Change in Pediatric Health Care Spending and Drug Utilization during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate how the restrictive measures implemented during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have influenced the incidence of the most common children's diseases and the consumption of medications in 2020 compared to 2019. METHODS: We involved all family pediatricians of the local health authority of Latina, from which we requested data of monthly visits in 2019 and 2020 for six common diseases disseminated through droplets and contact, and the territorial and integrative pharmaceutical unit of the area, from which we requested data of the net expenditure regarding the most commonly used drugs at pediatric age. RESULTS: There was significant reduction in the incidence of the evaluated diseases and in the consumption of investigated drugs between 2019 and 2020 in the months when the restrictive measures were in place, with an attenuation of this effect during the months of the gradual loosening of those measures. CONCLUSION: Nonpharmaceutical intervention measures have caused changes in the diffusion of common pediatric diseases. We believe that the implementation of a reasonable containment strategy, even outside of the pandemic, could positively influence the epidemiology of infectious and allergic diseases in children, and healthcare system spending.

[Attitude and compliance towards influenza vaccination among health care workersin two Italian hospitals after a vaccination promotion campaign]. / Atteggiamento degli operatori sanitari di due ospedali italiani nell'ambito di una campagna di promozione della vaccinazione antinfluenzale.

In the season 2013-2014, a campaign to promote influenza vaccination among health care workers (HCWs) was conducted in two Italian hospitals, based on an educational toolkit and attitude and compliance towards vaccination were investigated. Overall, 36% of the HCWs get vaccinated almost once, 2.3% in 2013-14 season for the first time, 57% never, 7% do not know or not remember. The main reason for vaccination was reportedly to avoid taking sick-leave (29.7%); while refusal was guided by the low risk-perception associated with influenza (38.5%). Interventions based only on education and communication seem not to be sufficient; an integrated approach with multiple components is needed to achieve higher coverage rates and to ensure a successful vaccination campaign.