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This article sheds light on a notable first in the history of air power. On 18 October 1940, four Italian Savoia-Marchetti SM.82s took off from the Dodecanese Islands in the Eastern Mediterranean, attacked the refinery of Bahrain in the Arabian Gulf and landed safely in Eritrea on the Red Sea coast. It was the longest mission ever carried out in total autonomy of flight and the first three-continent mission in the history of air bombing. This remarkable feat caught the British by surprise. Bahrain was thought to be so far away from enemy bases that it needed no defences at all. And, although the raid caused very little damage, it highlighted the exposed nature of Bahrain's oilfields and refinery, forcing the hard-pressed British Empire to divert resources to defend an obscure theatre of war originally thought to be safe. This largely neglected mission is significant because in the course of the Second World War no other air forces managed to repeat this achievement or to equal this distance and because the Regia Aeronautica demonstrated an imaginative use of limited technology by upgrading the transport SM.82 planes into aircraft capable of carrying out bombing operations beyond the reach of its conventional bomber force. In this sense, it was a remarkable performance. But, at the same time, the bombing of Bahrain also illustrated how unprepared Italy's armed forces were. Although by the end of 1940 the Regia Aeronautica had conducted several raids across the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, it had failed to achieve anything significant. This failure exposed all the limitations of a war effort that had been imposed on the armed forces by Benito Mussolini despite conclusive evidence that Italy was not prepared to sustain a long conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to present a comparative study of the civil society reaction to right-wing populism in power through social media, by looking at cases in Italy and the United Kingdom. The research question is how social movements are implementing a process of reactive political identity construction – i.e. political identification – and a political counter-strategy by opposing right-wing populism in power through their Facebook official accounts. It implements a mixed-method research design with in-depth semi-structured interviews and a two-step quantitative text analysis based on Topic Model and Dictionary Method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residential treatment programs for eating disorders (EDs) have gained popularity in recent years, expanding beyond the United States to countries such as Canada, Italy, and the United Kingdom. These programs offer a "home-like" environment where individuals reside for several weeks or months, emphasising both physical restoration and psychological recovery. This scoping review aimed to provide an update since the most recent reviews on the literature regarding outcomes of residential treatment programs for EDs and to explore clinical features that were associated with these outcomes. Methods used followed the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines for scoping reviews. A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted, and 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. All studies reported improvements in various outcomes from admission to discharge, including changes in eating psychopathology, weight restoration, depression, anxiety, and quality of life. Additionally, three studies reported positive outcomes at intervals after discharge and three predictive factors (self-compassion, personality organisation, and resistance to emotional vulnerability) were reported in a small number of studies. While residential treatment facilities consistently showed positive outcomes, the review highlights the need for randomised controlled studies to establish the efficacy of these programs for EDs. Future research should include controlled studies comparing residential facilities to other treatment settings and incorporate long-term follow-up outcomes and further studies of emergent predictive factors identified in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Art therapists have worked with traumatised individuals from the very beginning. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of art therapy in the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) is not yet evidence-based. Studies suggest innovative treatments should describe clearly both the intervention, in order to facilitate replication, and the treatment targets, in order to facilitate assessment and research. In the 'Trauma Treatment through Art Therapy' (TT-AT) protocol, the intervention is described clearly, and the treatment targets are the six client symptom clusters listed by the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS): (1) emotion regulation; (2) relationships with others; (3) relationship with self; (4) awareness of trauma; (5) distancing; (6) resources. The intervention consists of six sessions, one for each symptom and related need. The TT-AT protocol – that was developed and piloted in Tanzania – is now being applied in three other countries (Zambia, the UK and Italy). The group participants in the three countries followed the six themes easily. Some shared the history of traumas, even though verbal sharing was optional, and sometimes for the first time hidden traumas of the past. After the intervention they described being able to leave the past in the past, feeling stronger in the present, and more hopeful about their future. The TT-AT protocol can be replicated easily and it has clear treatment targets. This makes it suitable for use in research. This article reports on the implementation of an innovative trauma treatment intervention (the TT-AT protocol) in three countries: Zambia, the UK and Italy. The format is group art therapy and all the participants are women with a history of traumatic experience presenting with a variety of PTSD and C-PTSD symptoms. The six art therapy workshops addressed the six symptoms listed by the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS). The groups are: (a) a group of six medical students in Zambia; (b) a group of five in a community mental well-being project in the UK; (c) a group of four private practice clients in Italy. The article illustrates the art therapy process in each group. The participants moved through three stages, from the initial strengthening phase to the stage of becoming more aware of their trauma, to the final stage of trusting their own resources. Feedback shows improvements in dealing with their past and in coping with present life challenges. This report suggests that the protocol is suitable to be applied to diverse countries and cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flashbulb memories (FBMs) refer to vivid and long-lasting autobiographical memories for the circumstances in which people learned of a shocking and consequential public event. A cross-national study across eleven countries aimed to investigate FBM formation following the first COVID-19 case news in each country and test the effect of pandemic-related variables on FBM. Participants had detailed memories of the date and others present when they heard the news, and had partially detailed memories of the place, activity, and news source. China had the highest FBM specificity. All countries considered the COVID-19 emergency as highly significant at both the individual and global level. The Classification and Regression Tree Analysis revealed that FBM specificity might be influenced by participants' age, subjective severity (assessment of COVID-19 impact in each country and relative to others), residing in an area with stringent COVID-19 protection measures, and expecting the pandemic effects. Hierarchical regression models demonstrated that age and subjective severity negatively predicted FBM specificity, whereas sex, pandemic impact expectedness, and rehearsal showed positive associations in the total sample. Subjective severity negatively affected FBM specificity in Turkey, whereas pandemic impact expectedness positively influenced FBM specificity in China and negatively in Denmark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares the application of two recently published guidance documents for risk-based assessment of hydraulic actions on bridges, namely the UK Design Manual for Roads and Bridges and the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport's Guidelines, to two case study bridges (Staverton Bridge, UK; Borgoforte Bridge, Italy). This work is one of the first to illustrate how to apply these guidelines. Both documents present risk-based methods for the assessment of hydraulic actions, while exhibiting fundamental differences. For example, the UK method prescribes calculations for local and constriction scour, water depth, and velocity at several cross-sections; by comparison, the Italian method does not prescribe calculations to assess the risk level. For the case studies in this paper, the hydraulic risk obtained for Staverton Bridge resulted as 'High' using both methods. The scour score for the Borgoforte Bridge resulted higher using the Italian method (Medium-High), as compared to the UK approach (Medium). This difference is due to how the guidelines assess the vulnerability associated with the minimum clearance. The comparison of these two risk-based approaches and the resulting discussion may serve as a useful resource for those wishing to develop new risk-based methods for assessing hydraulic actions on bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children and young people who come into conflict with the law tend to be disengaged with education and learning. This paper reports on research from an EU Erasmus+ project in Spain, Italy, Germany and the UK. The research focused on the impact of Authentic Inquiry (AI) on learners in custodial or youth justice settings and the impact on educators and their pedagogy. Quantitative data (from 82 educators and 73 young people), demonstrated the young people could be re-engaged with education and learning as evidenced in the change in Learning Power profiles. Qualitative data (from 16 educators and 14 young people) showed the greatest impact to be on the emotional component of engagement. The AI had an impact xon educators as learners by improved Learning Power profiles and on their pedagogical approach. Ways to embed the approach into education in youth justice settings in the different country contexts are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is based on doctoral research which contributed to my understanding of early years professional development and learning grounded in Froebelian principles. Through two freestanding but related case studies in London and San Miniato, the article explores the current professional learning and development for educators working with children aged 0–3 in the UK and 0–5 in Italy, focusing on the ways in which educators develop and conceptualise their professional identities. Through data collected using interviews and activity-based focus groups and analysed with Clarke's situational analysis, I have found two systems of professional learning not in contact with educators' everyday realities. Educators expressed the need to be more actively involved with the design and delivery of professional learning courses. The findings point to the need for educators to be given more opportunities for self-reflection to confront their knowledge with others. It is important to provide educators with adequate support to help them buffer against the extreme mental and emotional demands of the job with an offer of professional learning that is flexible and shaped around their needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Research has just begun to identify American college students who study abroad as a group at-risk for sexual violence victimization. The purpose of the current study was to examine the context of these incidents. Participants: We utilized a large longitudinal sample of 2,428 United States college students studying abroad for between 4 and 21 weeks in 12 different foreign countries. Methods: We estimated descriptive statistics and logistic regression models to assess prevalence and correlates of sexual victimization abroad, as well as effect size comparisons to quantify changes in drinking abroad. Results: Over one-fifth of students experienced sexual violence while abroad, including sexual assault and verbal coercion. Women, younger students, those who experienced sexual violence prior, and heavier drinkers had the greatest odds of sexual violence victimization abroad. Conclusions: Findings point to the need for evidence-based programming to reduce sexual violence risk among American college students studying in foreign countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, Pride Events across Europe have multiplied, and they are now held in both big cities, as well as small rural towns and villages. This change is particularly interesting considering the predominant 'metronormative' [Halberstam, J. (2005). A queer time and space: Transgender bodies, subcultural lives. New York University Press] character of LGBTQI+ activism that overshadows forms of organisation for LGBTQI+ persons in rural locales and semi-peripheries. Through a theoretical comparison between Pride Events in rural and peripheral localities in both the UK and Italy, this article seeks to understand, why and how Pride Events in rural locales have exponentially multiplied in the last ten years across Europe. To do so, this article looks at the significance of the processes of hyper-localisation and hyper-contextualisation of Pride Events in rural or peripheral settings, focusing on the potential for social and political transformation beyond the dictates of 'metronormative' understandings of queer life in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An online survey of 691 clinicians who use hypnosis was conducted in 31 countries to gain a broad real-world picture of current practices, views, and experiences in clinical hypnosis. Among 36 common clinical uses, stress reduction, wellbeing and self-esteem-enhancement, surgery preparations, anxiety interventions, mindfulness facilitation, and labor and childbirth applications were the most frequently rated as highly effective (each by ≥70% of raters) in the clinicians' own experience. Adverse hypnosis-associated effects had been encountered by 55% of clinicians but were generally short-lived and very rarely judged as serious. The most common hypnosis approaches used were Ericksonian (71%), hypnotic relaxation therapy (55%), and traditional hypnosis (50%). Almost all respondents reported regularly using other therapeutic modalities alongside hypnosis. Among a range of client variables potentially affecting therapy, most clinicians rated hypnotist-client rapport (88%) and client motivation (75%) as very or extremely important factors for successful hypnotherapy. The majority of respondents had conducted hypnosis treatment via teletherapy, and 54% of those estimated it to be as effective as in-person treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite sustained interest in spatial planning approaches for steering renewable energy development, the effect of these practices remains poorly understood. This paper addresses this knowledge deficit through comparative analysis of the effects of spatial planning approaches on wind energy deployment in Italy and the UK. Our approach elucidates the different roles that spatial planning approaches can perform using a "modes of governing" framework that, innovatively, recognizes the unavoidable compromises involved in their construction. Several distinctive findings emerge. First, governments deploy spatial planning approaches with different governance purposes, thus explaining why the effects on RE outcomes can be ambiguous. Second, many of the challenges that beset spatial planning approaches arise not from technical-methodological issues but from difficult-to-resolve governance challenges of cross-scalar coordination. Third, we show that the efficacy of spatial planning approaches in shaping RE deployment is contextual in nature, reflecting how far their inherent compromises are accepted by key actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study goal to scrutinize the influences of the COVID-19 pandemic on unemployment in five selected European economies. To this end, the study uses a Fourier causality test for the period of December-2019 to December-2020. In Z-test results, Germany, Spain, and the UK have a significant positive change in unemployment due to COVID-19. The finding shows that COVID-19 cases cause unemployment for Germany, Italy, and the UK. Moreover, in terms of deaths, COVID-19 also causes unemployment in Italy and UK. Overall, the study's outcomes highlight that the pandemic increases the unemployment rate robustly in the mostly European economies. That is one of the rare negative effects of the virus on the European labor market. Novel COVID-19 findings provide a reliable guide to the future policy implication for the labor market. An active labor market policy will be needed to be in front of the world urgently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative research aimed at exploring personal dance experience and influence of dancing on the evolution of embodied self-awareness and well-being. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three participants (one female, two males), and the data were evaluated using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Six themes were identified: (a) freedom of expression through dance, (b) perceptions of fun and partner dance vs. dancing alone, (c) flow in dance, (d) sensations and sexuality in dance, (e) music and rhythm in dance, and (f) impact of dance on life and the self. Participants reported that dance led to higher embodied self-awareness and creative self-expression and was deemed to improve health and well-being. Our findings help increase the utility of dance as a well-being approach, stress coping intervention and countermeasure to depression and loneliness. They make aware of the use of dance as a creative tool in inducing positive transformations on individual and societal levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media is considered a particularly conducive arena for hate speech, a form of communication often linked to the radical right. The goal of this study is to offer an empirical contribution that comparatively explores the presence and features of hate speech in the social media discourse of the radical right (leaders and parties) in Italy and the UK during the first year of the pandemic. This mixed-methods study analyses 21,360 tweets using wordcloud analysis (to conceptually map the social media discourse of the radical right and mainstream parties), topic modelling (to identify the main topics of the radical right's tweets and how they relate to Covid-19) and formalised content analysis (to better understand how hate speech is related to the virus). We find that radical right leaders have managed to bring exclusion-oriented issues to the agenda at this time of crisis, albeit in different ways, by emphasising different understandings of in-groups and out-groups in relation to Covid-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The engagement of young people has been a neglected area in youth justice and drug policy and practice. This paper explores the concept of 'engagement' in relation to drug interventions in custodial and community settings in different European countries. Interviews were undertaken with young people (aged 14–25 years) in contact with the criminal justice system who use illegal drugs and with practitioners involved in the delivery of interventions for our target group in Denmark, Italy, Poland, and the UK. The key techniques to engage young people were described in similar terms across the countries. These included forming relationships based on trust, honesty, and empathy, setting goals collaboratively, and employing practitioners with lived experience and understanding. The objectives and activities on offer are often constrained by criminal justice contexts. Despite the differences between the countries in terms of criminal justice systems and the structure of drug interventions, there were remarkable similarities in the ways young people and practitioners described effective engagement. Strong emphasis on operational engagement to ensure positive relationships between young people and practitioners was important in the design and delivery of interventions. Practitioners working in criminal justice contexts need to have flexibility and autonomy to work creatively to find ways to engage, connect, and inspire young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on research undertaken as part of the EU funded EPPIC project, this paper aims to update and elaborate on the relationship between drug use and offending behaviours by exploring variations within a cross-national sample of drug-experienced young people in touch with criminal justice systems. Adopting a trajectory-based approach, interviews were undertaken with 198 young people aged 15–25 in six European countries (Austria, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Poland, and UK). Data were analysed by applying the Bennett and Holloway categorization of the drugs-crime link, with a focus on the concept of social exclusion as developed by Seddon. Three main types of mechanisms (economic, pharmaceutical, and lifestyles) are used to interpret the data, showing how the relationship between drugs and offending can vary according to type of substances and over time. Furthermore, it can be associated with very different degrees of social exclusion and needs. The results suggest that while economic inequalities still play key roles in explaining drug use and offending, both behaviours can originate from a state of relative deprivation, resulting from the contradictions inherent in 'bulimic societies' that raise aspirations and desires while providing young people scarce opportunities for self-realisation and social recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a comparative analysis of the development of public sector accounting systems in Italy and the UK. By analysing the differences in practices and technical aspects regarding the budgeting and accounting processes of these two countries, the authors identify best practices from these countries' experiences of public sector accounting reforms across all levels of government. While both countries were inspired by New Public Management-based principles, the results show their different points of development in addressing the needs of parliament and the public and the links and interrelationships between budgeting and accounting. Uniformity and alignment of practices in public finance reporting systems aids in the understanding of the relationships between financial reporting and budgeting processes. The authors explain how this is being achieved in the UK and compare it with the resistant-to-change traditional budgetary accounting systems in Italy, where a mostly secondary role is assigned to accrual accounting and there is a weak understanding of the relationships between financial reporting and budgeting. Lessons and best practices are identified that will be valuable for the future development of government accounting reforms in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Social Work is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This is the first study to focus on the role and impact of a psychosocial intervention, the Meeting Centre Support Programme (MCSP), for people living with dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) on the experience of stigmatisation across three different European countries. A pre/post-test control group study design compared outcomes for 114 people with dementia (n=74) and MCI (n=40) in Italy, Poland and the UK who received either the MCSP or usual care (UC). The 'Stigma Impact Scale, neurological disease' (SIS) was administered at two points in time, 6 months apart. The Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) was used to assess the level of cognitive impairment. Although statistical analysis did not show any significant differences between MCSP and UC at pre/post-test for the 3 countries combined, there were significant results for individual countries. In Italy, the level of SIS was significantly lower (p=0.02) in the MCSP group following the intervention. The level of Social Isolation increased significantly (p=0.05) in the UC group at follow-up in Poland. The level of Social Rejection was significantly higher (p=0.03) over time for UK participants receiving MCSP compared to UC. The experience of stigma by people living with dementia and MCI is complex and there may be different country specific contexts and mechanisms. The results do not enable us to confirm or disconfirm the impact of a social support programme, such as MCSP, on this experience. Difficulties in directly measuring the level of stigma in this group also requires further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Meeting Centres Support Programme (MCSP) offers a combined approach to providing practical, emotional and social support to people living with mild to moderately severe dementia and their family carers in the community. A mixed methods explanatory design was used. The evaluation took place within the framework of the international Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) – MEETINGDEM study in nine Meeting Centres in Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom. Eighty-seven people with dementia and 81 family carers completed a user evaluation survey after three months and 83 people with dementia and 84 carers after 6 months of participation in MCSP. Thirty-two people with dementia and 30 carers took part in focus groups after nine months. The percentage of people with dementia who were very satisfied with the programme increased significantly over time (p = 0.05). The majority of carers reported that they felt less burdened after three months of participation in MCSP (48.1% much less; 35.4% a little less). After six months, this percentage increased significantly to 91% (p = 0.04, 57.7% much less; 33.3% little less). Focus group analysis showed that people with dementia and carers in all countries/centres improved their ability to maintain emotional balance. The MCSP is highly appreciated by people with dementia and carers in all countries and it confirms the results of previous research into MCSP in the Netherlands. Our findings indicate that MCSP is a model that can help its users to increase their capacity to deal with the challenges caused by dementia and can promote emotional balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has suggested that an individual's public service motivation (PSM) is positively linked to a preference for public sector employment. The authors explore this link using a sample of British and Italian undergraduate students. They found a positive relationship between PSM and public sector job preferences among Italian students but not with the British students. The UK has implemented more NPM-style reforms than Italy and this could be impacting on public sector recruitment. Implications for recruitment and retention the public sector are discussed. Continuous reform pressure in many countries makes public sector employment highly unattractive to young job market candidates. Based on the results of a comparative analysis of public service motivation (PSM) and attraction to working in the public sector in Italy and the UK, the authors discuss institutional and managerial problem areas that lead to young graduates taking employment in the private or not-for-profit sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heterogeneity of COVID-19 experience and response for each individual is irrefutable; nevertheless, similarities can be observed between countries with respect to people's psychological responses. The main aim of this Commentary is to provide a cultural perspective of the sources of trauma, at the individual and social level, in three different countries: Italy, US and UK. The evidence from previous outbreaks, such as SARS, H1N1 flu, Ebola, and the ongoing Italian, the US, and the UK experience of COVID-19 shows that COVID-19 has introduced not only an individual trauma but also a collective trauma, that researchers should attend to now and in future global emergencies. Future clinical interventions should aim to reconnect dissociated parts both in the individual and in society. This commentary discusses four potential sources of trauma: high-stakes decision fatigue in healthcare professionals, traumatic grief, and bereavement in people who have lost loved ones, loss of roles and identity, and social divisions related to economic shutdown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Until now little research has been done to answer the question of whether people with dementia experience stigma. No previous studies investigated possible differences between countries and cultures. Therefore, the aims of this study were to compare the experience of stigma (with social isolation, social rejection and internalised shame as components) among people with dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n = 180) in Italy (n = 79), Poland (n = 47) and the United Kingdom (UK) (n = 54); and to investigate possible relationships with demographical and clinical outcomes. Methods: A one group multinational cross-sectional design was used. Stigma was measured with the Stigma Impact Scale (SIS), quality of life aspects with Dementia Quality of Life scale (DQOL) and Quality of Life Alzheimer's Disease scale (QOL-AD), social support with Duke Social Support Index (DSSI), cognitive functioning with Global Deterioration Scale (GDS). Results: The level of stigmatisation (SIS) among study participants varied from 2 to 65 (median = 33.5; Q1 = 27; Q3 = 41). People with dementia in the UK experienced a higher level of stigmatisation than people in Italy and Poland. The experienced stigmatisation negatively correlated with social support (DSSI; rho = −0.42, p = 0.000) and quality of life (QOL-AD; rho = −0.39, p = 0.000). People who experienced a higher level of stigmatisation scored higher in negative mood DQOL subscale (rho = 0.28, p = 0.0002). Conclusion: There is a strong need for research into the individual experience of people with dementia across the world. This could help in providing support and care services that match their experience, needs, preferences; and in designing well informed awareness campaigns based on their voice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Social Work is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: The MEETINGDEM research project aimed to implement the combined Dutch Meeting Centre Support Programme (MCSP) for community-dwelling people with dementia and caregivers within Italy, Poland and UK and to assess whether comparable benefits were found in these countries as in the Netherlands. Method: Nine pilot Meeting Centres (MCs) participated (Italy-5, Poland-2, UK-2). Effectiveness of MCSP was compared to usual care (UC) on caregiver outcomes measuring competence (SSCQ), mental health (GHQ-12), emotional distress (NPI-Q) and loneliness (UCLA) analysed by ANCOVAs in a 6-month pre-test/post-test controlled trial. Interviews using standardised measures were completed with caregivers. Results: Pre/post data were collected for 93 caregivers receiving MCSP and 74 receiving UC. No statistically significant differences on the outcome measures were found overall. At a country level MC caregivers in Italy showed significant better general mental health (p = 0.04, d = 0.55) and less caregiver distress (p = 0.02, d = 0.62) at post-test than the UC group. Caregiver satisfaction was rated on a sample at 3 months (n = 81) and 6 months (n = 84). The majority of caregivers reported feeling less burdened and more supported by participating in MCSP. Conclusion: The moderate positive effect on sense of competence and the greater mental health benefit for lonely caregivers using the MCSP compared to UC as found in the original Dutch studies were not replicated. However, subject to study limitations, caregivers in Italy using MCSP benefitted more regarding their mental health and emotional distress than caregivers using UC. Further evaluation of the benefits of MCSP within these countries in larger study samples is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2014/95/EU Directive is the first regulatory attempt to harmonise large entities' non-financial reporting. It sets minimum requirements whilst leaving discretion to Member States in transposing relevant aspects of disclosure. The transposition is the first moment in which the Directive directly impacts on companies and determines whether they will be complying with more similar rules. This study uses the fit/misfit theory to assess the achievement of formal harmonisation between the UK, France and Italy. An analysis of domestic regulations shows that discretion favoured convergence of rules but also the presence of old and new differences. All countries had to engage in some degree of change to be compliant. The UK and France had a high degree of legal fit and used discretion to limit adaptation costs by minimising the legal intervention and over-implementing the Directive respectively. Italy instead welcomed the legal misfit and greatly departed from its previous regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated whether house price deviation (irrational house prices) between European countries is mutually contagious or whether irrational behaviour in relation to house prices is mainly caused by domestic factors. This study investigated eight eurozone countries and the United Kingdom's (U.K.) house price deviation was estimated using the house price–income model, after which the price deviation in each country was analysed and divided into the components of self-influence and influence from other housing markets. The U.K.'s house price deviation was discovered to have the greatest impact on the other European housing markets, whereas France's house price deviation was the most affected by the other housing markets. Italy's house price deviation was the least relevant to the other markets with a 95.5% rate of change and susceptibility to domestic changes. This study quantified the dynamic assessment for infectivity and self-influence in relation to house price deviation and discovered that apart from Italy, whether other countries' levels of infection in relation to house price deviation were significantly correlated to their domestic inflation rates. Finally, the empirical results of this study indicate that the U.K.'s high inflation rate had a significant impact on the imbalance in the eurozone housing markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss the relevance of the internationally adopted methodology for modelling labour market flows and comparing labour market flexibility. This is based on a two-state labour market model that neglects inactivity and uses aggregate stock data to derive transition rates. Traditionally, the results suggest that continental European labour markets are inflexible and unable to adjust quickly to aggregate demand or supply shocks compared with their Anglo-Saxon counterparts. This evidence has driven us to gain a better understanding of the relevance of such a modelling approach and critically discuss its main methodological hypothesis. We relax its assumptions by including inactivity and by using flow data for the period 2010–2017. We compare the results thus obtained with transition rates derived using a three-state labour market model for France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. These countries represent the institutional settings of continental Europe on the one hand and Anglo-Saxon nations on the other. The implied transition rates are much higher, even in continental Europe, when inactivity is considered, thus suggesting that conclusions derived using an incomplete representation of the labour market are misleading. Inactivity therefore plays a crucial role and its inclusion provides a more exhaustive picture of labour mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about the knowledge and use of technology-based interventions (TBIs) by health personnel working in the addiction field across Europe. Methods: An online questionnaire was designed using SurveyMonkey® in order to determine the level of knowledge, use and perceived efficacy of TBIs in substance use disorders (SUDs), among health professionals across six EU Member States: Germany, Italy, UK, France, Poland and the Netherlands. The survey was sent to a convenience sample of 1200 addiction experts. Results: Surveyed participants (311, response rate 26%), had a mean professional addiction experience of 17 years; 23% stated to have good knowledge of TBIs, while 12% use them in their clinical practice. Forty-six percent consider TBIs useful in the treatment of addiction, and 44% foresee a significant increase of them in the future. TBIs were considered important for people facing barriers to accessing treatment (63%) and for providing support outside the formal care settings (60%). Lack of technical support (48%), poor infrastructure and equipment (42%), and lack of digital literacy among health workers (38%) were identified as the main obstacles in the diffusion of TBIs. Conclusions: Knowledge and utilisation of TBIs among health workers in drug addiction field is low. Nevertheless, TBIs are perceived as a possible means of facilitation in providing access to treatment, and as therapeutic tools which will become more important in the future. The need to improve training policies, awareness and attitudes towards TBIs among EU health professionals, working in the field of addiction is paramount. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of post-concussion symptoms and prevalence and risk factors of post-concussion syndrome (PCS) in the general population, investigate the association between the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) and self-perceived health, and evaluate differences between three European countries. Methods: A web-based survey including the RPQ and EQ-5D was conducted among representative samples in three European countries. Results: A total of 11,759 respondents completed the questionnaire. The most frequently reported symptom was fatigue (49.9%). Almost half (45.1%) of the respondents were classified as having PCS considering rating score 2 (three RPQ items with score ≥ 2) as a cut-off. Chronic health complaints were found as a significant risk factor for PCS. All items of the RPQ were positively correlated with the EQ-5D and the strongest positive correlation (0.633, p<0.001) was between RPQ item 'feeling depressed or tearful' and EQ-5D domain 'anxiety/depression'. Conclusions: We found a high frequency of post-concussion-like symptoms and PCS in the general population, indicating that these symptoms are not specific for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and PCS is not a unique syndrome after TBI. Therefore, the use of post-concussion symptoms and PCS as outcome following mild TBI should be interpreted with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the economic impact of psychological and social forms of workplace aggression to society could yield important insights into the magnitude of this occupational phenomenon. The objective of this systematic review was to collate, summarise, review and critique, and synthesise the cost of psychosocial workplace aggression at the individual- and societal-level. A peerreviewed research protocol detailing the search strategy, study selection procedures and data extraction process was developed a priori. Both the academic and grey literatures were examined. To allow for basic comparison, all costs were converted and adjusted to reflect 2014 US dollars. Twelve studies, from 5 national contexts, met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed: Australia (n = 2), Italy (n = 1), Spain (n = 1), the United Kingdom (n = 3) and the United States (n = 5). The annual cost of psychosocial workplace aggression varied substantially, ranging between $114.64 million and $35.9 billion. Heterogeneity across studies was found, with noted variations in stated study aims, utilised prevalence statistics and included costs. The review concludes that existing evidence attests to the substantial cost of psychosocial workplace aggression to both the individual and society, albeit such derived estimates are likely gross underestimates. The findings highlight the importance of interpreting such figures within their conceptual and methodological contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses electronic resource management, library schools, and continuing education.

Background:The European Disability Strategy (2010–2020) seeks to significantly raise the proportion of people with disabilities working in the open labour market. The ERGO WORK project is a collaboration of academic and industrial partners in six European countries, focused on understanding and tackling barriers to workplace inclusion for workers with disabilities. Methods:This study sought to explore the perceptions and needs of stakeholders in terms of workplace adaptation to the needs of employees with disabilities. An exploratory online survey was completed by 480 participants across six countries. Results:The analysis suggests that workplaces could be further improved to meet the needs of employees with considerable scope for training within companies to raise awareness about employees’ needs, employers’ obligations and workplace adaptation. Conclusions:This snapshot suggests there is still a gap between intent and reality in workplace inclusion and further strategies are needed to improve the opportunities for employees with disabilities. The paper argues that ergonomics may have a key role to play in tackling these challenges and adapting the workplace environment and job design to suit the needs of individual employees.Implications for rehabilitationThis study suggests there is considerable scope for workplace adaptation and improvements to meet the needs of employees with disabilities.Employers need and want further specialist practitioner guidance to facilitate workplace inclusion and support adaptation to individual needs.Organisations would benefit from training to raise awareness about potential solutions and approaches that would support more widespread employment of people with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background:Alcohol is one of the least intervened risk factors in the management of hypertension at the primary care level. In order to improve alcohol interventions, a better understanding of knowledge, attitudes and clinical practice of lifestyle interventions in the management of hypertension is needed. Method:As a part of a European study (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK), 211 German general practitioners (GPs) were recruited in Bavaria and Hamburg and surveyed via an Internet-based questionnaire. Results were compared with the European sample (n = 2870). Results:One-third of the patients seen by German GPs had hypertension (36.2%, standard deviation (SD): 14.6) and among cases with hypertension, less than half were ever screened for alcohol (4.5 out of 10 patients). The foremost reasons for not screening for alcohol were that alcohol was not considered a major risk factor for hypertension plus the lack of knowledge of appropriate alcohol screening instruments. The majority of German GPs managed patients with hazardous drinking levels themselves or in their practice (71.3%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 64.6–77.2%), but only 42.0% (95% CI: 35.2–49.0%) managed alcohol dependent patients. German screening rates were slightly lower but interventions of screened positive patients higher than the European average. Conclusions:Rates of alcohol screening in patients with hypertension in primary health care may be increased by improving GPs knowledge of alcohol as a major risk factor for hypertension, increasing GPs education on alcohol and screening instruments, and providing reimbursement. This may increase treatment of alcohol problems in patients with hypertension and reduce hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An unprecedented expansion of global anti-terrorist policing took place after 1900, although the security forces projected outside their borders by Russia, Italy, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Spain, and Argentina displayed an enormous diversity in size and effectiveness. Crucial to successful policing was how these countries improved their intelligence through recruiting and handling informers, maintained secrecy and good relations with local police, and handled the media. The British approach to anarchist control was arguably the most successful. Italian international policing was the most far-reaching, while the United States long remained the world's most under-policed large country. On examination, the view that anti-anarchist policing was a case of conservative imperial regimes versus the Western democracies loses validity. During this period, a general trend saw the transfer of anarchist surveillance from the hands of diplomats into those of interior ministry officials and the police, all in the name of greater centralization, professionalization, and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article presents an examination of material from archives, much of it little known and little researched, on the Italian film industry. The importance of archive sources in pinpointing the processes that bring a film to the screen continues to inform film research. The main documentation explored is that of the Film Finances Archive, only recently made available to researchers. This is considered in tandem with data from the Italian State Archive, and a range of other critical and narrative sources. Of these, particularly significant is the correspondence and autobiography of Prince Alessandro Tasca, a little-known figure, who was the Film Finances representative in Italy. Italian filmmaking from 1950 to 1960 is the main focus because it is given extensive coverage in the Film Finances Archive, when the company was involved in a number of Anglo-Italian co-productions. The field of Anglo-Italian co-productions has been described as an ‘undiscovered world’. It is thus contended that, through exploration of this newly available archive material and other relevant sources, the study offers a fresh perspective on the context of postwar Italian filmmaking. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives:To identify caregiver profiles of persons with mild to moderate dementia and to investigate differences between identified caregiver profiles, using baseline data of the international prospective cohort study Actifcare. Methods:A latent class analysis was used to discover different caregiver profiles based on disease related characteristics of 453 persons with dementia and their 453 informal caregivers. These profiles were compared with regard to quality of life (CarerQoL score), depressive symptoms (HADS-D score) and perseverance time. Results:A 5-class model was identified, with the best Bayesian Information Criterion value, significant likelihood ratio test (p< 0.001), high entropy score (0.88) and substantive interpretability. The classes could be differentiated on two axes: (i) caregivers' age, relationship with persons with dementia, severity of dementia, and (ii) tendency towards stress and difficulty adapting to stress. Classes showed significant differences with all dependent variables, and were labelled ‘older low strain’, ‘older intermediate strain’, ‘older high strain’, ‘younger low strain’ and ‘younger high strain’. Conclusion:Differences exist between types of caregivers that explain variability in quality of life, depressive symptoms and perseverance time. Our findings may give direction for tailored interventions for caregivers of persons with dementia, which may improve social health and reduce health care costs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives: The implementation of new health services is a complex process. This study investigated the first phase of the adaptive implementation of the Dutch Meeting Centres Support Programme (MCSP) for people with dementia and their carers in three European countries (Italy, Poland, the UK) within the JPND-MEETINGDEM project. Anticipated and experienced factors influencing the implementation, and the efficacy of the implementation process, were investigated. Findings were compared with previous research in the Netherlands. Method: A qualitative multiple case study design was applied. Checklist on anticipated facilitators and barriers to the implementation and semi-structured interview were completed by stakeholders, respectively at the end and at the beginning of the preparation phase. Results: Overall, few differences between countries were founded. Facilitators for all countries were: added value of MCSP matching needs of the target group, evidence of effectiveness of MCSP, enthusiasm of stakeholders. General barriers were: competition with existing care and welfare organizations and scarce funding. Some countries experienced improved collaborations, others had difficulties finding a socially integrated location for MCSP. The step-by-step implementation method proved efficacious. Conclusion: These insights into factors influencing the implementation of MCSP in three European countries and the efficacy of the step-by-step preparation may aid further implementation of MCSP in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Public health and preventive medicine (PHPM) has been recognized internationally as a physician specialty, but national parallels and differences exist between training contexts. This paper reviews PHPM training and employment in Canada, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the USA. Methods: Information gathered from relevant accreditation bodies and literature searches was used to create descriptive profiles of national training demographics and structure and a narrative outlining trends and challenges facing the specialty. Results: Notable similarities and differences exist between national contexts. Key themes were differences in training strategies and practice scope, specialty stakeholders, certification structure, and funding. Recognition challenges faced the specialty across all six countries. Other challenges included unclear competencies and training strategies and a need for PHPM specialists to highlight their role in combating population health threats. Additional differences existed between comparator countries on the structure of training, funding sources for training programs, availability of training posts, and linkages with other physician specialties. Conclusion: Highlighting these themes is a first step to fostering training collaborations between PHPM specialist physicians to augment transnational action on global public health challenges and also supports PHPM physician educators with innovative solutions from abroad that might address domestic specialty challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We drew on an interdisciplinary research design to examine stroke survivors' experiences of living with stroke and with technology in order to provide technology developers with insight into values, thoughts and feelings of the potential users of a tobe- designed robotic technology for home-based rehabilitation of the hand and wrist. Method: Ten stroke survivors and their family carers were purposefully selected. On the first home visit, they were introduced to cultural probe. On the second visit, the content of the probe packs were used as prompt to conduct one-to-one interviews with them. The data generated was analysed using thematic analysis. A third home visit was conducted to evaluate the early prototype. Results: User requirements were categorised into their network of relationships, their attitude towards technology, their skills, their goals and motivations. The user requirements were used to envision the requirements of the system including providing feedback on performance, motivational aspects and usability of the system. Participants' views on the system requirements were obtained during a participatory evaluation. Conclusion: This study showed that prior to the development of technology, it is important to engage with potential users to identify user requirements and subsequently envision system requirements based on users' views. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on a study which estimate prevalence of gambling among European professional athletes and explore factors that are associated with gambling practice and gambling problems in professional athletes. It states that self-completion questionnaire was designed for this study and socio-demographic variables, variables linked to gambling and impulsive behavior data were gathered. It mentions that instruments used for screening problem gambling were all validated.

The purpose of this article is to analyse how the Italian socialist movement viewed the social reforms of the Attlee Labour government introduced just after the Second World War. The intention is to study the extent and limits of the labour influence on Italian socialism. The Labour Party made the re-founding of a new interclass social pact, a universal matter intending to meet the needs of both the working and middle classes. The Italian socialist movement monitored the Labour government’s changes with interest, assessing them from two different perspectives. The reformist wing had a better grasp of the political–ideological implications of Labour’s approach to the welfare state. Vice versa, the majority of the Italian socialists pursued a class socialism and a strong alliance with the Communist Party, rejecting the Labour social policy model. After the split of 1947, however, the two views of Italian socialism failed to develop and implement a political programme for a welfare state based on the British universalistic tendency model. The political weaknesses of Italian socialist organizations in the field of social policy contributed to the characterization of the Italian welfare state in the post-war period and fundamentally delayed its universalistic implementation, at least until the 1960s. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of oral contraceptive (OC) use, user characteristics and prescribing patterns by accessing health care databases of three European countries. Methods: A retrospective study was performed from 2009 to 2010 in three general practice (GP) databases from the Netherlands, UK and Italy and in one database of linked pharmacy and hospitalisation data in the Netherlands. The presence of selected chronic conditions and diagnoses of diseases associated with OC use were assessed, as were switches, discontinuations and types of OC used during the study period. Results: Among 2.16 million women aged 15 to 49 years, 16.0% were using an OC on 1 January 2010. The prevalence ranged from 19.7% in a Dutch database to 2.6% in the Italian database. During 2009 and 2010, mainly second-generation progestogens were prescribed in the Netherlands (79.4% and 78.3% of users), both second- (57.9%) and third-generation progestogens (43.6%) were prescribed in the UK, and mainly third-generation progestogens in Italy (61.8%). Most switches were to third- or fourth-generation pills. The prevalence of chronic diseases tended to be higher among OC users, and the proportions of women with a history of disease associated with OC use tended to be lower than among non-users. Conclusions: Second-generation OCs were most frequently prescribed in the Netherlands. In the UK, and even more so in Italy, many women used third- or fourth-generation OCs. Preparation switches were mainly to third- or fourth-generation OCs. Among OC users, a somewhat higher prevalence of chronic diseases was observed; however, information bias cannot be ruled out. 摘 要目的本研究的目的在于通过分析三个欧洲国家多个卫生数据库，评估口服避孕药的应用率、应用者的特征及处方类型。 方法本回顾性研究分析了2009年至2010年荷兰、英国与意大利的三个常规实践（GP）数据库，以及荷兰的一个药店连锁数据库与医院数据库。研究评估了某些与口服避孕药相关的慢性情况与疾病诊断，研究期间口服避孕药非连续性应用且种类多样。 结果研究包含216万名女性，年龄分布在15岁至49岁，其中16.0%的女性在2010年1月1日应用口服避孕药。应用率最高为荷兰数据库（19.7%），最低为意大利数据库（2.6%）。在2009年至2010年期间，荷兰女性主要应用第二代避孕药（分别有79.4%与78.3%的女性），英国女性应用第二代（57.9%）与第三代避孕药（43.6%），意大利女性主要应用第三代避孕药（61.8%）。最多的转换是第三代或第四代避孕药。服用口服避孕药的女性慢性病的发生率有升高的趋势，患有与口服避孕药相关病史的女性比例低于非口服避孕药女性。 结论二代口服避孕药是荷兰女性最常用的类型。在英国与大部分意大利女性，三代与四代口服避孕药应用更多。准备转换主要为三代与四代口服避孕药。在口服避孕药应用者中，观察发现慢性病的发生率更高，但不排除信息存在偏倚。 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Theoretical research on public–private partnerships has emphasised their ability to address agency problems in infrastructure projects. Despite this, there is a substantial body of empirical research which documents the tendency of such projects to create budgetary problems for the state authorities involved. This article seeks to explore how and why these problems occur through case studies of PPP hospital projects in England and Italy. It shows how features of the PPP approach encourage and facilitate strategic behaviour by state employees during financial appraisals, and provides evidence that this has undermined the quality of investment decisions and given rise to contractual structures which have failed to minimise the long-run costs to the government. It hypothesises that the PPP approach encourages the commissioning of unaffordable projects, and suggests that future research should focus on the financial appraisal process to identify the political and organisational pressures that are particularly salient in this process and to further evaluate the outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the 2008 global financial crisis, many governments introduced spending reviews (SRs). The paper provides a valuable definition of the concept of the SR by proposing a taxonomy of the main organizational and methodological aspects involved in the SR process. The paper identifies two different SR models, which feature alternative approaches to cutting back spending. The authors highlight some important considerations when looking to make sustainable and sensible cuts in spending. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a quantitative examination of how newspaper articles in the UK, France and Italy most commonly frame immigration and migrants. A developing literature on the securitisation of policy and discourse related to migration suggests the prominence of this narrative, but the prevalence of this particular portrayal of migration has not been placed into comparative context through cross-country analysis of the relative prominence of various immigration-related issues. To test the securitisation thesis I tabulate not only security narratives in the press, but also economic ones, comparing the relative frequency of these two broader narratives. The results indicate that it would be premature to speak of a pre-eminent securitised meta-narrative within the European press. I find that overt references to physical threat or crime occur relatively infrequently, with only the mention of the border being more common. Instead, issues with economic implications, such as the labour market, asylum and fiscal costs, exhibit at least equal salience, though the degree to which the press grants attention to specific economic or security issues varies substantially between countries. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]