1,721,045 research outputs found
Killing two birds with one stone. Is the COVID-19 vaccination campaign an opportunity to improve adherence to cancer screening programmes? The challenge of a pilot project in a large local health authority in Rome
Full text linkThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected health services worldwide. The suspension of cancer screening programs during the lockdown period, coupled with the other measures taken to limit the SARS-CoV-2 spread, contributed to the idea that cancer preventive interventions are deferrable. In this opinion paper, we present some data on cancer screening coverage in one of the largest Local Health Authorities in Italy in recent years. Within this context, we introduce the benefits of a pilot project in which we took advantage of the great attention on the COVID-19 vaccination campaign to improve screening uptake. In this project, we offered men and women eligible for cancer screening the opportunity to book appointments while waiting to be vaccinated. In addition, trained healthcare personnel were available on-site to discuss any barriers to participation with the attendees. Despite the project having only just started, preliminary results are encouraging, with positive feedback from the attendees. In conclusion, we advocate for the need to adopt a comprehensive approach when it comes to population health, and we use this project as an example to discuss how it is possible to contribute to minimizing the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with resources already in place
The role of vaccine literacy and health literacy in the health prevention decision-making process
Full text linkThe impact of the covid-19 pandemic on adherence to first-round colorectal cancer screening program. A public health issue
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Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
The efficacy of multivitamin, vitamin a, vitamin b, vitamin c, and vitamin d supplements in the prevention and management of Covid-19 and long-Covid. An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
Full text linkThis review aims to evaluate the efficacy of any vitamin administration(s) in preventing and managing COVID-19 and/or long-COVID. Databases were searched up to May 2023 to identify randomized clinical trials comparing data on the effects of vitamin supplementation(s) versus placebo or standard of care on the two conditions of interest. Inverse-variance random-effects meta-analyses were conducted to estimate pooled risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause mortality between supplemented and non-supplemented individuals. Overall, 37 articles were included: two regarded COVID-19 and long-COVID prevention and 35 records the COVID-19 management. The effects of vitamin D in preventing COVID-19 and long-COVID were contrasting. Similarly, no conclusion could be drawn on the efficacy of multivitamins, vitamin A, and vitamin B in COVID-19 management. A few positive findings were reported in some vitamin C trials but results were inconsistent in most outcomes, excluding all-cause mortality (RR = 0.84; 95% CI: 0.72-0.97). Vitamin D results were mixed in most aspects, including mortality, in which benefits were observed in regular administrations only (RR = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.49-0.91). Despite some benefits, results were mostly contradictory. Variety in recruitment and treatment protocols might explain this heterogeneity. Better-designed studies are needed to clarify these vitamins' potential effects against SARS-CoV-2
Determinants of the intention to vaccinate with MMR among pregnant women from the City of Rome
No full textBackground
Further to the increase in measles cases reported in Italy since 2016, MMR vaccination became mandatory in 2017, leading to an increase in vaccination coverage in the Country. To guarantee sustained coverage, factors influencing the intention to vaccinate in the population should be better understood.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional survey to assess knowledge and attitudes on pediatric vaccinations and intention to vaccinate among pregnant women attending Antenatal Classes in Rome, through distribution of a self-administered questionnaire, which included a specific section on MMR vaccination. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the determinants of the intention to vaccinate with MMR.
Results
A total of 458 pregnant women attending CANs in 36 family health centers and two hospitals answered the survey. Intention to vaccinate with MMR was associated with having received information from a healthcare professional (OR 1.92, 95%CI 1.01-3.63), the perceived importance of vaccines to protect against measles (OR 4.68, 95%CI 2.48- 9.54) and rubella (OR 5.97, 95%CI 2.98-11.95), not believing in news about the risks of MMR vaccine (OR 2.75, 95%CI 1.38-5.50), and the sense of guilt in case the child should contract the disease (OR 2.56, 95%CI 1.16-5.62). Factors negatively associated with the intention to vaccinate were the use of alternative medicine (OR 0.34, 95%CI 0.16- 0.76), believing that MMR vaccine can have serious side effects (OR 0.37, 95%CI 0.00-0.29) and guilt in case of serious side effects (OR 0.40, 95%CI 0.21-0.76).
Conclusions
Fear of MMR side effects is a relevant driver of the intention to vaccinate, coupled with the perceived importance to vaccinate to protect against measles and rubella. Also the source of information plays an important role in shaping ideas on vaccines. Information and communication strategies should be promoted to increase trust in vaccines, with a direct involvement of healthcare workers.
Key messages
Fear of MMR side effects and perceived benefits of the vaccine influence the intention to vaccinate.
Information and communication strategies to increase vaccination appectance involving healthcare workers are needed
An italian survey on the attitudes and beliefs of public health professionals towards mandatory vaccination: A pilot study
No full textBackground: This pilot study aimed to test a questionnaire developed to assess the attitudes and beliefs of Italian public health professionals towards mandatory vaccination for school-aged children. Methods: The online questionnaire was administered to members of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach’s alpha. Results: Fifty-two people answered the questionnaire: 90.4% were in favour of mandatory vaccination. Overall, the alpha score was above the cut-off value of 0.70. Conclusion: The questionnaire has proved a valid tool for assessing the attitudes and beliefs of Italian public health professionals towards mandatory vaccination
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