Directorate of Health

Communication barriers and challenges in informed consent in prehospital emergency medical services: A case report of an elderly patient with hearing impairment and dementia

Background Older adults frequently require emergency medical services (EMS), and coexisting cognitive and sensory impairments can hinder history taking and informed consent in the prehospital environment. This case illustrates compounded communication failure caused by profound h...

Assessment of occupational health problems among hairdressers and their association with work conditions

BackgroundHairdressers are exposed to various occupational hazards, including musculoskeletal disorders, respiratory issues, and dermatological conditions due to prolonged standing, repetitive hand movements, and frequent contact with chemicals.ObjectiveThis study aims to assess...

Integrating urgent care centers into primary care networks to reduce emergency department overcrowding: a real-world implementation and evaluation

Emergency Department (ED) overcrowding is a major challenge for health systems and is often driven by high volumes of low-acuity visits. In 2023, the Emilia-Romagna Region in Italy implemented a network of community-based Urgent Care Centers (UCCs) to provide timely care for low-...

Risk Factors for Extended-Spectrum β-lactamase, Carbapenem, and Colistin Resistance Among Enterobacterales Bloodstream Infections in Intensive Care Units

Enterobacterales bloodstream infections (E-BSIs) in intensive care units (ICUs) are increasingly complicated by antimicrobial resistance. This retrospective study evaluated resistance patterns and phenotype-specific risk factors for extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production...

Medical students’ awareness and beliefs regarding third-hand smoke

Third-hand smoke refers to residual tobacco smoke contaminants that persist on indoor surfaces, dust, clothing, hair, and skin after smoking has ceased. This study assessed medical students’ prior awareness, perceived knowledge, and beliefs regarding third-hand smoke-related heal...

Google trends analysis of emerging tobacco and nicotine products in countries with the highest tobacco production and marketing between 2015 and 2024

Tobacco use remains one of the leading global public health threats. In recent years, emerging nicotine products—particularly electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products—have attracted growing attention. Monitoring online search behaviour provides timely insights into publi...

Contribution of Community Health Workers to Strengthening the Health System in Mali: Impact and Challenges, 2010-2024

Faced with a critical shortage of qualified personnel (6 health workers per 10,000 inhabitants compared to the 23 per 10,000 recommended by the World Health Organization) and limited access to healthcare, Mali institutionalized community-based essential health care in 2009. This...

Evaluation of Alexithymia Level in Children With Cystic Fibrosis

The present study sought to determine the extent of alexithymia within the cystic fibrosis (CF) population and examine how it relates to both the severity of the illness and the effectiveness of patient disease management strategies. The study sample included adolescents aged 14...

Comparative Evaluation of ChatGPT-5.2, Claude Sonnet 4.5, and DeepSeek for Rosacea-Related Information: Accuracy, Reliability, Readability, and Reference Hallucinations

Background/Objectives: Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that requires long-term management and continuous patient education regarding triggers, skincare practices, and treatment adherence. In recent years, patients have increasingly turned to online platforms and ar...

Factors associated with sleep disturbances in nursing students at the University of Palermo

<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Introduction</bold> : sleep disorders are very common among university students and can have negative effects on physical and mental health and academic performance. There is a close correlation between sleep disorders and psychological and behaviour...

Assessment of social distance toward refugees and related factors among prehospital emergency health care providers

Objective: Social distance towards refugees among health care providers reflects how refugees benefit from health services and empathy, acceptance, and discrimination. Social distance is crucial for Pre-Hospital Emergency Health Care Providers (PHEHCP), who are the first group to...

Multidimensional Associations Between Psychiatric Symptoms, Sleep Disturbance, Biological Variables, and Fibromyalgia Severity: A Classification and Regression Tree and Path Analysis Study

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex chronic pain disorder characterized by interactions among psychological, biological, and clinical factors. Although psychiatric symptoms and sleep disturbance are recognized contributors to disease burden, their multidimensional relation...