5 research outputs found
Development of a User-friendly Health Promotion Website to Spread Evidence-based Information in Italy: A new digital platform to enhance health literacy
No full textIntroduction
Appropriate communication models are crucial in order to strengthen preventive and health promotion interventions via digital platforms. Today, 52.23% of the Italian population use the Internet as a source of health-related information. The aim of the “Insegna Salute” project was to create a website that would enable people to satisfy their health needs and increase their awareness in the field of prevention.
Methods
To create the website, a literature search was carried out to obtain an overview of online health communication before, during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Results
The investigation resulted in 26 sources regarding health communication, vaccine hesitancy, online health information seeking, visual identity, current digital and social trends and mis/disinformation. Our findings led to the definition of insegnasalute.it according to the one-to-many (screen-to-face) communication model and a user-centred design. The website will be organised in sections dedicated to the University Department\u27s projects and preventive health issues. Tools such as Google Analytics and questionnaires will provide further insights and enable the platform to be updated.
Conclusions
In line with the preventive guidelines issued by the Italian Ministry of Health, new tools, such as “Insegna Salute”, integrate health knowledge with communication strategies. Addressing vaccine hesitancy and health prevention issues necessitates the use of effective strategies that foster trust-based relationships
A Mobile App to Enhance Awareness of Vaccination in Adults With Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis: Development and Preliminary Evaluation Study (Preprint)
No full textBackground: Patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis are at increased risk of several vaccine-preventable diseases. Despite this increased susceptibility to infections, vaccination uptake in adults with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, especially if treated with biologics and other systemic immunomodulators, is insufficient. As mobile health technologies may support behavior change, a mobile app called DermatoVax was developed to raise awareness of immunization in adult patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
Objective: This paper aims to describe the processes of development of the DermatoVax app and its initial evaluation in terms of technical verification and physicians' quality rating.
Methods: The app was conceived in a user-centered fashion. Its core component was the vaccine checker, which allows the app to produce a sharable list of recommended vaccines, immunization timings, and eventual precautions from a short set of input data. App prototypes were extensively piloted, and feedback from potential end users was obtained to refine the app content. The readability of the textual narratives was measured using the Italian-specific Gulpease index, which ranges from 0 to 100, where 100 indicates the best readability. The quality of the final version was evaluated by 46 medical doctors (n=29, 63% dermatologists and n=17, 37% public health physicians) using a validated Italian user version of the Mobile App Rating Scale (uMARS).
Results: Iterative steps during the app development process allowed us to increase its user-friendliness and comprehensibility. Proper functioning of the checker was confirmed through the correct and complete generation of recommended vaccine lists for 50 mock patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. An overall Gulpease index of 41.0 was observed for the final textual narratives, suggesting acceptable readability properties for patients with a high school diploma. Of a maximum of 5 points, the average uMARS score was 4.22 (SD 0.49). Ratings provided by dermatologists (mean 4.28, SD 0.48) were similar (P=.33) to those provided by public health physicians (mean 4.12, SD 0.51). However, the mean uMARS scores for the quality dimensions of aesthetics (3.88, SD 0.78) and engagement (3.89, SD 0.68) were lower than those for information (4.64, SD 0.42) and functionality (4.47, SD 0.46), suggesting margins for improvement. The app's perceived impact was notably high, with over 80% of physicians agreeing that its use would significantly improve patient awareness (39/46, 85%) and knowledge (41/46, 89%) of vaccination, leading to increased vaccination uptake (37/46, 80%).
Conclusions: DermatoVax is a promising tool to raise awareness of immunization in adult patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Further assessment of the app, such as its effectiveness in increasing vaccination uptake, is warranted
The history of polio vaccination with “Sabin’s OPV” 60 years after its introduction in Italy: an unforgivable “delay”
No full textABSTRACT
In the spring of 1964, polio vaccination with the oral vaccine developed by Albert Sabin began in Italy. Polio was feared in the world and in Italy. Thus, between 1957 and the beginning of 1958, Italian children began receiving the “Salk vaccine”, though the results were not particularly convincing. In July 1960, the international scientific community was able to verify the data from the mass testing of the Sabin vaccine. It became clear that the OPV, could prevent the virus from multiplying, thereby providing greater protection and determining the eradication of the disease. In 1960 over 70 million people in the USSR alone had already received the oral vaccine and mass vaccination in the USA would start in March 1961. However, in Italy there was no similar initiative; only later the new vaccine was accepted but was not made compulsory at the beginning. As a result of the commission’s report, registration of the “Polioral” vaccine, was authorized in September 1962 but the sale of the vaccine was not authorized until November 1963. At the beginning of 1964, the production of “Polioral” started and the product was marketed and on the 1 st of March 1964, anti-polio vaccination with the “Sabin anti-polio vaccine” also began in Italy.
This manuscript focuses on a crucial issue about a historical delay for public health and it points out as the preparation and diffusion of the Sabin polio vaccine demonstrates that decisions regarding health treatments, and specifically vaccination campaigns, must be based exclusively on the results of clinical studies and on independent evaluation by the scientific community. This process ensures trust in vaccines, adequate protection of public health andcitizens’ well-being
War and Health: The devastating impact of conflict on Wellbeing and Humanitarian Crises.: The consequences of war on health
No full textIn Editorials and Letters to the Editor, no abstract is allowed.  
The fight against smallpox during the Savoy kingdom in Genoa between 1815 and 1859.: The challenges in fighting smallpox in the region of Genoa.
No full textIntroduction. The article aims to outline the features of the efforts for smallpox eradication within the pre-unitary context of the Kingdom of Sardinia, characterized by a long tradition in medical-health prevention. This tradition is partly inherited from the health magistracies of the Italian states during the ancient regime and partly adopted from policies initially outlined by Napoleon and later by other European states. In addition to prevention activities, authorities also engage in a vigorous information and awareness campaign aimed at eliminating common prejudices and doubts about vaccination among the population.
Methods. In analyzing the authorities\u27 achievements in combating smallpox, this study examines the two epidemic waves (1829-30 and 1852-54), along with the legislative developments before, during, and after these periods. It also compares these regulatory changes with those in other European contexts.
Discussion. The epidemiological situation turned out to be more complex to manage than the authorities had anticipated, as evidenced by the increasing controls imposed. Scientific and political communities, both in the Kingdom of Sardinia and in other European nations, found themselves divided on the legitimacy of proposing restrictive measures by the state. Some advocated for restricted access to public places and imposed mandatory vaccination for vulnerable individuals.
Conclusions. The comparison with smallpox resulted in a gradual improvement in of health security levels, although vaccination coverage did not reach the desired targets. Several factors contributed to this failure, including the limited expertise and reluctance of medical personnel, who were burdened with much of the operation\u27s costs. Additionally, particularly in rural areas, there was widespread mistrust among the population towards doctors. Despite these challenges, the fight against smallpox enabled authorities to develop population control tools in the name of public health protection. However, it was not until 1888 that mandatory vaccination was introduced
