The contribution of professors of Hygiene to the progress and development of public health in Italy: one hundred years of history.

In 1917 Achille Sclavo, a distinguished researcher and founder of the Italian Society of Hygiene, ended up the first term as Rector of the University of Siena. Since then, the contribution of professors of hygiene in Italian universities has ranged over several relevant topics including vaccinations, environmental hygiene, hospital hygiene, healthcare organization and management, with an important contribution to the health reform of 1978 by Augusto Giovanardi and Alessandro Seppilli. Several Academic Schools (Roman, Neapolitan, Genoese, Sicilian, Venetian, Lombard, etc.) have produced excellent researchers, teachers and mentors who have also occupied important positions in the panorama of the Italian health system. This note analyzes the main research topics, the most famous institutes and departments of hygiene and public health and the contributions of the most famous professors for the development of the discipline, the management of the post- graduated Schools in hygiene and preventive medicine, the commitment in scientific associations and the role of some of them in important institutional positions. Even through its contribution and constant commitment to the institutions, Italian public health has achieved the reputation of being one of the best known and appreciated in the international scientific community.

Knowledge, attitudes, and smoking behaviours among physicians specializing in public health: a multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals have an important role to play both as advisers-influencing smoking cessation-and as role models. However, many of them continue to smoke. The aims of this study were to examine smoking prevalence, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours among four cohorts physicians specializing in public health, according to the Global Health Profession Students Survey (GHPSS) approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicentre cross-sectional study was carried out in 24 Italian schools of public health. The survey was conducted between January and April 2012 and it was carried out a census of students in the selected schools for each years of course (from first to fourth year of attendance), therefore among four cohorts of physicians specializing in Public Health (for a total of n. 459 medical doctors). The GHPSS questionnaires were self-administered via a special website which is created ad hoc for the survey. Logistic regression model was used to identify possible associations with tobacco smoking status. Hosmer-Lemeshow test was performed. The level of significance was P ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 388 answered the questionnaire on the website (85%), of which 81 (20.9%) declared to be smokers, 309 (79.6%) considered health professionals as behavioural models for patients, and 375 (96.6%) affirmed that health professionals have a role in giving advice or information about smoking cessation. Although 388 (89.7%) heard about smoking related issues during undergraduate courses, only 17% received specific smoking cessation training during specialization. CONCLUSIONS: The present study highlights the importance of focusing attention on smoking cessation training, given the high prevalence of smokers among physicians specializing in public health, their key role both as advisers and behavioural models, and the limited tobacco training offered in public health schools.

Congenital rubella syndrome and immunity status of immigrant women living in southern Italy: a cross-sectional, seroepidemiological investigation.

OBJECTIVES: A National Programme to eliminate Measles and Congenital Rubella was implemented in Italy in 2003. It aimed to achieve elimination by 2010 in line with the targets set by the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of rubella antibodies in samples of immigrant women living in southern Italy. METHOD: A seroepidemiologic study was conducted from 1 January 2008 to June 30 2009. 489 immigrant women resident in Messina were enrolled in the study. The detection of rubella antibodies was performed using a microparticle enzyme immunoassay. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic data including age, country of origin, educational level and knowledge about rubella. RESULTS: The results of the seroepidemiological survey to detect rubella antibodies showed an overall seropositivity rate of 82.2%. Generally, knowledge about rubella and congenital rubella syndrome was lacking. CONCLUSION: Many immigrants are susceptible to rubella and may benefit from vaccination programmes. Additional catch-up vaccination strategies are urgently needed to eliminate the risk of congenital rubella syndrome for future generations.