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The aim of this paper is to examine if and how the reclassification of platform workers from self-employment status to employment status can provide them with adequate social security protection. Little is known about how this transition would guarantee platform workers adequate social protection within the social protection scheme for employees. National social security schemes, in particular income replacement benefit schemes, often (still) depart from the standard employment relationship, leading to lower protection for atypical work forms. Platform workers combine several of the characteristics of atypical forms of work, such as low earnings, irregular working patterns and working. Integrating platform workers into employee social security schemes faces additional challenges due to the online nature of their work, algorithmic management, high levels of unpaid labor, and employer identification difficulties. This paper focuses on unemployment protection, as EU Member States struggle to provide adequate protection for workers with irregular work patterns and income fluctuations, in the case of (short term) income replacement benefits. By constructing nine ideal work patterns reflective of diverse nature of platform work and current practices among platform work, we analyse how different types of 'employed' platform workers may fare within the legislation of three EU countries (Belgium, Italy, and the Netherlands). This approach allows us to assess the applicability of unemployment protection to different working patterns among 'employed' platform workers, considering formal, effective, and adequate access to unemployment schemes as outlined in the Council Recommendation on access to social protection for workers and the self-employed (2019). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although women's representation in STEM fields and occupations has increased, science and math continue to be stereotyped as male domains. This paper links psychological and sociological explanations for gendered disparities in STEM by examining the relationship between the local "micro-situational" female learning environment and the gender gap in academic self-concept in math and science. We applied hybrid models to TIMSS 2015 data comprised of a pseudo-panel of repeated measures for individual student and peer achievement, academic self-concept, utility value, and interest-enjoyment value in math/science (at age 14). We analyzed data from three countries, including a subsample of students who were taught by the same teacher in both math and science, thus eliminating unobserved teacher heterogeneity. Results indicate that female peer climate in the classroom is important for understanding how girls' self-concept in math/science is formed, even though it was unrelated to the gender gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consistent with the social and institutional paradigm, countries with similar cultures, such as Italy and Spain, may show similar trends in the development of accounting research. This article develops a Comparative International Accounting History perspective, which is aimed at comparing accounting history subjects and themes in different countries. This research analyses publication patterns in accounting, understanding emerging topics and fields. It compares the last 20 years of Italian and Spanish accounting journals, developing a content analysis of each issue in the 20-year time frame from 1994 to 2014. Highlighting common trends and insights, this article adds to previous literature that examines publishing patterns of research in accounting journals from a historical point of view. It demonstrates that accounting research is developing beyond the institutional paradigm, showing an internationalisation process and trends consistent with Anglo-Saxon Journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper draws on two experiences of undertaking comparative research in England, Sweden and Italy, and offers a discussion of the kinds of dilemmas raised in relation to language and meaning surfaced by these. Its primary focus is to examine the reflexive construction of meaning, both in relation generally to the workings of an international research team and, more specifically, how such construction of meaning impacts on the process of qualitative interviewing across linguistic and cultural boundaries. The article argues that a culture of reflexive research practice is helpful for approaching national differences, to facilitate understanding in internationally mixed research teams and to support and empower participants in research, in second languages and differing cultures. Overall, the paper attempts to advance some tentative ideas that other international researchers may be able to consider and deploy in relation to their own research ambitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Selective crossectomy and mechanochemical ablation (MOCA) of great saphenous vein (GSV) have been used, for years, individually in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. In this paper, we focus on the advantages of a combination of the two techniques, in order to prevent complications and recurrence. Methods: A preoperative clinical and instrumental screening phase was conducted for the purpose of dividing patients into three groups: "Saph+Cross" group (51/139 patients) underwent saphenectomy and crossectomy; "MOCA" group (44/139 patients) underwent MOCA of GSV with Flebogrif® device; "MOCA + Cross" group (44/139 patients) subjected to both MOCA and crossectomy procedures. Recurrence rate, defined as total recanalization of GSV and/or onset of neosaphena and/or new varicose veins, was used as a primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were procedural time and intra- and post-procedural complications. Results: We conducted a 1-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up with Duplex scan. The recurrence rates were 3.9%, 21.8%, and 4.5% for "Saph+Cross," "MOCA," and "MOCA+Cross," respectively, with a significant difference for the comparison between "MOCA" and "Saph+Cross" (MOCA vs Saph+Cross: OR 5.35, CI95% [0.98; 54.6], p -value.040). The sub-analysis of primary outcome highlighted a lower recanalization rate of GSV when combining the crossectomy with MOCA procedure (2.2% MOCA+Cross vs 15.9% MOCA; 0.12 OR, [0.002; 1.02] CI95%, p -value.029). Among the secondary outcomes, "MOCA" showed a shorter procedural time than the other groups (Saph+Cross: 51.3 ± 11.4; MOCA: 45.1 ± 7.5; MOCA+Cross: 50.4 ± 10; p -value.027). No significant differences were noted in terms of intra- and post-procedural complications. Conclusions: The results showed that patients treated with saphenectomy and crossectomy have a lower recurrence rate compared to MOCA alone and MOCA + crossectomy procedures. The association of crossectomy with MOCA significantly reduces the recanalization rate of GSV, and it is also characterized by a higher free survival from recurrence (SSF) than with MOCA alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020 created dangerous public health conditions which pressured governments and health systems to respond in a rapid and effective manner. However, this type of rapid response required many governments to bypass standing; bureaucratic structures of health sector administration and political governance to quickly take; essential measures against a rapidly evolving public health threat. Each government's particular; configuration of governmental and health system decision-making created specific structural and functional challenges to these necessary centrally developed and coordinated strategies. Most East Asian governments (except Japan) succeeded relatively quickly in centralizing essential disease control and treatment initiatives in a timely manner. In contrast, a number of European countries, especially those with predominantly tax-based financing and politically managed health delivery systems, had greater difficulty in escaping bureaucratic governance and management constraints. Drawing on data about these governments' early stage COVID-19 control experiences, this article suggests that structural changes will be necessary if low-performing governments are to better respond to a pandemic. This paper also summarizes other relatively successful strategies. By adopting such strategies, nations can help overcome structural bureaucratic and administrative obstacles in responding to further waves of COVID-19 or similar future pandemic events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a critique and further development of points made in Scalia's account of Italian juvenile justice as a `lesson in tolerance', published in an earlier issue of the journal. It discusses tolerance as a value and as a fact, the supposed sources of tolerance, and the stages at which tolerance can be displayed. It then re-examines quantitative and qualitative evidence of tolerance in Italy, paying special attention to comparing like with like, and considers the relevance of the wider conditions that may help shape Italian patterns of tolerance. It concludes with some brief cautions about how far lessons can be drawn from Italian practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain is a frequently reported musculoskeletal disorder, but few studies have compared data between countries. Objectives: Examine prevalence, severity, and sick leave and explore potential risk factors associated with pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain in Italian women and compare the results to a similar study in Norway, utilizing the same questionnaire. Design: Cross-sectional Methods: Italian (n = 481) and Norwegian women (n = 435) were allocated from two public hospitals in Rome (Fatebenefratelli San Giovanni Calibita-Isola Tiberina) and Oslo (Oslo University Hospital), as well as four antenatal clinics in Modena (Italy). The questionnaire was completed between gestation weeks 32 and 36, addressing women's experiences of pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain and sick leave in current week, and retrospectively for prepregnancy, first and second trimesters. Results: In Italy and Norway, 39% and 57% of pregnant women reported pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain, respectively, with 11% and 25% experiencing severe pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain. Pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain was associated with sick leave in Norway (p < 0.01), but not in Italy (p = 0.66) at late gestation. In both countries, women with pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain versus those with no pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain were more likely to be multiparous (Italy: 40% versus 31%, p = 0.06 and Norway: 53% versus 38%, p < 0.01), and have gestational weight gain above guidelines (Italy: 21% versus 13%, p = 0.02% and Norway: 27% versus 14%, p < 0.01) and previous experience of pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain (Italy: 15% versus 2%, p < 0.01 and Norway: 31% versus 4%, p < 0.01). Maternal exercise (⩾2 times weekly) was associated with less pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain (Italy: odds ratio = 0.33, 95% confidence interval = 0.11–1.0, p = 0.05 and Norway: odds ratio = 0.55, 95% confidence interval = 0.29–1.0, p = 0.06). Conclusion: We observed high rates of pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain in Italy and Norway, with Norwegian women reporting the highest prevalence and severity level. While both countries had similar rates of sick leave in late gestation, an association between pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain and sick leave was observed among Norwegian women only. Health care providers should be proactive in addressing pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain through open communication and seeking input from pregnant individuals. However, it is essential to acknowledge that the current evidence on effective treatments remains limited and inconclusive, highlighting the need for further research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Italian and American hospitals, in two different periods, have been urged by external circumstances to extensively redesign their quality improvement strategies. This paper, through the use of a survey administered to chief quality officers in both countries, aims to identify commonalities and differences between the two systems and to understand which approaches are effective in improving quality of care. In both countries chief quality officers report quality improvement has become a strategic priority, clinical governance approaches, and tools—such as disease-specific quality improvement projects and clinical pathways—are commonly used, and there is widespread awareness that clinical decision making must be supported by protocols and guidelines. Furthermore, the study clearly outlines the critical importance of adopting a system-wide approach to quality improvement. To this extent Italy seems lagging behind compared to US in fact: (i) responsibilities for different dimensions of quality are spread across different organizational units; (ii) quality improvement strategies do not typically involve administrative staff; and (iii) quality performance measures are not disseminated widely within the organization but are reported primarily to top management. On the other hand, in Italy chief quality officers perceive that the typical hospital organizational structure, which is based on clinical directories, allows better coordination between clinical specialties than in the United States. In both countries, the results of the study show that it is not the single methodology/model that makes the difference but how the different quality improvement strategies and tools interact to each other and how they are coherently embedded with the overall organizational strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer prevalence is the proportion of people in a population diagnosed with cancer in the past and still alive. One way to estimate prevalence is via population-based registries, where data on diagnosis and life status of all incidence cases occurring in the covered population are collected. In this paper, a method to estimate the complete prevalence and its variance from population-based registries is presented. In order to obtain unbiased estimates of the complete prevalence, its calculation can be thought as made by three steps. Step 1 counts the incidence cases diagnosed during the period of registration and still alive. Step 2 estimates the expected number of survivors among cases lost to follow-up. Step 3 estimates the complete prevalence by taking into account cases diagnosed before the start of registration. The combination of steps 1+2 is defined as the counting method, to estimate the limited duration prevalence; step 3 is the completeness index method, to estimate the complete prevalence. For early established registries, steps 1+2 are more important than step 3, because observation time is long enough to include all past diagnosed cases still alive in the prevalence data. For more recently established registries, step 3 is by far the most critical because a large part of prevalence might have been diagnosed before the period of registration (Corazziari I, Mariotto A, Capocaccia R. Correcting the completeness bias of observed prevalence. Tumori 1999; 85: 370–81). The work by Clegg LX, Gail MH, Feuer EJ. Estimating the variance of disease-prevalence estimates from population-based registries. Biometrics 2002; 55: 1137–44. considers the problem of the variability of the estimated prevalence up to step 2. To our knowledge, no other work has considered the variability induced by correcting for the unobserved cases diagnosed before the period of registration, crucial to estimate the prevalence in recent registries. An analytic approach is considered to calculate the variance of step 3. A unified expression for the variance of the prevalence allowing for steps 1 through 3 is obtained. Some applications to cancer data are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copying a text quickly and accurately is important both in school and in daily life. However, this skill has never been systematically studied, either in children with typical development (TD) or in children with specific learning disabilities (SLD). The aim of this research was to study the features of a copy task and its relationship with other writing tasks. For this purpose, 674 children with TD and 65 children with SLD from Grades 6 through 8 in Italy were tested with a copy task and other writing assessment tasks, measuring three aspects of writing: handwriting speed, spelling, and expressive writing. Children with SLD performed worse on the copy task, both in terms of speed and accuracy, than children with TD. Copy speed was predicted by grade level and by all three major writing skills for children with TD but only by handwriting speed and spelling for children with SLD. Copy accuracy was predicted by gender and the three major writing skills for children with TD but only by spelling for children with SLD. These results suggest that children with SLD also have difficulty copying a text and benefit less than children with TD from their other writing skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Advance care planning supports patients to reflect on and discuss preferences for future treatment and care. Studies of the impact of advance care planning on healthcare use and healthcare costs are scarce. Aim: To determine the impact on healthcare use and costs of an advance care planning intervention across six European countries. Design: Cluster-randomised trial, registered as ISRCTN63110516, of advance care planning conversations supported by certified facilitators. Setting/participants: Patients with advanced lung or colorectal cancer from 23 hospitals in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia and the UK. Data on healthcare use were collected from hospital medical files during 12 months after inclusion. Results: Patients with a good performance status were underrepresented in the intervention group (p < 0.001). Intervention and control patients spent on average 9 versus 8 days in hospital (p = 0.07) and the average number of X-rays was 1.9 in both groups. Fewer intervention than control patients received systemic cancer treatment; 79% versus 89%, respectively (p < 0.001). Total average costs of hospital care during 12 months follow-up were €32,700 for intervention versus €40,700 for control patients (p = 0.04 with bootstrap analyses). Multivariable multilevel models showed that lower average costs of care in the intervention group related to differences between study groups in country, religion and WHO-status. No effect of the intervention on differences in costs between study groups was observed (p = 0.3). Conclusions: Lower care costs as observed in the intervention group were mainly related to patients' characteristics. A definite impact of the intervention itself could not be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article contributes to the debate on the enterprise culture, which is characterised by the celebration of risk-taking and self-realisation, which in turn also implies self-responsibilisation and atomisation of the workforce. It does so by investigating organisations created with the aim of finding alternatives for freelancers, who epitomise the processes of individualisation typical of late capitalism. The organisations studied, both companies and cooperatives, aim to enable freelancers to combine autonomy in running their business with access to labour and social rights and inclusion in a collective. Drawing on a multiple case study conducted in France and Italy, the article investigates how organisations can counteract the processes of self-responsibilisation and atomisation of the workforce by enacting principles typical of alternative organisations. This study thus provides a twofold contribution to critical organisational theory and sociological literature on the individualisation of work and feasible alternatives to it. Our findings show, first, that the enterprise culture can be challenged through alternative organising even when freelancers – a category of workers embodying the contemporary processes of individualisation – are at stake. Second, the study of these emerging organisations also contributes to the flourishing debate on alternative organisations by adding an original empirical contribution to ongoing reflections on alternatives to market capitalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Surprise Question ('Would I be surprised if this patient died within 12 months?') identifies patients in the last year of life. It is unclear if 'surprised' means the same for each clinician, and whether their responses are internally consistent. Aim: To determine the consistency with which the Surprise Question is used. Design: A cross-sectional online study of participants located in Belgium, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Switzerland and UK. Participants completed 20 hypothetical patient summaries ('vignettes'). Primary outcome measure: continuous estimate of probability of death within 12 months (0% [certain survival]–100% [certain death]). A threshold (probability estimate above which Surprise Question responses were consistently 'no') and an inconsistency range (range of probability estimates where respondents vacillated between responses) were calculated. Univariable and multivariable linear regression explored differences in consistency. Trial registration: NCT03697213. Setting/participants: Registered General Practitioners (GPs). Of the 307 GPs who started the study, 250 completed 15 or more vignettes. Results: Participants had a consistency threshold of 49.8% (SD 22.7) and inconsistency range of 17% (SD 22.4). Italy had a significantly higher threshold than other countries (p = 0.002). There was also a difference in threshold levels depending on age of clinician, for every yearly increase, participants had a higher threshold. There was no difference in inconsistency between countries (p = 0.53). Conclusions: There is variation between clinicians regarding the use of the Surprise Question. Over half of GPs were not internally consistent in their responses to the Surprise Question. Future research with standardised terms and real patients is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Current exercise guidelines recommend women to exercise throughout pregnancy, and the benefits are well documented. Still, there is an increasing decline of exercise levels during pregnancy and a high percentage of them are sedentary. It is well established that individual attitudes and perception of barriers may influence the ability to engage in sufficient amount of exercise. This has, however, not been examined in an Italian pregnant population. Hence, the aims of the present study were to increase knowledge of facilitators and barriers to regular exercise in Italian pregnant women and to report their social support in regard to maternal exercise. Methods: Healthy, pregnant women (n=513) were allocated from Fatebenefratelli San Giovanni Calibita, a public hospital in Rome, and four antenatal clinics in Rome and Modena. The participants completed a validated self-administrated questionnaire, the Physical Activity Pregnancy Questionnaire, in gestational week 36. In line with current American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines (2020), participants were categorized as “regular exercisers” (⩾150min/week) and “not regular exercisers” (<150 min/week). Results: Only 4.6% of the women engaged in regular physical activity/exercise in the third trimester. “Insufficient time” (54%) were the only barrier negatively associated with exercise. The facilitators “relaxation/recreation” (18%), “prevention of health complaints” (15%), “enjoyment” (10%), and “prevention of gestational weight gain” (4%) were associated with achieving the recommendations of exercise. This study found no association between achieving the recommendations and childhood exercise/having social modeling, or exercising network/milieu (p=0.294 and p=0.123). Nevertheless, exercising together with others was a significant predictor for regular maternal exercise (p<0.001). Most women did not receive any advice on exercise during pregnancy from their doctor or midwife (60.0 %). Yet, those who received such advice were significantly more likely to exercise regularly compared to those who did not (75.0% vs 38.2%; p<0.001). Conclusion: Italian pregnant women mainly reported internal facilitators for their willingness to participate in regular maternal exercise, while barriers were primarily related to inconveniences (such as insufficient time and difficulty combining with work/studies). The study addresses the positive association between achieving the recommended amount of exercise and social support in terms of exercising with others and getting advice from health professions. Because women respect their doctor and have regular prenatal checkups, this health care setting can play a pivotal role in the initiation and maintenance of exercise behavior during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limitations in hand function are common among children with cerebral palsy (CP), with almost 50% presenting an arm–hand dysfunction. However, there is no standardized assessment tool available in Italian for evaluating bimanual performance for this population. Our objective in this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of an Italian translation of the ABILHAND-Kids (ABILHAND-Kids-IT) among children with CP. We examined internal consistency using Cronbach's Alpha and Omega coefficients, and we investigated test-retest reliability with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). We performed explorative factor analysis (EFA) to investigate structural validity. We calculated Pearson's correlation coefficients between the ABILAND-Kids IT and the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) to assess criterion validity; and, to demonstrate the score variability of the ABILHAND-Kids-IT, we used analyses of variance (ANOVAs) to compare the 181 children with CP in this sample with their levels on the MACS. We enrolled 181 children with CP in the study. EFA confirmed a uni-dimensional scale. We obtained internal consistency on both Cronbach's Alpha and Omega coefficient of 0.98, and a one-week test-retest reliability analysis revealed an ICC with 95% of confidence interval of.992. The ANOVA revealed significant score variability (p < 0.01) and the Pearson correlation coefficient comparing the ABILHAND-Kids-It score with the MACS was –0.929 (p < 0.01). We conclude that the ABILHAND-Kids-IT is valid and reliable for use with Italian children with CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers interested in intimate partner violence (IPV) have focused primarily on male-against-female cases. We conducted two experimental investigations to examine the influence of moral evaluation, attribution of responsibility, and right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) on the willingness of bystanders to provide help to the victim in an IPV case involving a same-sex couple. Study 1 (N = 195) surveyed a heterosexual participant sample, and Study 2 (N = 120) surveyed a sample of gay and lesbian participants. In both studies, participants read a fictitious article describing an alleged IPV episode that occurred either in a male–male or a female–female couple. Each participant read an article describing one of two versions of a case of IPV: In one account, the victim admitted to infidelity and in the other, the victim did not confess to infidelity. The participants subsequently evaluated the victim and expressed their willingness (or lack thereof) to support and provide help to the injured party. In both studies, participants in the condition that included the admission of infidelity assessed the victim to be less moral and more responsible for the violent episode. Consequently, participants of both studies expressed lesser willingness to provide help to the victim. Moreover, in Study 1, the relationship between the admission of infidelity and the respondents' willingness to support the victim was moderated by RWA. Particularly, the admission of infidelity by the victim reduced the respondents' willingness to extend support only when they reported a medium to a high level of RWA ideology. By focusing specifically on same-sex IPV cases, this study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the reactions of witnesses with regard to IPV. Furthermore, it provides evidence about the underlying mechanisms mitigating the intervention of bystanders in such cases and identifies boundary conditions that exacerbate their (un)willingness to intervene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospitals play a critical role in providing essential care during emergencies; however, this essential care can overwhelm the functional capacity of health systems. In Italy, substantial cuts in funding have drastically reduced the resources of the National Health Service (NHS) and contributed to the expansion of the private health sector which, unlike the public health system, does not have the capacity to deal with a health emergency such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The purpose of this article is to show how the privatization of the NHS contributed to making Italy more vulnerable and unprepared to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. The available capacity and resources in the public and private emergency services systems in Italy are compared, including a focus on the numbers of hospital staff, hospitals, and hospital beds. The reduced funding and subsequent shortfalls in services in the NHS are reasons why extreme measures were needed to increase these resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. A public NHS in Italy would be better prepared for future health emergencies. The lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic can help to inform future health systems strategies, to halt the current financial decline and performance loss of national health systems, and to enable better preparation for future health emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This article reports the results of an exploratory comparative study that investigated errors made by social work practitioners. Two groups of social workers, one in Italy and one in Mainland China, answered questions about the causes and effects of mistakes, professional errors and reactions to errors committed by their colleagues, and the influence of intuition on the decision-making process that generates mistakes and errors of professional judgement. Findings: The most salient differences between the Italian and Chinese respondents related to their willingness to talk about their mistakes and their confidence in the training received. A longer social work tradition in Italy helps practitioners in that country to feel stronger and to engage in a reflective learning process rather than defensive actions. As members of a new and not yet fully recognized profession, social workers in Mainland China are more likely to blame external circumstances for negative outcomes. Both groups shared the same positive consideration of intuition and the risk of losing service users' trust. Applications: The purpose of the article is to foster better understanding of errors and mistakes in social work, as well as more open discussion and reflection on social work practice and how to prevent negative outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latent autoregressive models are useful time series models for the analysis of infectious disease data. Evaluation of the likelihood function of latent autoregressive models is intractable and its approximation through simulation-based methods appears as a standard practice. Although simulation methods may make the inferential problem feasible, they are often computationally intensive and the quality of the numerical approximation may be difficult to assess. We consider instead a weighted pairwise likelihood approach and explore several computational and methodological aspects including estimation of robust standard errors and the role of numerical integration. The suggested approach is illustrated using monthly data on invasive meningococcal disease infection in Greece and Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample (N = 3,093) of Finnish and Italian registered nurses to identify differences related to generation, country, gender, and educational level in their perceptions and opinions about workplace-related dimensions of nursing and their managers' leadership practices. The Multidimensional Nursing Generations Questionnaire (MNGQ) and two subscales of the Transformational Leadership Scale (TLS), "Feedback and Rewards" and "Professional Development," were used as survey tools. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Statistically significant (p <.05) generational and country differences emerged in the MNGQ components "Conflicts between generations," "Patient safety view," "Relationships between generations," "Working as a multigenerational team," "Orientation to change," "Intention to leave," and "Flexibility and availability." Generational and country differences also emerged for the two TLS subscales. Generational differences existed between registered nurses of different generations and countries, and should be considered in leading multigenerational nurses' workforces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While the need for palliative care in long-term care facilities is growing, it is unknown whether palliative care in this setting is sufficiently developed. Aim: To describe and compare in six European countries palliative care provision in long-term care facilities and to assess associations between patient, facility and advance care planning factors and receipt and timing of palliative care. Design: Cross-sectional after-death survey regarding care provided to long-term care residents in Belgium, England, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland. Generalized estimating equations were used for analyses. Setting/participants: Nurses or care assistants who are most involved in care for the resident. Results: We included 1298 residents in 300 facilities, of whom a majority received palliative care in most countries (England: 72.6%–Belgium: 77.9%), except in Poland (14.0%) and Italy (32.1%). Palliative care typically started within 2 weeks before death and was often provided by the treating physician (England: 75%–the Netherlands: 98.8%). A palliative care specialist was frequently involved in Belgium and Poland (57.1% and 86.7%). Residents with cancer, dementia or a contact person in their record more often received palliative care, and it started earlier for residents with whom the nurse had spoken about treatments or the preferred course of care at the end of life. Conclusion: The late initiation of palliative care (especially when advance care planning is lacking) and palliative care for residents without cancer, dementia or closely involved relatives deserve attention in all countries. Diversity in palliative care organization might be related to different levels of its development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To analyze the results of isolated left subclavian artery (LSA) revascularization during thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) using carotid-subclavian bypass (CSbp) or chimney grafts (CGs).Methods: A retrospective multicenter, observational study identified 73 patients (mean age 68±13 years, range 22-87; 56 men) with acute or chronic thoracic aortic lesions who underwent TEVAR with isolated LSA revascularization using either CSbp (n=42) or CGs (n=31) from January 2010 and February 2017. Primary endpoints were TEVAR-related mortality, postoperative stroke, freedom from type Ia endoleak, and LSA patency.Results: Primary technical success was achieved in all cases. Early TEVAR-related mortality was 4.2% (CSbp 2% vs CG 6%, p=0.571). Two (3%) patients had major ischemic strokes (one in each group). Mean follow-up was 24±21 months (range 1-72; median 15). Estimated freedom from TEVAR-related mortality was 93%±3% (95% CI 84.3% to 97.0%) at 12 and 36 months, with no significant difference between CSbp and CG (p=0.258). Aortic reintervention did not differ between the groups (CSbp 5% vs CG 6%, p=0.356); nor did freedom from type Ia endoleak (CSbp 98% vs CG 87%, p=0.134). Gutter-related endoleaks occurred in 4 (13%) CG patients, but none of the patients experienced sac enlargement or the need for reintervention and none died. Primary patency of the LSA was 100% for the entire group during the observation period.Conclusion: In our experience, LSA revascularization proved most satisfactory and equally effective with both the CSbp and CG techniques, without discernible differences at midterm follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to compare the EASI system with the standard 12-lead surface electrocardiogram (ECG) for the accuracy in detecting the main electrocardiographic parameters (J point, PR, QT, and QRS) commonly monitored in patients with acute coronary syndromes or heart failure. In this observational comparative study, 253 patients who were consecutively admitted to the coronary care unit with acute coronary syndrome or heart failure were evaluated. In all patients, two complete 12-lead ECGs were acquired simultaneously. A total of 6,072 electrocardiographic leads were compared (3,036 standard and 3,036 EASI). No significant differences were found between the investigate parameters of the two measurement methods, either in patients with acute coronary syndrome or in those with heart failure. This study confirmed the accuracy of the EASI system in monitoring the main ECG parameters in patients admitted to the coronary care unit with acute coronary syndrome or heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Objective: The aim was to measure the lifetime prevalence of panic disorder (PD) in an Italian community sample, and to estimate the burden attributable to PD in compromising the quality of life (QoL) of people diagnosed with it. Methods: Community survey was conducted on a sample of 4,999 randomly selected adult subjects. Instruments used were semi-structured clinical interview Advanced Neuropsychiatric Tools and Assessment Schedule (ANTAS), administered by clinicians and allowing diagnosis according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (4th ed.; DSM-IV); Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Results: The lifetime prevalence of PD was 3.6% (4.4% in females, 2.5% in males; p = .002). People with PD had a lower SF-12 score than the standardized community sample (35.5 ± 6.5 vs. 38.4 ± 5.9; p < .0001) with a mean difference (attributable burden) of 2.9 ± 0.7, that is, lower than PD with agoraphobia (AP; 4.2 ± 2.4). Wilson Disease (WD), Multiple Sclerosis, Major Depressive Disorder and Eating Disorders (ED) show a higher attributable burden in impaired QoL than PD, while the attributable burden of PD with AP is not lower than in ED and WD. Conclusions: The burden attributable to the impairment of QoL following a lifetime diagnosis of PD was found to be not so great compared to the impairment caused by Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or neurological conditions. The comorbidity of PD with AP worsens QoL significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do national institutional contexts mediate the global? This article aims to answer this question by analyzing screen translation—the translation of audiovisual materials like movies and television programs—in four European countries: France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Poland. A cross-national, multi-method research project combining interviews, ethnography, and a small survey found considerable cross-national differences in translation norms and practices, sometimes leading to very different translated versions of the same product. The analysis shows how differences between national translation fields are produced and perpetuated by the interplay of institutional factors on four interdependent levels: technology, and the organizational, national, and transnational fields. On each level, various institutions are influential in shaping nationally specific translation norms and practices by producing institutional constraints or imposing specific meanings. I propose a model that explains the persistence of national translation systems—not only from the logics of specific institutions, fields, or levels—but by the feedback loops and interdependencies between institutions on various levels. This analysis has implications for the sociological understanding of globalization, the production of culture and media, cross-national comparative research, as well as institutional theory and the role of translation in sociological practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM - This research contributes to highlighting social work assessment of family situations with underage alcohol consumption and abuse. The comparative study invites reflection on the main features influencing an initial approach to adolescent problematic alcohol consumption outside specialised addiction services. DESIGN - The study is based on a cross-national comparison. A questionnaire including a vignette story of a young girl ('Nadja') and her family was submitted to thirty-five social workers employed in public social services in Stockholm, Malmö (Sweden), and Genoa (Italy). The participants were then invited to focus groups to discuss the main features that had emerged in the assessments. RESULTS - Results show significant variations between Italian and Swedish social workers' assessments. Italian social workers are in general more concerned and interventionist than are their Swedish colleagues. Swedish social workers tend to intervene less, assuming that Nadja's consumption is 'normal' teenage behaviour, while the Italian social workers, less accustomed to considering such behaviour as common, are more worried and prone to intervene immediately, in particular when Nadja is found drunk in the city centre. CONCLUSION - The assessment proposed by public social workers appears to be informed by cultural understandings of alcohol consumption which permeate and reveal predominant tendencies in the two groups of professionals. Moreover, in Italy the social service mandate appears to be fragmented among different service units, whereas Swedish social workers operate within a broad welfare system that allocates specific resources for adolescent alcohol consumers. Further elements influencing the assessment are found in the legislative framework and consequently in the different practices and perspectives of intervention social workers assume in Sweden and Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to identify the main mechanisms leading to the NEET status in Italy, Romania, and Bulgaria. It does so by highlighting the differences amongst them and verifying how place of residence effectively affects the connected propensity to this status after having controlled for many personal characteristics through a series of probit models. Furthermore, multiple correspondence analyses produce profound understanding of the NEET phenomenon and associated determinants. The results highlight the need to plan support actions tailored to specific NEET characteristics. Whilst the degree of urbanization impacts upon the NEET status throughout Romania and Bulgaria, Italy shows a strong divide between the North and the South. However, in all three countries there is a need to improve the education system and stimulate higher levels of education as the main measure of NEET prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates adolescent men’s pregnancy resolution choices in Australia, Ireland, and Italy. It addresses two main gaps in the literature: the lack of research on (adolescent) men’s views on unintended pregnancy and pregnancy resolution and the lack of international comparative case studies on men and reproductive choices. Consistent with theories of the transformation of intimacies in society and the growth of individualization, the results suggest that adolescent men are interested in the effect of an unintended pregnancy on their individual biographies as well as the effect on their girlfriend’s health and well-being. However, Australian male adolescents were much more likely to choose abortion than Italian or Irish adolescents, suggesting adolescent males have also internalized country-level debates surrounding abortion. Methodologically, the article demonstrates an innovative approach to data collection using a computer-based interactive drama to facilitate participants’ deliberation and responses. It was shown to engage a large number of adolescent men and is likely to have wider generalizability in developing international comparative research on the topic as well as applications for health promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Although respect and human presence are frequently reported in nursing literature, these are poorly defined within a nursing context. The aim of this study was to examine the differences, if any, in the perceived frequency of respect and human presence in the clinical care, between nurses and patients. A convenience sample of 1537 patients and 1148 nurses from six European countries (Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Hungary and Italy) participated in this study during autumn 2009. The six-point Likert-type Caring Behaviours Inventory-24 questionnaire was used for gathering appropriate data. The findings showed statistically significant differences of nurses’ and patients’ perception of frequency on respect and human presence. These findings provide a better understanding of caring behaviours that convey respect and assurance of human presence to persons behind the patients and may contribute to close gaps in knowledge regarding patients’ expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Difficulties in inhibitory processes have been shown to characterize the performance of poor comprehenders. However, the inhibitory inefficiency of poor comprehenders is most often assessed by their resistance to proactive interference, that is, the ability to suppress off-goal task information from working memory (WM). In two studies tasks assessing resistance to proactive interference (intrusion errors), response to distracters (Text With Distracters task) and prepotent response inhibition (Stroop and Hayling tests), along with WM measures, were administered to children aged 10 to 11, both good and poor comprehenders. The aim of the study was to specifically determine whether general or specific inhibitory factors affect poor comprehenders’ reading difficulties. Results showed that poor comprehenders, compared to good ones, are impaired in WM tasks and in inhibitory tasks that assess resistance to proactive interference. This suggests that reading comprehension difficulties of poor comprehenders are related to specific inhibitory problems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An international comparative study of the elite press framing of 9/11 in the US, Italy, France and Pakistan reveals that there is little empirical backing for the claims of three core strands of research about news exchanges within the field of international communications. The findings of the empirical investigation neither support the existence of international news flows, nor the idea that news is becoming homogenized on a global scale. The analysis does not suggest a localization of news at a national level either. News coverage, instead, appears to be markedly different at the level of the single newspaper and this can be explained through different variables than the international macro-processes addressed by news studies within the field. The analysis fundamentally suggests that, if research within international communications wants to explain news in the information age, it needs to broaden its horizons and to adopt a multidisciplinary perspective that includes both the analysis of national political processes and a deeper understanding of the dynamics of news production in each single media organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Model-based geostatistics and Bayesian approaches are useful in the context of veterinary epidemiology when point data have been collected by appropriate study design. We take advantage of an example of Epidemiological Surveillance on urban settings where a two-stage sampling design with first stage transects is applied to study the risk of dog parasite infection in the city of Naples, 2004-2005. We specified Bayesian Gaussian spatial exponential models and Bayesian kriging were performed to predict the continuous risk surface of parasite infection on the study region. We compared the results with those obtained by the application of hierarchical Bayesian models on areal data (proportion of positive specimens by transect). The models results were consistent with each other and the Bayesian geostatistical approach proved to be more accurate in identifying areas at risk of zoonotic parasitic diseases. In general, larger risk areas were identified at the city border where wild dogs mixed with domestic dogs and human or urban barriers were less present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determined the reliability and validity of a cancellation test of symbols (Symbol Cancellation Test [SCT]), designed to assess visual selective attention deficits in the elderly, on 34 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients from Bari University Hospital Center, Bari, Italy, and 232 nondemented elderly subjects, aged 68 to 87 years, from the second prevalence survey (1995 through 1996) of the Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging (Casamassima, Bari, Italy). To assess convergent and discriminant validity, the Digit Cancellation Test (DCT), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Babcock Story Recall Test (BSRT) were administered. Finally, discriminant accuracy of SCT between AD patients and nondemented elderly subjects was assessed. Inter-rater and test-retest reliability for P1 and P2 was excellent for both AD patients and the normal population, with a high degree of internal consistency. The SCT was significantly correlated with the DCT (0.67), MMSE (0.60), and BSRT (0.33). The classification accuracies of overall performance on the SCT for subjects with and without AD were 0.62 and 0.91, respectively. The SCT is a valid and reliable test to assess selective attention in elderly subjects, in whom dementing illness must be diagnosed and clinically distinct from age-related cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]