ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: High level of attendance by population is considered a proof of the efficacy in the screening programmes. Public health aims to increase people's attendance to cancer screening. The study aimed at assessing the level of knowledge and awareness about screening of citizens in Cagliari, from June to July 2016. METHODS: Recruitment took place near the atrium of the two main shopping centres of the city. The sample included 270 adults (138 men), 18-75 years old (mean age 46 years old). The information gathered from interviews were categorized by dichotomizing answers according to the knowledge and understanding of the discussed topics. Descriptive analysis was performed. The Chi-square test was used to assess gender and educational differences. RESULTS: Results show that population's knowledge of screening is limited. Although the word "screening" is known, only half of the people who declared to have heard of this word know about the aim of screening. Colorectal cancer screening is the least known. Men and people with lower education are less informed than women and those with high education level. CONCLUSION: In order to raise knowledge and awareness about cancer screening, special attention should be paid to communication and to the use of plain language. Future action should highlight the benefit of the screening procedure and thus contributing to spread the cancer prevention culture. Gender and socioeconomic inequalities must be taken into account when planning screening communication campaigns. General practitioner are highly trusted by people. They could play a decisive role to promote screening attendance.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Early Detection of Cancer , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Educational Status , Female , Health Education , Health Promotion , Humans , Italy , Male , Middle Aged , Sex Factors , Young AdultABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Health care Workers are exposed to infectious diseases more than the general population. Many of these infections are preventable by vaccination. The objective in this study is to investigate whether, how, and which vaccination underwent Sardinia Health Care Workers (HCWs) and the variability of policies in different Hospital Health Managements of the whole region. METHODS: In March 2013, we enrolled the Hospital Health Management of all the 32 Sardinia hospitals. We investigate on immunity against vaccine-preventable diseases and education campaigns about recommended vaccinations for HCWs. Flu, hepatitis B, measles-mumps-rubella, varicella and tuberculosis were the objects of our research. RESULTS: In most of the hospitals, influenza vaccination coverage among HCWs is less than 6%. Hepatitis B antibody assay was performed in all the respondent hospitals but only 14 had available data as collected electronically. Most of the hospitals did not perform serological tests for the evaluation of antibodies against Varicella, Measles, Mumps and Rubella in their HCWs. In 30 hospitals Mantoux test was replaced or integrated by "in vitro" test for health surveillance protocols. CONCLUSIONS: This method produced a large amount of data in small time and at a low cost. Sending back data to respective Hospital Health Management (HHM) we took a step towards greater awareness of the issue of biological risks of HCWs and of vaccine coverage.
Subject(s)
Communicable Disease Control , Vaccination , Communicable Diseases , Humans , Italy , Personnel, Hospital , VaccinesABSTRACT
The imaging techniques have a fundamental role in the diagnosis of endometriosis. Ovarian endometriosis (endometrioma) and deep endometriosis can be recognized using transvaginal ultrasound and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Although transvaginal ultrasound is the first choice of imaging modality when investigating women with pelvic pain, MRI have a role for the wider field of visions. The reproducibility of both techniques has been investigated. The three-dimensional ultrasonography has been proposed. Also studies regarding unusual localizations are reported in the literature. New insights are present about the role of imaging in the detection of the malignant transformations. This review summarizes the current evidence on the diagnostic accuracy of these two techniques in the pre-surgical assessment of endometriosis.
