354 samples resulted positive to the analyses. The amount of antibiotics found in the 15 samples resulted below the maximum residue limit fixed by EU Regulation 37/2010 and for this reason considered compliant.Conclusions. Despite irregular samples were not found, the presence of antibiotic residues in foodstuff represents a risk for public health as they are responsible for the selection of resistant strains contributing to antimicrobial resistance problem spread. In the present work, this aspect was evaluated in relation to the results obtained from the analyzed samples coming from Umbria and Marche regions
Examining the "worried well" phenomenon: insights from Italy’s AIDS and STIs Helpline
Full text linkBackground. The fear of having contracted HIV or another sexually transmitted infection (STI), even in the absence of significant risk factors, is a globally observed phenomenon across diverse cultural, social, and healthcare settings. Helplines serve as a valuable observatory for this pattern, often described as “worried well” (WW). This study investigates the WW phenomenon with the objective of assessing whether the COVID-19 pandemic has acted as a compounding factor in its intensification.Methods. AIDS and STIs Helpline of the Italian National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS) extracted data from a structured database and analyzed patterns related to callers’ concerns.Results. Between 2018 and 2023, 4,703 calls were analysed, showing how WWs represent 8.1% of all users and questions asked by WWs accounted for 7.8% of the total number of questions received by the AIDS and STIs Helpline.Conclusions. While the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to an intensification of the WW phenomenon, its origins are more deeply rooted in factors such as psychological distress and limited health literacy