1,720,997 research outputs found
PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF LONG-COVID-19 SYNDROME IN HEALTH CARE WORKERS: A MULTI-CENTRE STUDY FROM NORTH-EASTERN ITALY, ORCHESTRA PROJECT WORKING GROUP
No full textPREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF LONG-COVID-19 SYNDROME IN HEALTH CARE WORKERS: A MULTI-CENTRE STUDY FROM NORTH-EASTERN ITALY, ORCHESTRA PROJECT WORKING GROUP / Cegolon, Luca; Sansone, Donatella; Tassinari, Alice; Murgia, Nicola; Monaco, Maria Grazia Lourdes; Spiteri, Gianluca; Modenese, Alberto; Gobba, Fabrizio Maria; Pavanello, Sofia; Liviero, Filippo; Scapellato, Maria Luisa; Porru, Stefano; Filon, Francesca Larese. - In: OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE. - ISSN 0962-7480. - 74:Supplement_1(2024), pp. 0-0. (Intervento presentato al convegno 34th International Congress on Occupational Health ICOH 2024 tenutosi a Marrakesh (Morocco) nel 28th April-3rd May 2024) [10.1093/occmed/kqae023.0452]
The gender gap in italian academic medicine from 2005 to 2015: Still a glass ceiling
No full textBACKGROUND:
Although women make up half of the population of medical students and residents, they are still under-represented in prominent leadership positions in academia. The disparity is greatest at the highest levels and represents a loss of talent for academic health centers, showing that women must choose between career advancement and personal life.
OBJECTIVES:
The aim of this study was to analyze gender distribution in Italian medical academia in all hierarchical roles (researchers in tenure track positions, associate and full professors) in different disciplinary scientific fields (SSD) in 2015 compared to 2005.
METHODS:
Medical faculties were considered at 31/12/2005 and 30/09/2015, and analyzed using Excel data sheet (Office for Windows 2007). Database was analyzed using STATA software (Texas, Inc. 2014).
RESULTS:
Women are under-represented in all careers: in 2005 they made up 36.2% of researchers, 21.7% of associate professors and only 9.4% of full professors. The percentage of women researchers increased significantly (p<0.0001) in 2015 to 41.9%, but the percentages of female associate professors (25.3%) and full professors (14.2%) were still extremely low.
DISCUSSION:
Our study shows that women are under-represented in Italian academia, with only a slight increase in presence in 2015 compared to ten years before. More action is needed to create a supportive environment, increase awareness and monitor potential discriminatio
A USER-FRIENDLY TOOL TO COMPUTE INFECTION PROBABILITY OF SARS-COV-2 INDOOR: THE USER GUIDE AND ITS APPLICATION IN MEDICAL PRACTICE
Full text linkAfter some initial hesitancy at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the academic community agreed that the infection process is mostly airborne and generally associated with closed environments. Therefore, assessing the indoor infection probability is mandatory to contain the spread of the disease, especially in those environments, like school classrooms, hospital wards or public transportation, with higher risk of overcrowding. For this reason, we developed a software tool in Python to compute infection probability and determine those mechanisms that contribute to reduce its diffusion in closed settings. In this paper, we will briefly illustrate the model we used and focus our attention on the description of the main features of the software and give some examples of how it can be used in clinical practice to predict the spread of the disease in the rooms of a generic ward, optimize room occupancy or drive healthcare workers activity schedule. Finally, some limitations and further implementations of our work will be reported
Incidence of skin diseases in healthcare workers before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic at Trieste hospitals (northeastern Italy)
No full textBACKGROUND: Occupational skin diseases (OSDs) are common in healthcare workers (HCWs). OBJECTIVES: To investigate and compare the incidence and clinical features of OSDs among HCWs before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Incident cases of OSDs were investigated in the cohort of HCWs at Trieste Hospitals from 1 July 2018 (3340 workers) to 31 October 2021 (137 532 person‐months). RESULTS: The monthly incidence was ranging from 0 to 11.90 cases per 10 000 person‐months in pre‐COVID‐19 period (cumulative incidence 4.22; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.9–6.0) and from 0 to 13.61 cases per 10 000 person‐months in COVID‐19 period (cumulative incidence 5.06; 95% CI: 3.6–6.9). The incidence rate ratio (IRR) between COVID‐19 and pre‐COVID‐19 period was 1.22 (95% CI: 0.73–1.98). The incidence of OSDs in the COVID‐19 period was 6.1 (4.2–8.6) and 2.7 (95% CI: 1.1–5.6) cases × 10 000 person‐months for women and men, respectively, with an IRR of 2.25 (95% CI: 0.98–5.9). Incidence in nurses in the COVID‐19 period was 6.7 (95% CI: 4.2–10.2) cases × 10 000 person‐months. CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of OSDs was a little bit higher during the COVID‐19 pandemic compared to the previous period but fluctuation of numbers were mainly related to calendar period, with higher incidence in winter and spring. Incidence data were higher than that observed in 2004–2013 in the same cohort. Face dermatitis cases doubled after the start of COVID‐19 pandemic. Overall data demonstrated a non‐significant increase of OSDs in HCWs during the pandemic, probably due to the preventive strategies set up in our cohort over the years
Investigating the role of organizational stress in nurses' psychosomatic complaints: Evidence from a study in northeastern Italy
Full text linkNursing is a profession known for its indispensable role in healthcare, yet it comes with multifaceted challenges, including high levels of organizational stress. This study aims to investigate the associations between exposure to organizational stressors, measured by the Health and Safety Executive Management Standards Indicator Tool, and psychosomatic complaints among nurses in a medium-sized city hospital in northeastern Italy. A total of 215 nurses participated in the study, completing self-report questionnaires assessing organizational stressors and the prevalence of psychosomatic complaints over the last six months. Results revealed significant associations between various organizational stressors and psychosomatic complaints, with the Relationships factor emerging as a significant predictor of palpitations, irritability, anxiety, physical and mental tiredness, and headache. Additionally, Demands and Managers' support were identified as significant predictors of specific psychosomatic complaints. Strengths of the study include the use of a well-established measurement tool and a comprehensive assessment of psychosomatic complaints. However, limitations such as the cross-sectional design and self-report measures need consideration. These findings underscore the critical role of addressing organizational stressors, particularly those related to interpersonal relationships, in promoting nurse well-being and optimizing patient care delivery. By prioritizing supportive work environments and implementing targeted interventions, healthcare organizations can foster a culture of well-being among nurses, ultimately enhancing the quality and safety of healthcare delivery
Correction to: Concentration of mercury in human hair and associated factors in residents of the Gulf of Trieste (North‐Eastern Italy)
Full text linkThe Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea, Italy) is the coastal area of the Mediterranean Sea most highly contaminated by mercury (Hg) due to fluvial inputs from the Isonzo/Soča River system, draining over 500 years’ worth of cinnabar extraction activity from the Idrija mining district (Western Slovenia). The aim of this research is to investigate the concentration of Hg in hair samples taken from the general population of the Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) Region coastal area, as a marker of chronic exposure to Hg. Three hundred and one individuals — 119 males and 182 females — were
recruited by convenience sampling in Trieste in September 2021. An amount of approximately 100 mg of hair was collected from the occipital scalp of each participant to measure the respective Hg concentrations (expressed as mg/kg). Moreover, participants completed a self-report questionnaire collecting extensive socio-demographic and life-style information. A multiple linear regression analysis was employed to investigate factors associated with increased levels of Hg concentration in hair. A mean Hg concentration in hair of 1.63 mg/kg was found, slightly above the 1.0 mg/kg threshold recommended by the WHO for pregnant women and children, although still well below the no observed adverse effects level (NOAEL) of 10 mg/kg. Among respondents, 55.6% showed a Hg concentration in hair > 1 mg/kg, 22.9% > 2 mg/kg, and 2 participants exhibited Hg levels > 10 mg/kg. The adjusted mean hair Hg level increased in those subjects who reported a preference for shellfish/crayfish/mollusks (RC = 0.35; 95%CI: 0.16; 0.55), whereas it decreased in those who reported a preference for frozen fish (RC = -0.23; 95%CI: − 0.39; − 0.06). Though a risk alert for Hg exposure for coastal residents from FVG is deemed unnecessary at this time, it is recommended that pregnant women limit their ingestion of locally caught fish to < 4 servings/month
Patch Test-Results with the European Standard Series in Patients with work-related Contact Dermatitis in Europe Results of ESSCA Network 2002-2010
No full textSensitization to, and allergic contact dermatitis caused by, colophonium in north-eastern Italy in 1996 to 2016 with a focus on occupational exposures
No full textBackground: Colophonium is a natural substance derived from Pineaceae trees. It is used in a wide range of consumer and occupational products because of its tackiness, and is a known sensitizer.
Objectives: To analyse the temporal trend of contact allergy to colophonium in north-eastern Italy, and to evaluate the associations with occupations in our geographical area.
Methodology: From 1996 to 2016, 27 381 patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis were patch tested in north-eastern Italy. Individual characteristics were documented by use of a standardized questionnaire in 6 departments of dermatology or occupational medicine.
Results: The overall prevalence of colophonium sensitization was 1.67%; the prevalence was significantly higher in women (1.75%) than in men (1.49%). No significant differences among departments were observed. We found significant associations between colophonium sensitization and being a student (odds ratio [OR] 4.64; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04-20.6), being a farmer or fishermen (OR 3.63; 95%CI: 1.21-10.84), being a housekeeper (OR 2.02; 95%CI: 1.08-3.77), and being retired (OR 2.06; 95%CI: 1.08-3.92).
Conclusion: Our study showed that contact allergy to colophonium is still relevant in northeastern Italy. The frequency of sensitization has dropped significantly over a period of 10 years, but students and farmers/fishermen still have sensitization prevalences above 3.5%. Our results are in line with European data
Evaluation of Personal Solar UV Exposure in a Group of Italian Dockworkers and Fishermen, and Assessment of Changes in Sun Protection Behaviours After a Sun-Safety Training
Full text linkThe 2008 ICOH workshop on skin notation
No full textBackground: On 29 March 2008 the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) Scientific Committee on Occupational and Environmental Dermatoses organized a Skin Notation Workshop hosted by the 11th International Percutaneous Penetration Perspectives Conference (La Grande Motte, France). Skin notation (S) was chosen as a topic for discussion because this is the only example of existing regulation in the field of dermal risk assessment. The issue was discussed in a previous workshop held in Siena, Italy in 2006 with the objective of focussing on the problems related to S, the different assignment criteria and the attempts to improve the S system made by various international and governmental agencies. A position paper was subsequently published. Objectives: The workshop in France was a continuation of this activity with the aim of evaluating how the different strategies can improve S. Methods and Discussion: The Workshop was divided into two sessions. The first was dedicated to lectures focused on different aspects of S. In the second session participants discussed key issues with the aim of exploring the actions needed to improve international S systems.</p
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