Search Results for: Focus su febbre gialla, tifo e epatite A, Meningite

Background
Patient-centred care (PCC) is one of the six key attributes of healthcare quality. However, despite its significant contribution to improving healthcare quality, PCC is often poorly implemented. This study aimed to explore the determinants of effective PCC implementation among healthcare providers at Kahama Municipal Hospital in Tanzania.

Objective
To explore the determinants influencing the effective implementation of PCC among healthcare providers at Kahama Municipal Hospital in Tanzania.

Design
A qualitative approach was used, with 21 healthcare providers recruited through purposive and convenience sampling methods. Data were collected through focus group discussions and key informant interviews, and content analysis was employed to analyse the data.

Setting
The study was conducted at Kahama Municipal Hospital, in the Kahama Municipal Council of the Shinyanga region, Tanzania, from February to June 2019. As a referral hospital, Kahama Municipal Hospital serves a vast catchment area, including rural and semiurban communities across more than eight regions in Tanzania’s Lake and Western zones.

Results
The study identified several factors related to healthcare professionals, including awareness of PCC, staff motivation, heavy workload, professional competencies and effective communication. Organisational-related determinants, such as the absence of ethical guidelines, a lack of a clear organisational culture and the absence of specific policies and guidelines on PCC, were also found to affect its effective implementation.

Conclusion
PCC is recognised at Kahama Municipal Hospital, but key barriers hinder its implementation, including unclear policies, lack of a PCC-focused vision, staff shortages, excessive workloads, low motivation, limited practical exposure and communication issues. To improve PCC implementation, healthcare policymakers and hospital administrators should: (1) establish clear PCC policies, (2) integrate a patient-centred vision into leadership, (3) address workforce shortages, (4) provide targeted training on PCC and (5) boost staff motivation through recognition and career development. Implementing these measures will improve care quality and health outcomes. Further large-scale research is needed to assess PCC implementation across Tanzania and guide national policy.

Introduction
Preventing online and offline sexual harassment (SH) is a public health priority, due to its worldwide magnitude and short- and long-term consequences to the victims and survivors. Universities are environments that may facilitate different forms of conflicts, including SH, but they also play a key role in preventing and addressing them. This paper describes ‘Uni4Equity’, a European project funded by the CERV-2022-DAPHNE Programme of the European Union (Ref. 101094121-Uni4Equity) aimed to reinforce universities’ readiness to identify, map and respond to online and offline SH at workplace and other relevant settings (classrooms, digital space), with an explicit (but not exclusive) focus on minority social groups. More specifically, the project will address the research needs of conducting multidimensional diagnosis of SH at universities (scale and determinants) as a basis for preventive actions; assessing the effectiveness of preventive interventions such as social media campaigns and training workshops; creating a university culture that actively rejects SH; improving access to existing support services; and contributing to the acknowledgement of universities as an asset in preventing this issue.

Methods and analyses
The project follows an exploratory sequential design for the period 2023–2026. In phase 1, a mixed-method initial assessment based on online surveys, semistructured interviews and desk reviews is planned in six targeted universities: University of Alicante, Adam Mickiewicz University (AMU), University of Maia, University of Applied Sciences Burgenland (UASB), University of Antwerp (UAntwerp), University of Verona. Phase 2 integrates long-term and large-scale interventions at different levels of prevention (primary, secondary and tertiary) and implementation (interpersonal, institutional and social). These interventions combine online and offline training programmes addressed to students and staff, arrangements with internal and external support services and improvements in access to information and resources, including SH protocols and regulations. Phase 3 consists of qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the different Uni4Equity interventions and a final evaluation of the global impact of the project.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethical approval was obtained by the different universities research ethics committees (Universidad de Alicante, vice-rectorate for research: Ref. no. UA-2023-03-27; Università di Verona, Comitato di Approvazione per la Ricerca sulla Persona: Ref. no. UNIVR-24/2023; UAntwerp, Ethics Committee for the Social Sciences and Humanities: Ref. no. EX_SHW_2023_38_1; AMU, Ethics Committee for Research Involving Human Participants, Ref. no. UAM_19/2022/2023; UASB, Ethics Committee: Ref. no. UASB _28/08/2023; Universidade da Maia, Conselho de Ética e Deontologia: Ref. no. UMAIA_ 151/2023).
The research team will disseminate findings through peer-reviewed journal articles, presentations in scientific national and international events, policy briefs, infographics, videos and short reports.

Introduction
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents a public health burden, with high prevalence and significant morbidity and mortality. Although evidence-based interventions exist, there is a need for more individualised care. The European project Individualised care from early risk of cardiovascular disease to established heart failure (iCARE4CVD) aims to personalise CVD prevention and treatment. Participatory health research, which actively involves patients in the planning, implementation and evaluation of projects, plays a crucial role here. However, patient participation is often unsuccessful due to the lack of a representative patient sample who is involved throughout the project’s duration, has knowledge of the project and can contribute their experience.

Methods and analysis
Participative Research for Individualised Care in Cardiovascular Diseases is a non-interventional, non-randomised, multicentre mixed-methods study. The aim is to incorporate patients’ insights into several key activities within iCARE4CVD by establishing country-specific patient panels in Belgium, Germany, Ireland and the UK. The primary objective is to identify patients’ preferences, experiences, requirements and needs for better diagnosis, treatment and self-care of CVD. Therefore, 10–12 patients across the CVD spectrum, from early risk to established CVD and heart failure, will be included in each country (40–48 in total). Over 3.5 years, patient panel members are required to complete four tasks: (1) identification of meaningful Patient-Reported Outcome and Experiences Measures, (2) development of a motivational model to increase adherence, (3) feedback on CVD care processes and (4) usability testing of new digital tools developed within iCARE4CVD. These tasks comprise eight activities in the form of paper-based or digital exercises, telephone surveys, written surveys and in-person focus groups. The results will be continuously incorporated into iCARE4CVD.

Ethics and dissemination
This study received ethical approval by the Ethics Committee at the Faculty of Medicine of RWTH Aachen University (EK 24-172) and St. Vincent’s University Hospital (RS24-027), Research Ethics Committee. In Geel and Belfast, positive ethics approval is pending. All participants will provide written informed consent prior to enrolment in the study and participation in the first patient panel task. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific conferences.

Trial registration number
DRKS00034899.

Protocol version
V2.1, 6 June 2024.

Objectives
This study explored the knowledge and awareness of Dutch patients, healthcare professionals (HCPs) and healthcare insurers on the climate impact of inhalers as well as (factors influencing) their attitude towards climate-friendly inhaler prescription.

Design/setting
We recruited participants for this qualitative study with purposive sampling. We conducted four online focus groups with patients, six with HCPs and two interviews with healthcare insurer representatives. Determinants were analysed with the Framework Approach.

Participants
21 patients, 27 HCPs and two healthcare insurer representatives.

Results
Knowledge and awareness on the climate impact of inhalers varied and was generally lower among patients and healthcare insurers than among HCPs. The attitude towards climate-friendly inhaler prescription was variable among patients and mainly positive among HCPs. Both patients and HCPs assigned a greater role to HCPs than to patients in considering climate impact and agreed that patients’ interest must remain paramount. Factors influencing implementation were mainly related to outcome expectancies, such as expected effect on freedom of choice, expected response of patients and expected effect on patients’ health. The latter is partly influenced by beliefs about different types of inhalers. HCPs expressed a need for information and training on the topic and for collaboration with other stakeholders in the field of pulmonary care. Healthcare insurers assign themselves a role in a more climate-friendly healthcare but are reluctant to direct the preference policy on climate impact.

Conclusions
Both patients and HCPs feel climate-friendly inhaler prescription is important. Implementation can be promoted by enhancing awareness and providing HCPs with information on inhaler climate impact, how to safely practice climate-friendly prescription and how to inform patients about its benefits. Both patients and HCPs emphasise the significance of preserving freedom of choice in prescription and highlight the need for a consensus approach on climate-friendly prescribing endorsed by all pulmonary care stakeholders.

Introduction
Vaccine hesitancy remains a critical public health challenge, especially in high-income countries. Gender differences in vaccine hesitancy can significantly affect vaccination rates and public health outcomes. The aim of this research is performing an umbrella review and meta-analysis to systematically investigate gender disparities in vaccine hesitancy for COVID-19 in high-income countries, as well as the quality, potential biases and dependability of epidemiological evidence.

Methods and analysis
The study will systematically search, extract and analyse data from reported systematic reviews and meta-analyses that focus specifically on gender differences in vaccine hesitancy. The search will include CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE and Epistemonikos for studies published from 2019 onward. The inclusion criteria will encompass systematic reviews and meta-analyses of non-interventional studies conducted in high-income countries. The identified factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy will be categorised based on demographic, psychological, social and economic dimensions. The methodological quality of the included meta-analyses will be assessed using the “Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses” tool.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethical approval is not required for this umbrella review. These results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO registration number
CRD42024572978.

Objectives
Modern healthcare is delivered by an increasingly multidisciplinary team, complicating workforce management. Patient safety inquiries have led to reports such as the Francis and Berwick reports (2013), which consistently emphasise the need for proper staffing to ensure patient safety. While nursing has seen progress with safe staffing guidelines, there remains a significant gap in guidance for medical staff. In the UK, consultants are the senior members of the medical profession who have achieved a Certification of Completion of Training (CCT) and are able to practice independently. The number of required consultants is based on population needs, and future consultant numbers are used to determine the number of doctor training positions. However, this approach often overlooks the specific staffing needs of individual hospitals, particularly regarding patient safety. Although a named consultant is responsible for patient care, the medical workforce that handles day-to-day operations in acute hospitals consists of a diverse group of staff who require varying degrees of supervision based on their competency and seniority. This group includes medical associates, such as physician associates, and resident doctors (formerly known as junior doctors) who themselves are a heterogeneous group needing different levels of oversight. As a result, the previous focus solely on consultant staffing requirements must be broadened to address the realities of patient care. At present, no single resource provides a comprehensive summary of staffing recommendations that includes all groups within the non-consultant medical workforce. This research aims to identify existing guidance for this part of the medical workforce to support healthcare management. The objectives of this study are, therefore, to identify guidance and recommendations for safe staffing levels from a patient safety perspective for non-consultant medical staff in UK acute hospitals.

Design
A scoping literature review was conducted and is reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines.

Data sources
This used five search strategies: internal website searches, Google Scholar searches, general Google searches, medical database searches via Ovid and a snowballing strategy.

Eligibility criteria
English-language resources published from 2015 to 2024 that provide specific guidance on safe medical staffing levels for National Health Service acute hospitals in the UK.

Data extraction and synthesis
Thematic analysis was employed to identify patterns in the diverse guidance discovered, using a hybrid approach that combined human and AI methods. The benefits and limitations of this method are discussed.

Results
The review yielded 10 703 resources, of which 10 met all eligibility criteria for analysis. Identified themes include staffing requirements, staffing recommendations and a tiered system approach.

Conclusions
Medical staffing is complex due to the varying roles and competencies involved. While some guidance exists, there is a clear need for more comprehensive recommendations that go beyond specific specialities. Future research should focus on developing a medical safe staffing tool and addressing the barriers to comprehensive guidance, both of which would enhance patient care.

Objective
To examine the association between behavioural risk factors and their physiological sequelae among adults aged 40 and above in Bo District, Sierra Leone.

Design
Cross-sectional study.

Setting
Household survey in Bo District, Sierra Leone.

Participants
The study included 1978 randomly sampled adults aged 40 and above (44.4% male and 55.6% female). The majority of participants were aged 40–49 years (34.5%). Data were collected using a household survey based on the validated WHO STEPs questionnaire.

Methods
Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine associations between behavioural risk factors (diet, physical activity and salt intake) and the presence of hypertension, diabetes and/or obesity, adjusting for sociodemographic variables.

Primary outcome measure
The primary outcomes were the presence of hypertension, diabetes or overweight/obesity. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure of ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure of ≥90 (measured); diabetes as fasting glucose of ≥7.0 mmol/L, random plasma glucose level of ≥11.1 mmol/L or the use of antidiabetic medications (self-reported) and overweight/obesity as having a body mass index of ≥25 kg/m² (measured).

Results
At least one physiological risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, that is, hypertension, obesity or diabetes, was present in 43.5% of participants. Hypertension was associated with urban living (OR=1.46, 95% CI (1.41 to 1.51)), older age (OR for 80+=3.98, 95% CI (3.70 to 4.28)), insufficient fruit and vegetable intake (OR=1.52, 95% CI (1.46 to 1.60)) and low physical activity (OR=1.35, 95% CI (1.27 to 1.43)). Diabetes was associated with urban residence (OR=1.84, 95% CI (1.66 to 2.05)), older age (OR for 70–79=3.82, 95% CI (3.28 to 4.45)), low fruit and vegetable consumption (OR=1.61, 95% CI (1.36 to 1.90)), high salt intake (OR=1.34, 95% CI (1.21 to 1.49)) and low physical activity (OR=1.47, 95% CI (1.26 to 1.71)). Obesity was associated with urban living (OR=1.66, 95% CI (1.59 to 1.72)), high salt intake from two or more sources (OR=1.21, 95% CI (1.17 to 1.25)) and low physical activity (OR=1.30, 95% CI (1.22 to 1.39)). Male sex (OR=0.37, 95% CI (0.36 to 0.38)) and older age (OR for 80+=0.39, 95% CI (0.35 to 0.43)) were protective factors.

Conclusions
In Bo District, nearly half of adults over 40 face hypertension, diabetes or obesity, especially urban dwellers, older age groups and those eating too few fruits and vegetables, consuming excess salt and getting little exercise. Public health efforts should focus on urban-targeted nutrition education, salt-reduction strategies, community exercise programmes and routine blood pressure and glucose screening, working with local leaders to ensure sustainable lifestyle changes and early disease detection.

Introduction
High-quality clinical practice guidelines and hospital standards on falls prevention and management now exist, yet their implementation into clinical practice is variable. Insights from consumers could help to guide the development of a process to improve the implementation of falls prevention and management, particularly in rehabilitation hospitals where fall rates are high.

Methods and analysis
A qualitative descriptive study will incorporate semistructured interviews and focus groups to explore the perspectives of hospital consumers on how hospital falls prevention evidence can best be implemented into rehabilitation practice. Thematic analysis of the data will be conducted in NVivo using a six-phase thematic coding process guided by Braun and Clarke. Evaluation and synthesis of the data will also follow the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist. Consideration of the results from the interviews and focus groups will provide insights into the views of people with lived experience of hospitalisation and falls. Thematic analysis will be supported by direct quotes for each key theme and will highlight how the themes relate to the study aims and the rehabilitation context.

Ethics and dissemination
The study was approved by La Trobe University Human Research Ethics Committee (HEC24526). The study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, and findings will be presented at conferences, workshops and online events.

Introduction
The prevalence of food allergies, particularly IgE-mediated allergies, is rising in developed countries, with cashew nut allergy emerging as a significant public health concern due to its potential for severe anaphylaxis and frequent association with atopic disorders. Cashew nuts are among the most common allergens in Europe and Australia, often involving cosensitisation with pistachios, hazelnuts and other allergens. Diagnosis relies on clinical history, measurement of specific IgE (sIgE) levels, skin prick tests (SPT) and oral food challenges (OFCs). Current management strategies focus on allergen avoidance and emergency interventions, whereas oral immunotherapy (OIT) represents a promising approach to desensitisation. Recent studies, including the NUT CRACKER trial, have reported high desensitisation rates with cashew OIT, although these are associated with a risk of adverse events. This study introduces a novel randomised controlled trial aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of cashew immunotherapy in children.

Methods and analysis
This randomised, open-label, parallel-group trial, with a 2:1 allocation ratio, will be conducted at the Department of Paediatric Pneumology and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland. Thirty-nine children, aged 4–17 years, with confirmed IgE-mediated cashew allergy via open OFC will be enrolled. Participants in the experimental group will undergo OIT, which involves gradually increasing doses of cashew protein up to a maintenance dose of 1200 mg. The duration of OIT will range from 12 to 60 weeks, depending on individual baseline tolerance. The control group will receive standard management, including strict cashew avoidance and emergency response strategies to accidental exposure, for 1 year.
The primary endpoint is to determine the proportion of participants tolerating a 4043 mg dose of cashew protein at the study’s end in the OIT group compared with the control group. Secondary outcomes include evaluating the safety profile of OIT, assessing changes in laboratory markers such as sIgE and IgG4 levels for cashew and the major cashew allergen Ana o 3, analysing basophil activation test responses and measuring changes in SPT wheal diameter at baseline and study completion.

Ethics and dissemination
The study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical University of Warsaw (approval number: KB/267/2023). Study findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences.

Trial registration number
NCT06328504.

Conferma da Izs Teramo, nei giorni scorsi 2 casi su cornacchie

Although national guidelines have recommended colorectal cancer (CRC) screening for nearly 3 decades, only about 72% of adults aged 50 to 74 years are up to date on screening. Persistent underuse of CRC screening presents an opportunity for applying the principles of implementation science to improve appropriate screening practices. The primary care setting is an ideal focus for these efforts. Before patients complete a primary care appointment, their eligibility for CRC should be ascertained, they should be informed about screening options, and testing should be ordered for those who are interested.

In Reply We appreciate the interest from Chan et al in our study. We agree that our work has some of the limitations that they underscore, most of which have been presented and discussed in the article text. Importantly, shared care is an applied care delivery strategy. For those who were randomized to shared care, they had a local team that would begin to follow up with them once engraftment occurred with the plan to alternate follow-up visits with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute team; however, sometimes they might be seen a bit more often locally (eg, if inclement weather made it difficult to get into Boston, Massachusetts) or at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (eg, if they needed follow-up with another Dana-Farber specialty consultant). Although this is admittedly a limitation in terms of absolute standardization of shared care, when we held our preprotocol focus groups with transplant patients and clinicians, they were clear that, given the complexity of posttransplant care, it would never be possible to mandate that patients in the shared care arm rigidly share care every other week. Indeed, we argue this is also a potential strength of our analysis, because shared care, when applied to the routine clinical care delivery setting will also need to have similar flexibility.

Introduction
People with intellectual disability experience lower levels of employment than those with other disabilities and those without disability, and typically require support services to access and maintain employment. Reviews on employment support often focus on the perspectives of providers and employers, meaning that, thus far, the perspectives of people with intellectual disability and their family members have not been collated and synthesised. This review will address this evidence gap.

Methods and analysis
Six databases (CINAHL, EconLit, EMBASE, Medline Complete, PsychINFO, Web of Science) will be comprehensively searched for the last 20 years to identify English-language, peer-reviewed publications including primary qualitative data. Search results will be independently screened by three reviewers (CP, NM, SF). Backwards and forwards citation tracing will be used to identify any additional literature not found by the searches. A narrative summary of the included studies will be provided. Study characteristics such as research focus, design, setting and findings will be independently extracted by one reviewer, checked by a second. Methodological quality will be independently evaluated by two reviewers using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Qualitative Studies Checklist. Findings from the studies will be collated using thematic synthesis and a realist approach. Any disagreement during the review process will be resolved by a third reviewer.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethics approval is not required to conduct the planned systematic review of peer-reviewed, published articles because the research does not involve human participants. Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, presented at leading disability conferences and disseminated via website postings and social media channels.

PROSPERO registration number
CRD42024615393.

Objective
To explore the barriers and facilitators to implementing the WHO’s Surgical Safety Checklist (SSC) at a tertiary-level hospital in Croatia, a country with a publicly funded universal healthcare system.

Design
Focus group-based study which used Graneheim and Lundman’s qualitative content analysis approach.

Setting and participants
We used purposive sampling to gather participants who were representative of the usual surgical team: nurses, residents, anaesthesiologists and surgeons. Aside from this requirement, we set no specific inclusion or exclusion criteria. We conducted 6 focus groups (2 with nurses, 2 with residents, 1 with anaesthesiologists and 1 with surgeons) with 29 participants. The nurses were all female, the residents and surgeons were all male, and anaesthesiologists were mostly male (60%). Most participants had at least a bachelor’s degree (93%). The focus groups were held in person at the hospital’s Department of Surgery in Croatia and were conducted in the local language, based on a predeveloped topic guide.

Results
Our analysis revealed two distinct themes that were fundamentally independent of each other. The first concerned within-team hierarchies and relationships that prevented the SSC from being used as intended, while the second was related to a diverse set of resource and logistical constraints that had existed before the implementation of the SSC.

Conclusions
Understanding the barriers faced by healthcare providers is crucial in designing training programmes that could help integrate the SSC into routine surgical practice. Our findings highlight the importance of actively including members of the surgical team in the implementation of the SSC and implementing interventions for improving within-team communication.

Stroke, Ahead of Print. BACKGROUND:As indications for and utilization of mechanical thrombectomy continue to expand, there has been an increasing focus on developing improved tools for functional outcome prediction. We aim to evaluate the reliability of utilizing the areas of contrast staining for the Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (s-ASPECTS) rating in immediate postthrombectomy flat-panel computed tomography and investigate its outcome predictive performance.METHODS:Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected institutional mechanical thrombectomy database spanning March 2018 to February 2024. s-ASPECTS was calculated. We used ordinal logistic regression models to estimate the relationship between s-ASPECTS and the 90-day modified Rankin Scale and the additional value of these findings to the linear predictor of the MR-PREDICTS tool.RESULTS:One thousand sixty-three patients were included in this study with a mean age of 65±15 years, with 53% being male. s-ASPECTS was independently associated with functional outcomes. s-ASPECTS was observed to have more relevance in the clinical predictive model compared with baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score, as well as to occlusion site and final expanded Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction grade. s-ASPECTS was lower among patients with more proximal occlusions, with a lower degree of final reperfusion, with a higher number of passes and longer procedures. The information gathered from flat-panel computed tomography added 18% of new information to MR-PREDICTS, as assessed by the ratio of the variances of the estimated probabilities of good functional outcome with an interobserver consensus score of κ=0.63.CONCLUSIONS:s-ASPECTS was reliably reported and found to be a stronger predictor of outcome compared with baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score, characterizing it as an important prognostic tool for evaluating functional outcomes of patients following mechanical thrombectomy. Further studies are warranted.

Focus su medicina di precisione con genomica e IA