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During the COVID‐19 pandemic, families experienced new challenges related to reorganizing living spaces and the need to renegotiate domestic and care roles. This paper aims to understand how Italian families have reacted to this situation with respect to psychological well‐being, the management of domestic and care activities and solidarity networks of care. The participants were 560 Italian subjects who reported having a parental role. The protocol included a measure of well‐being (the General Health Questionnaire‐12) and some questions related to the time dedicated to domestic activities or to caring for people, the perception of conflict within the family and solidarity networks of care. The data underline how mothers continued to devote more time to home and care activities than fathers, despite the presence of both partners at home during the lockdown. The results also indicate that mothers participated to a greater extent than fathers in solidarity activities, confirming that this dimension is linked to gender. Furthermore, fathers and mothers perceived a lower condition of well‐being in relation to the pre‐pandemic period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While evidence-based practice (EBP) is widely accepted across healthcare professions, research investigating its implementation in manual therapy professions such as osteopathy is limited. The primary aim of this study was to investigate Italian osteopaths' attitudes, skills, and use of EBP. A secondary purpose was to understand the obstacles and enablers to EBP adoption in the Italian osteopathic context. Methods: A cross-sectional national survey was conducted (April to June 2020) among a sample of Italian osteopaths. Eligible participants were invited to complete the Italian-translated Evidence-Based practice Attitude and Utilization Survey (EBASE) anonymously online using various recruitment strategies, including email and social media campaigns. In addition to the three EBASE sub-scores (attitudes, skills and use), the demographic characteristics of the sample were considered. Results: A total of 473 osteopaths responded to the survey. The sample appeared to represent the Italian osteopathic profession. The majority of participants had a favorable attitude toward EBP. Eighty-eight percent of respondents agreed that EBP was necessary for osteopathy practice and that scientific literature and research findings were beneficial to their clinical scenario (95%). Perceived skill levels in EBP were rated as moderate, with the lowest scores for items relating to clinical research and systematic review conduct. Apart from reading/reviewing scientific literature and using online search engines to locate relevant research papers, participant engagement in all other EBP-related activities was generally low. Clinical practice was perceived to be based on a very small proportion of clinical research evidence. The primary obstacles to EBP implementation were a dearth of clinical evidence in osteopathy, and poor skills in applying research findings. The primary enablers of EBP adoption were access to full-text articles, internet connectivity at work, and access to online databases. Conclusions: Italian osteopaths were largely supportive of evidence-based practice but lacked basic skills in EBP and rarely engaged in EBP activities. The updating of osteopathic training curriculum and professional formal regulation in Italy could provide a suitable framework to improve EBP skills and use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lockdown due to COVID‐19 in Italy resulted in the sudden closure of schools, with a shift from traditional teaching to the online one. Through an online questionnaire, this survey explores teachers' experience of online teaching, the level of risk factors (e.g., stress) and protective factors (e.g., locus of control) and their impact on satisfaction levels during the social distancing. One hundred seven high school teachers from Lombardy, an Italian region very affected by the COVID‐19 outbreak, participated. Results show that depression and stress are the main predictors of satisfaction levels for online teaching. In addition, coping, locus of control and self‐efficacy emerge as important protective factors. Finally, although there is great satisfaction with the online teaching experience, critical elements emerged. This study is relevant because it describes the critical elements of the online teaching experience, and identifies some protective factors and the main risk factors in teachers operating in an area strongly marked by social restrictions imposed by the pandemic. High school teachers emerge as a sub‐group of the general population with specific psychological reactions. Considering the results, it is possible to suggest providing high‐quality educational support and crisis‐psychological oriented services to teachers, and help to maintain the psychological well‐being. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: A little is currently known about online teaching experience in countries under conditions of imposed social distancing.There are no conclusive data on the risk and protective factors associated with online teaching satisfaction in an Italian region strongly affected by the COVID‐19 pandemic. What this paper adds: The current study explored online teaching experience and the relationship between online teaching satisfaction and some risk and protective factors during the COVID‐19 pandemic.Significant differences emerge on the general impression of the teaching experience, comparing males versus females.More than one third of the overall sample of high school teachers was little or not satisfied.Those with high levels of depression and stress are at risk from lower online teaching satisfaction. Implications for practice and/or policy: It is suggested to pay attention to the planning adequate and timely legislation, including assessment criteria, and high‐quality educational support, also to improve communication processes.It is also suggested to provide preventive and supportive interventions to teachers also in the form of stress management and skills life training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the potential occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, following exposure to traumatic events, in Italian midwives and their consequent influence on the quality of midwives' professional lives. In addition, data were collected on the major traumatic events described by midwives. Method: A cross-sectional study related the socio-demographic characteristics of 286 midwives with the scores obtained on two assessment scales, one for post-traumatic stress disorder (IES-R) and the other for quality of life (ProQOL V). The percentage of midwives who obtained a score higher than the predetermined threshold value in both questionnaires was noted, and the correlations that emerged were highlighted. Through this qualitative method, their significant work-related traumatic events were investigated to finally detect the prevalence percentage of each category. Results: The proportion of midwives scoring higher than 33 on the IES-R scale, indicating a higher likelihood of PTSD, was 48.6%. Freelancers or outpatient clinic midwives had lower mean IES scores (p = 0.049). A significant inverse correlation was observed between age and IES-R score and between the compassion satisfaction subscale and time since completing education (p = 0.028). A comparison between the IES-R and ProQOL scales showed a statistically significant correlation (p < 0.001), in particular, between the burnout (BO) (p < 0.001) and secondary traumatic stress (STS) (p < 0.001) subscales. The thematic categorization of traumatic events included mother/child death, mother/child medical complications, relational problems with patients or team members, and organizational problems/medical staff's inexperience. Conclusions: The emerging data may confirm the data in the literature, namely those showing that midwives are prone to developing work-related PTSD, particularly due to their exposure to traumatic events such as maternal and neonatal death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offering counselling to students is increasingly considered as a key academic service. However, the reduction of resources allocated to Italian universities emphasises the need to assess the quality of interventions. This paper presents data reporting the effectiveness of a university counselling service. A sample of 45 undergraduate students completed a cognitive-relational intervention at a counselling service in a University in the North of Italy. The project focused on the development of reappraisal skills and problem-solving strategies to manage difficult situations. The results showed a significant pre and post-intervention reduction in self-reported psychopathological symptoms (measured with Symptoms Check List 90-Revised) as well as in general levels of distress (measured with Clinical Outcome in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure). A significant increase in reappraisal levels, measured with the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, was observed, which is a focal element of the counselling intervention. There were no detectable changes in the level of suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent health impairments associated with ageing in developed countries, and it can result in social, emotional and communication dysfunction. Hearing loss in Italy is increasing, yet, despite the availability of free hearing aids and access to qualified community-based health professionals specialising in audiology services, their uptake remains low (about 15%-20%). This paper presents an investigation of the possible reasons why older people in Italy resist adopting a hearing aid. We used the literature to identify factors influencing people with hearing loss's decision-making, and drew on the theory of reasoned action to create an explanatory model. To test our hypotheses, we applied a cross-sectional design. We developed a questionnaire including 13 items related to adopting a hearing aid. Health professionals identified 400 persons aged 60-90 who were candidates for a free hearing aid. Those willing to participate were sent a copy of the questionnaire and telephoned between August and September 2009; a total of 243 responded (response rate of 60.8%). Linear regression analysis highlighted that a person's intention to adopt a hearing aid was positively related to their attitude towards its adoption, but negatively linked to their perceived subjective norms. It was found that trust in the health professional does not moderate the relationship between a person's attitude and their intention to adopt a hearing aid, but trust mitigates the relationship between a person's perceived subjective norms and their intentions. These findings underline the importance of the potential role that the healthcare professional could play in reducing the uncertainty created by external social pressures. For this purpose, stronger collaboration between the various health professionals involved in hearing aid provision, from diagnosis to fitting, is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid professionals have a two-fold – professional and managerial – role, which requires appropriate management skills. Investing on managerial training programs aims to empower professionals with managerial skills and competencies. Does this pay back? Assessing the impact of such training programs is still a limited practice. This paper explores whether participation in managerial training programs in healthcare can enhance the involvement of hybrid professionals (namely, clinical directors) in top management decision-making. The mediational effects of knowledge of performance information and its use are explored. Survey data were collected from more than 3000 clinical directors of 69 public health authorities from five regional healthcare systems in Italy. Relationships between participation in managerial training programs, performance management practices (i.e., knowledge and use of performance information) and the level of clinicians' involvement by the top management were studied using a three-path mediation analysis with structural equation modelling. Propensity score matching was also performed to mitigate selection bias. Knowledge and use of performance information positively mediate, both independently and sequentially, the relationship between clinical directors' participation in managerial training programs and the level of their involvement in decision-making. The results of the study suggest that managerial training can support hybrid professionals in engaging with managerialism and playing upward influence on top management decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

papastavrou e., efstathiou g., tsangari h., suhonen r., leino-kilpi h., patiraki e., karlou c., balogh z., palese a., tomietto m., jarosova d. & merkouris a. (2011) A cross-cultural study of the concept of caring through behaviours: patients' and nurses' perspectives in six different EU countries. Journal of Advanced Nursing 68(5), 1026-1037. Abstract Aim. This paper is a report of an international study of patients' and nurses' perceptions of nurse caring behaviours. Background. Current economic constraints on healthcare systems, demand to increase the quality of care and the incorporation of the consumers' perspective into care, have created a need to develop a clear understanding of nursing behaviours which convey caring. Patients in different areas of the world report different expectations of nurses' caring actions when compared to nurses' views. Method. A descriptive comparative survey design was used to analyse a sample of surgical patients ( n = 1659) and their nurses ( n = 1195) in 88 wards of 34 hospitals in Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Hungary and Italy. Data were collected in autumn 2009 using the Caring Behaviours Inventory-24. Nurses' and patients' responses were compared using both inferential and descriptive statistics. Results. Independent samples t-tests showed important differences between nurses' and patients' views. Although both groups perceived knowledge and skill as being the most important sub-scale, the nurses' responses were higher compared to patients ( P < 0·05) with important differences in the 'assurance of human presence' ( P < 0·001) and the 'respectful deference to others' ( P < 0·001) sub-scales. Cross-country comparisons showed important differences between the nurses' ( F = 24·199, P < 0·001) and patients' views on caring ( F = 26·945, P < 0·001). Conclusions. Important differences were observed between patient-nurse perceptions in the participating countries. The results form a foundation for future research into the development of a common international perspective about caring behaviours between patients and their nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

van de mortel t.f., kermode s., progano t. & sansoni j. (2012) A comparison of the hand hygiene knowledge, beliefs and practices of Italian nursing and medical students. Journal of Advanced Nursing 68(3), 569-579. Abstract Aim. This paper reports a study examining the hand hygiene knowledge, beliefs and practices of Italian nursing and medical students with the aim of informing undergraduate curricula. Background. In comparison with registered nurses, physician status is a risk factor for non-compliance with hand hygiene guidelines. Little research has been conducted to determine if differences between the professions in relation to hand hygiene are apparent at the undergraduate level. Cross-disciplinary studies that may provide an insight into this topic are lacking. Methods. A questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 117 nursing and 119 medical students in a large university in Rome, Italy, to determine their hand hygiene knowledge, beliefs and practices. The data were collected in 2007-2008. Results. Nursing students' hand hygiene knowledge ( F = 9·03(1,230); P = 0·003), percentage compliance ( Z = 6·197; P < 0·001) and self-reported hand hygiene practices ( F = 34·54(1,230); P < 0·001) were significantly higher than that of medical students. There were no statistically significant differences between hand hygiene beliefs. Mean scores on the knowledge questions were low for both groups, reflecting primarily a knowledge deficit in relation to the use of alcohol-based hand rubs to decontaminate hands in the healthcare setting. Conclusion. Statistically significant disciplinary differences in hand hygiene knowledge and self-reported practices were apparent among undergraduate Italian healthcare students. Further research is needed to determine the causative factors. The overall low scores on the knowledge items indicate that these students require further education on hand hygiene, particularly in relation to the use of alcohol-based hand rubs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often seem not to feel the need to go to the bathroom in whatever context they are in and may suffer from hypo-responsiveness. Recent studies show a correlation between sensory problems, constipation, and fecal incontinence in children. This requires an assessment tool to identify evacuation issues in children with sensory dysfunction. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to validate the Italian version of The Toileting Habit Profile Questionnaire-Revised (THPQ-R) in children with ASD. Methods: The inclusion criteria were a confirmed diagnosis of ASD and an age between 3 and 8 years old. The Toileting Habit Profile Questionnaire Revised (THPQ-R) was recently validated in the Italian language on a healthy population. The Italian version has 17 items with two alternative response options, frequently/always or never/rarely, based on how often the behavior occurs. The THPQ-R questionnaire is easy to administer, interpret, and manage. For concurrent validity, we used the Italian version of the Sensory Processing Measure and Sensory Processing Measure—Preschool. Results: For the THPQ-R validation, 43 participants were recruited. The internal consistency, reporting an α value of 0.763, showed that the THPQ-R was a very reliable scale. The THPQ-R appears to be correlated only with the domains "Social Participation T-point", "Hearing T-point", and "Planning and Ideas T-point". However, these correlations are not statistically significant. Conclusion: The THPQ-R highlights positive results regarding validity and reliability and shows a positive correlation between defecation disorders and social participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is the fear of anxiety symptoms related to physical, cognitive, and social concerns. AS has been implicated in amplifying negative emotional states and maintaining smoking behavior. Aims: The current cross-sectional study evaluated the lower-order facets of AS (Physical, Cognitive, Social concerns) in relation to current nicotine withdrawal symptoms, short-term consequences of abstaining from smoking, and cigarette dependence. Methods: 331 adult Italian smokers were recruited from the general population and asked to fill in scales assessing AS, nicotine withdrawal symptoms, and cigarette dependence. Results: All ASI-3 subscales were associated with psychological symptoms of nicotine abstinence (β = 0.30–0.10; p ≥ 0.001), whereas ASI-3 physical concerns (β = 0.62; p ≥ 0.001) and ASI-3 cognitive concerns (β = 0.25; p ≥ 0.001) were associated with physical symptoms of nicotine abstinence. No ASI-3 subscales were associated with short-term smoking abstinence expectancies. ASI-3 physical concerns (β = 0.72; p ≥ 0.001) and ASI-3 cognitive concerns (β = 0.25; p ≥ 0.001) were associated with cigarette dependence. Discussion: ASI-3 physical concerns and ASI-3 cognitive concerns could amplify withdrawal-related factors, thereby increasing the negative reinforcement processes which might motivate smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The study aimed to determine trends in the prevalence of underweight, overweight, obesity and their putative risk factors in different cohorts from a representative population of adolescents in Central Italy. Subject and methods: After random sampling, five cohorts of adolescents attending public high schools – aged 14 to 18 years – were evaluated from 2005 to 2018 (n: 25,174). Collected information included self-reported body mass index (BMI), descriptors of family environment, eating behaviour, physical activity, screen use, bullying victimisation, sexual behaviour (age at first intercourse, number of partners) and perceived psychological distress. For these data, between-cohort prevalence differences were used to esteem prevalence variations across time. In the 2018 cohort, the association between these factors and body weight was evaluated through multinomial regressions with sex-specific crude relative risk ratios for different BMI categories. Results: An increased prevalence of overweight was observed for both boys and girls. The study outlined a transition towards higher parental education and unemployment, reduced soft drinks consumption and higher psychological distress. Sex-specific changes were observed for physical and sexual activity, and a rising percentage of girls reported being bullied and distressing family relationships. Parental education and employment, together with physical activity, confirmed to be protective factors against pathological weight. The latter clustered with reduced soft drinks consumption, bullying victimisation, early sexual activity, worse family relationships and higher distress. Conclusion: An increased prevalence of both overweight and underweight was observed across time. Economic factors associated with unemployment and changes in behavioural patterns may have contributed to this trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea can have a negative impact on children's and adolescents' neurocognitive abilities and hinder their academic and adaptive progress in academic, social, and/or behavioral dimensions. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we investigated the influence of body weight conditions and allergy status on long-term mental health, cognitive development, and quality of life in children and adolescents who snored. Methods: The study sample included 47 subjects (age range 4.1 to 15.3 years) who exhibited high levels of snoring and underwent home-based polysomnography between 2015 and 2019. Follow-up assessments (3 years on average between baseline and follow-up) entailed phone interviews with the subject's parents/caregivers who completed three validated questionnaires investigating sleep, quality of life, and parental ratings. Results: We found a correlation between age at diagnosis and being retrospectively overweight and high levels of snoring. In addition to a higher risk of developing emotional symptoms (8.2% increase in retrospective overweight status for each unit increase in the emotional score at follow-up) and oppositional behavior (9% increase in retrospective overweight status for each unit of oppositional T points at follow-up), we also noted reduced long-term social symptoms (11% decrease in retrospective overweight status for each unit increase in the social score at follow-up) and cognitive symptoms (10.6% decrease in retrospective overweight status for each unit increase in the cognitive score at follow-up), as well as a 6.1% increase in retrospective allergy status for each unit increase in academic performance at follow-up. Conclusions: Snoring can have negative impacts on mental health and cognitive development in the long term. Early detection and intervention for neuropsychological disorders is important in children and adolescents who score high on snoring. In the long term, the effects of snoring on neuropsychological disorders may vary based on previous body weight and allergy status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in Italy using a set of organizational variables identifying management profile. The correlations between variables, and how these are impacted by structural aspects of the department or hospital, are investigated. The research was conducted within the 5-year far-reaching and complex SONAR study run by the Italian Neonatal Network, which maps NICU, monitors outcomes of member centres, defines organizational models, and identifies best practices to improve care quality. Seven variables relating to activities, organization processes, and behaviour models used in the SONAR study were used here to assess NICU. Data from 54 Italian NICUs, 1601 nursing staff, and 643 doctors were used. We identified high levels of variation in NICUs for all aspects of organization. We also identified important opportunities for improvement, especially in the areas of performance measurement, quality improvement, and learning for healthcare staff. In terms of structural characteristics, we identified big differences between NICUs in the north and south of Italy. The findings provide a description of NICUs in Italy and identify a set of variables useful for management in assessing NICU, which are among the most complex and costly operational units in a hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to examine the protective role of perceived mattering to family and friends on psychological well-being in the Italian context during the COVID-19 pandemic, considering the mediating role of emotion regulation. Data were collected during the first lockdown (March–April, 2020; time 1) and in other two moments (August and November, 2020; times 2 and 3). Cross-sectional analyses were conducted considering participants who completed the first wave (N = 457), while longitudinal analyses were performed on participants who completed the three waves (N = 109). Main outcome measures. Participants were administered the Mattering to Others Questionnaire, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale and a short form of the Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale. Results of correlational analyses supported the hypothesised link between perceived mattering and psychological well-being, which was mediated by difficulties in emotion regulations. Results of multilevel SEMs showed that individuals who experienced more mattering to family than others across a 9 months period, reported also lower levels of difficulties in emotion regulation and higher psychological well-being than others. Our findings clearly show that the perception of being important for family and friends could favour emotion regulation, thus protecting individuals from the negative psychological consequences of social isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome with an unclear etiology. In addition to pain, FM patients suffer from a diverse array of symptoms and comorbidities, encompassing fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, mood disorders, sleep deprivation, and dizziness. Due to the complexity of FM, the diagnosis and treatment of it are highly challenging. The aim of the present work was to investigate some clinical and psychological characteristics of FM patients, and to uncover possible correlations with pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies. We conducted a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study aimed at evaluating pain, psychological traits, and the self-perceived effectiveness of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments in an Italian population of FM patients. Descriptive statistics, correlation, and inference analyses were performed. We found a prevalence of a neuropathic/nociplastic type of pain, which correlated with psychological traits such as anxiety, low mood, psychophysical discomfort, and the inability to relax. The pain type and psychological traits proved to play a role in determining the self-perceived effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. Patients revealed a better response to non-pharmacological therapies, particularly dietary interventions, relaxation techniques, and psychotherapy rather than pharmacological interventions. The sum of our data indicates that for better outcomes, the type of pain and psychological traits should be considered for tailor-made treatments considering non-pharmacological protocols as a complement to the use of drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Toileting Habit Profile Questionnaire Revised (THPQ-R) identifies sensory integration issues in children with defecation problems. Sensory integration issues are recognized as a factor linked to some defecation disorders and identifying such issues is needed to guide the development of an appropriate intervention. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the THPQ-R in a population of typically developing (TD) Italian children by measuring its internal consistency and cross-cultural validity. The translation and cultural adaptation were performed according to international guidelines. The questionnaire was administered to the caregivers of TD children, and the analysis was performed on data obtained from 118 TD children. The construct validity of the scale was calculated through the exploratory factor analysis that indicated two factors; Cronbach's alpha was calculated for internal consistency and showed a value >0.7, demonstrating good internal consistency. Cross-cultural validity was also analyzed and showed higher levels of defecation problems at age 5 years. Italian occupational therapists now have a tool to assess possible sensory issues linked to defecation disorders in children aged 3 to 6 years, which may promote more effective clinical practice in this area. Moreover, it will be possible to compare the results obtained from studies conducted in Italy with those conducted in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empathy is essential in clinical care to achieve patient satisfaction, treatment adherence and health outcomes. Understanding how personality traits might influence the development of medical students' empathy for patient care is important in medical education. Previous studies have shown associations between medical students' personality and empathy. This study aims to explore the associations between temperament and character and empathy for patient care in a sample of young medical students. Participants were 299 second-year Italian medical students. They completed the Italian versions of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy for medical students (JSE-S) and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI-140). Correlation and regression analyses were performed. Significant positive low correlations were found between empathy and Reward Dependence, Cooperativeness and Self-transcendence. The regression model of the sex and personality dimensions explained 14% of the variance in empathy with two significant predictors: sex (B = 4.034) and Self-transcendence (B = 0.361). This study confirms that female medical students are more empathetic than males. It also suggests that the greater students' Self-transcendence is, the more empathetic towards patient care they are. Attention to medical students' personality should be present within medical curricula, as it may help to generate methods of enhancing and sustaining the empathy of students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BATTISTELLI A., PORTOGHESE I., GALLETTA M. & POHL S. (2013) Beyond the tradition: test of an integrative conceptual model on nurse turnover. International Nursing Review 60, 103-111 Aim: This paper aimed to extend research on nurse turnover by developing and testing a theoretical model of turnover intention that includes two emergent key off-the-job constructs, work-family conflict (WFC) and community embeddedness (CE). Background: Nurse turnover is considered one of the most significant issues in health care. There is a considerable body of knowledge that has focused on the study of the on-the-job factors of nurse turnover, showing the important role of job attitudes. Recently, WFC and job embeddedness (JE) have been identified as variables that could help explain levels of nurse turnover. Methods: Using structural equation modelling from a cross-sectional survey, the relationships between the variables were explored in a sample of 440 nurses from an Italian public hospital. The questionnaire measures demographic data and psychosocial factors such as job satisfaction, organizational commitment, WFC, CE and turnover intentions. Results: The findings supported the importance of non-work dimensions in turnover models. Conclusions: The results suggest that when studying turnover phenomena in health organizations, the extra-work domains (WFC and JE) can contribute to a decrease in the intention to leave, in addition to the more typically emphasized attitude dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is a serious public health threat and represents a preventable cause of morbidity among children. Sleep bruxism is characterised by teeth grinding or clenching movements during sleep and may begin in adulthood as well as in childhood. Objectives: To investigate the association between SHS exposure and sleep bruxism in children. Methods: Sleep bruxism was investigated in 498 children (mean age: 9.261.9). Family members were interviewed and asked whether they smoked in the presence of their children. Children were classified according to their exposure to SHS into heavily, moderately, lightly and occasionally exposed. Children with sleep bruxism and exposed to SHS were randomly divided into two groups: children in group 1 were not exposed to SHS for 6 months, whereas children in group 2 were. Results: Thirty-one per cent of the children under investigation suffered from bruxism. Among them, 116 children (76%) were exposed to SHS. Exposed children showed a higher risk of sleep bruxism (p<0.05). After 6 months, sleep bruxism was found in 38% and in 90% of children, in the first and in the second group, respectively, this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). In group 1, changes were statistically significant in those who were heavily and moderately exposed (p<0.05) but not in those lightly and occasionally exposed (p>0.05). In group 2, changes were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: The findings showed that high and moderate exposure to SHS is associated with sleep bruxism in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simonetti V, Palma E, Giglio A, Mohn A, Cicolini G. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2012; 18: 289-294 A structured telephonic counselling to promote the exclusive breastfeeding of healthy babies aged zero to six months: A pilot study This pilot study aimed to test the effectiveness of a structured telephonic counselling (STC) on exclusive breastfeeding (EB) on healthy babies. The study was carried out on 114 primiparous women from February to March 2009. After randomization, women were divided into two groups: 55 receiving STC and 59 receiving conventional counselling. At 1, 3 and 5 months after delivery, a nurse specialist evaluated the EB rates, the influence of mother's educational level and employment status on EB. Breastfeeding rates in STC were higher compared to conventional counselling ( P < 0.01); resuming work was not an EB discouraging variable as 74.5% women in the STC resumed work vs. 54.2% of the conventional counselling. Breastfeeding promotion should start during pregnancy, advising women about benefits for the child in receiving human milk. STC should be used to improve EB in primiparous women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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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]

Background: Inadequate osteoporosis education can make patients ill-informed concerning preventive and therapeutic interventions and creates misconceptions and unnecessary concerns about the disease. Aim: Our study aimed to assess whether patients referred to the DXA exam by their general practitioner are informed about risk factors for osteoporosis, comparing patients who received a diagnosis of osteoporosis before the exam with those without this diagnosis. Methods: An observational single-center study was performed among patients who were referred to the DXA exam at the Osteoporosis Service of Marche Nord Hospital (Fano, Italy) between April and July 2019. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, awareness of suffering from osteoporosis, femoral and lumbar spine T-score and bone mineral density, risk of fracture and the I-FOOQ score were assessed. Results: A pilot study was carried out to validate the questionnaire in the Italian language (alpha-Cronbach 0.75). After that, a sample of 128 patients was enrolled (response rate 93.3%). Mean age was 66 ± 10.6 years, 95.6% were women. Overall, I-FOOQ mean score was 12 ± 3.5. Age, educational level, menopausal age, body mass index, femoral T-score were not associated with a better knowledge (p > 0.05). A comparison between who know to suffer from osteoporosis and others found no differences (12.2 ± 3.4 and 12 ± 3.5, respectively, p = 0.772). Effect of walking, recommended calcium intake, and familiar predisposition are the less known topics. Conclusion: Patients who undergo the DXA exam are poorly informed about risk factors for osteoporosis, independently of age, education, bone mineral density and risk of fracture. Knowing to suffer from osteoporosis does not increase the likelihood to be informed. It is mandatory to improve the education that is provided to the patients, as there are effective non-pharmacological interventions to prevent and treat osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The original Pediatric Quality of Life–Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (PedsQL‐MFS) developed in 2002 in the English language is a frequently used tool in paediatric oncology. It has been translated into several languages, and the aim of this study was to test the psychometric properties of the Italian version of this scale in paediatric patients with cancer. Methods: This was a cross‐sectional validation multicentre study. Results: Acceptability was 100% for patients and 99.2% for parents. Confirmatory factor analysis of the three‐factor model of the original scale yielded poor fit indices. A three‐factor solution was found through exploratory structural equation modelling, with good fit indices. The internal consistency, evaluated through the Cronbach's alpha coefficient, ranged 0.71–0.92 for the total sample, both in the self‐report and in the proxy‐report questionnaire. Conclusion: The Italian version of the PedsQL‐MFS for children and adolescents with cancer shows adequate psychometric characteristics of both the self‐ and proxy‐report. Further research with larger samples is needed ensuring all age groups are appropriately represented. [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]

Purpose: To investigate the effects of an uphill marathon (43 km, 3063-m elevation gain) on running mechanics and neuromus-cular fatigue in lower-limb muscles. Methods: Maximal mechanical power of lower limbs (MMP), temporal tensiomyographic (TMG) parameters, and muscle-belly displacement (Dm) were determined in the vastus lateralis muscle before and after the competition in 18 runners (age 42.8 ± 9.9 y, body mass 70.1 ± 7.3 kg, maximal oxygen uptake 55.5 ± 7.5 mL ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1). Contact (tc) and aerial (ta) times, step frequency (f), and running velocity (v) were measured at 3, 14, and 30 km and after the finish line (POST). Peak vertical ground-reaction force (Fmax), vertical displacement of the center of mass (Δz), leg-length change (ΔL), and vertical (kvert) and leg (kleg) stiffness were calculated. Results: MMP was inversely related with race time (r = -.56, P = .016), tc (r = -.61, P = .008), and Δz (r = -.57, P = .012) and directly related with Fmax (r = .59, P = .010), ta (r = .48, P = .040), and kvert (r = .51, P = .027). In the fastest subgroup (n = 9) the following parameters were lower in POST (P < .05) than at km 3: ta (-14.1% ± 17.8%), Fmax (-6.2% ± 6.4%), kvert (-17.5% ± 17.2%), and kleg (-11.4% ± 10.9%). The slowest subgroup (n = 9) showed changes (P < .05) at km 30 and POST in Fmax (-5.5% ± 4.9% and -5.3% ± 4.1%), ta (-20.5% ± 16.2% and -21.5% ± 14.4%), tc (5.5% ± 7.5% and 3.2% ± 5.2%), kvert (-14.0% ± 12.8% and-11.8% ± 10.0%), and kleg (-8.9% ± 11.5% and-11.9% ± 12%). TMG temporal parameters decreased in all runners (-27.35% ± 18.0%, P < .001), while Dm increased (24.0% ± 35.0%, P = .005), showing lower-limb stiffness and higher muscle sensibility to the electrical stimulus. Conclusions: Greater MMP was related with smaller changes in running mechanics induced by fatigue. Thus, lower-limb power training could improve running performance in uphill marathons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown that religiosity (R) and spirituality (S) can positively impact older adults' life. Nevertheless, no validated tools for measuring these constructs in the older Italian population are currently available. This study investigates the psychometric properties of two of the most common measures of R and S in the literature: the Francis Scale of Attitude toward Christianity short form (FSACsf) and the Behavioral Religiosity Scale (BRS). 313 older Italians completed the questionnaires anonymously. The functioning of the items and the response scales, the factor structure, age invariance and internal consistency of both scales were investigated. Each scale defines a substantively unidimensional variable. Moreover, items seem, on the whole, to be well formulated. The values of the Rasch-Andrich thresholds suggest that the response scale of the FSACsf was adequate for measuring spirituality. However, this was not the case for BRS, where the response categories needed to be collapsed to measure behavioral religiosity properly. Age invariance was confirmed for each scale. Cronbach's α, composite reliability and person separation reliability revealed both scales to be internally consistent. The results suggest that the scales have solid psychometric properties, and can therefore be considered valid, reliable tools for investigating religiosity and spirituality in older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been shown that disadvantaged groups who endorse system‐justifying beliefs tend to internalize their state of inferiority by expressing ingroup derogation and opposing collective action for change. In the present research, we recruited women – as disadvantaged group – from different countries (the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy) and examined whether their moral conviction against gender inequality, as an absolute stance that does not tolerate any violation, may interact with and overpower system‐justifying beliefs. Results from three studies provided support for our hypotheses. First, when women held strong moral conviction, they expressed higher identification with their disadvantaged ingroup and, in turn, higher collective action intentions, independent of system‐justifying beliefs. Second, when women held weak moral conviction, higher system‐justifying beliefs reduced women's ingroup identification and, in turn, undermined their collective action intentions. This support is found across different contexts of gender inequality (the gender leadership gap, the gender pay gap, and the gender power imbalance), using different methodological approaches (online survey, online experiment, laboratory experiment). Implications, limits, and future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To be able to provide high-quality palliative care, there need to be a number of organizational structures available in the nursing homes. It is unclear to what extent such structures are actually present in nursing homes in Europe. We aim to examine structural indicators for quality of palliative care in nursing homes in Europe and to evaluate the differences in terms of availability of and access to palliative care, infrastructure for residents and families, multidisciplinary meetings and quality improvement initiatives. Methods: A PACE cross-sectional study (2015) of nursing homes in Belgium, England, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland. Nursing homes (N = 322) were selected in each country via proportional stratified random sampling. Nursing home administrators (N = 305) filled in structured questionnaires on nursing home characteristics. Organization of palliative care was measured using 13 of the previously defined IMPACT structural indicators for quality of palliative care covering four domains: availability of and access to palliative care, infrastructure for residents and families, multidisciplinary meetings and quality improvement initiatives. We calculated structural indicator scores for each country and computed differences in indicator scores between the six countries. Pearson's Chi-square test was used to compute the p-value of each difference. Results: The availability of specialist palliative care teams in nursing homes was limited (6.1–48.7%). In Finland, Poland and Italy, specialist advice was also less often available (35.6–46.9%). Up to 49% of the nursing homes did not provide a dedicated contact person who maintained regular contact with the resident and relatives. The 24/7 availability of opioids for all nursing home residents was low in Poland (37.5%). Conclusions: This study found a large heterogeneity between countries in the organization of palliative care in nursing homes, although a common challenge is ensuring sufficient structural access to specialist palliative care services. Policymakers and health and palliative care organizations can use these structural indicators to identify areas for improvement in the organization of palliative care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives: To describe the sociodemographic and academic characteristics of nursing students who report academic failure and to identify the determinants of academic failure (no degree on time) in a population of nursing students. Background: Although prior studies have shown that academic failure is influenced by multiple factors, the studies mentioned have mostly focused on specific single variables associated with academic failure, and they have reported inconsistent results. Design: A prospective follow‐up study design was used in an Italian Baccalaureate Nursing Degree program. A total sample of 2,040 at baseline and a random subsample of 753 students were considered for academic failure determinants. The study followed the recommendations of STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology). Methods: We included in the model academic background, self‐efficacy, sociodemographic variables and self‐efficacy in psychomotor skills and motivation. We used the Academic Nurse Self‐Efficacy Scale (ANSEs), the Nursing Self‐Efficacy in Psychomotor Skill Scale (NSE‐PS) and the Motivation Nursing Students' Scale (MNSS) which have been validated on nursing students. For the assessment of predictors of academic failure, a two‐stage hierarchical logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: Students who had academic failure were 69.4% of the sample. Predictors of academic failure were the secondary school certification grade, the university pre‐admission test score; the academic self‐efficacy, self‐efficacy in psychomotor skills and clinical training examination grades were additional predictors. Conclusions: The secondary school certification grade, the University pre‐admission test score, low academic self‐efficacy, low self‐efficacy in psychomotor skills and low clinical training examination grades were predictors of academic failure in nursing students. Relevance to clinical practice: Our findings suggest that the universities could consider a cut‐off in the pre‐admission test score as a critical value for identifying students who are likely to fail. In addition, nursing faculty staff should consider strategies for developing self‐efficacy and motivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim and objectives: To assess the prevalence of anxiety, sleep disorders and self‐efficacy and their predicting factors among nurses facing COVID‐19. Background: The spread of COVID‐19 throughout the world determined a series of modifications of several National Health Service organisations, with a potential series of psychological consequences among nurses, who were particularly afflicted by this situation of changes and precariousness. Design: A cross‐sectional study was carried out from February–April 2020. Methods: A total of 1,005 nurses employed in different Italian hospital wards, during the COVID‐19 pandemic, were recruited. Analyses were based on descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression. The STROBE checklist for cross‐sectional studies was used in this study. Results: The prevalence of sleep disturbances, moderate anxiety and low self‐efficacy was 71.4%, 33.23% and 50.65%, respectively. We found a positive correlation between anxiety and sleep quality (0.408; p <.0001) and negative correlations between self‐efficacy and anxiety (−0.217; p <.0001) and sleep quality and self‐efficacy (−0.134; p <.0001). The factor independently associated with all variables was gender. Females were more prone to sleep disturbances, anxiety and low levels of self‐efficacy than males (p <.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of anxiety, sleep disorders and low self‐efficacy among Italian nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic was high. Healthcare managers should recognise and consider these results to reduce the risk of the onset of major mental problems that could result in post‐traumatic stress disorder. Relevance to clinical practice: Nurses facing major incidents as COVID‐19 pandemic are among healthcare personnel exposed to a high risk to develop psychological disturbance that should be assessed and recognised, in order to find helpful coping strategies to inform support services and avoid to hesitate in post‐traumatic stress disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current knowledge of the long‐term consequences of social exclusion mostly relies on theoretical assumptions. (Williams, 2009, Adv. Exp. Soc. Psychol., 41, 275) hypothesized that chronic ostracism drives individuals into a stage of resignation (depression, alienation, unworthiness, helplessness). We focused on asylum seekers (N = 112) as a social group at risk of experiencing prolonged instances of exclusion. Applying a three‐wave longitudinal design with a three‐month interval between each wave, we sought to advance the knowledge of the temporal development of chronic social exclusion. Cross‐lagged panel analyses showed that social exclusion influenced the development of feelings of resignation in the long term, from baseline to six months and between three and six months. In the same time frame, the perception of social exclusion became stable and chronic. These findings provide empirical evidence that chronic exclusion predicts resignation and shed light on the temporal development of the detrimental impact that pervasive exclusion can have on people belonging to marginalized social groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to test the Common Sense Model of Self-Regulation among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS), hypothesizing direct relations between illness beliefs and psychological adjustment, and indirect relations through coping strategies and social support. Materials and methods: Questionnaires were administered cross-sectionally to 680 participants (Mage =40.1; 64.4% women) recruited in eight MS units to assess illness beliefs, coping strategies, social support, and adjustment indicators including life satisfaction, psychological well-being, mental health, and depression. Multiple mediational analyses were conducted to identify direct and indirect paths connecting illness beliefs to psychological outcomes. Results: Controlling for disability level, significant direct and indirect relationships were observed: Beliefs on illness coherence, personal and treatment control were associated with better adjustment; emotion representations and cyclic timeline with worse adjustment; illness identity, consequences, psychological and chance/bad luck causes with mixed positive and negative outcomes. Notably, findings identified recurrent and unique pathways connecting illness beliefs to the different indicators through meaning- and problem-focused coping strategies, avoidance and social support. Conclusions: The Common Sense Model can represent a useful framework to be tested in rehabilitation programs, jointly addressing illness beliefs and coping resources for the promotion of psychological adjustment among persons with MS. Based on the Common Sense Model, the beliefs held by persons with MS about their illness are related to various aspects of psychological adjustment in multiple ways, both directly and indirectly through engagement in specific coping strategies and perception of social support. Clinicians supporting patients' adjustment may take into account that some illness beliefs were consistently associated with positive adjustment, some with poor adjustment, and some yielded mixed positive and negative results. Some ways in which coping strategies and social support connected illness beliefs to psychological adjustment were specific to the adjustment indicator under consideration including satisfaction with life, psychological well-being, mental health and depression. It may be worth testing comprehensive psychological interventions with the aim of raising awareness of one's illness beliefs, the strategies enacted in response to these beliefs, and the positive and negative relations of these processes with psychological adjustment, encompassing broad areas of individuals' lives and not only health-related issues or depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the study is to create and validate a midwifery preceptor's evaluation form to be used by midwifery students. The International Confederation of Midwives recommends that clinical placements need to be supervised by a preceptor in order to be efficient for students who, in this way, gain competence and proper practice within the midwifery practical area. Methods: This is an observational multi-center transversal study and leads to the validation of an evaluation questionnaire. Methodically, the following steps were followed: literature review, focus group with midwifery students, meeting between expert midwives, creation of the preceptor's assessment form, filling in of the forms by midwifery students and expert midwives, and validation of the form. The study was carried out in eight Italian universities and included eighty-eight midwifery students and eight midwives. Results and Conclusion: A midwifery preceptor's assessment questionnaire was created made up of four attribute areas which, as a total, included 33 items. Cronbach's alpha score was calculated after examining the forms filled in by students and expert midwives. An alpha score of 0.97–0.85 was obtained. The result was Pearson Correlation Coefficient r = 0.78. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undergraduate nursing students show high-stress levels. In students, stress has been linked to adverse physical and psychological health outcomes and academic and clinical demands. To date, there are few studies dealing with psychological predictors of stress amongst nursing students. This study aimed to assess psychological distress in a sample of Italian nursing students and to explore its relationship with sociodemographic and psychological factors, specifically dispositional mindfulness, emotional regulation difficulties, and empathy. A multicenter cross-sectional survey design was employed. Participants were recruited from five teaching hospitals associated with a public university in northern Italy. A sample of 622 undergraduate nursing students was recruited. Participants were recruited on campus and completed a paper-and-pencil survey. More than 70% of nursing students reported meaningful levels of psychological distress. Students with higher dispositional mindfulness scores had lower psychological distress, whereas emotional regulation difficulties and empathic personal distress were positively associated with perceived stress. No gender differences were found in stress levels, but senior students showed lower psychological distress than more junior students. Interventions aimed at increasing mindfulness facets and improving emotional regulation strategies may help to reduce perceived psychological stress in nursing students. • High levels of psychological distress are prevalent in nursing students. • There are no gender differences in nursing students' stress levels. • Senior nursing students show lower psychological distress than more junior students. • Dispositional mindfulness is a protective factor for stress in nursing students. • Improving emotional regulation strategies is recommended in nurse education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The coronavirus infection that emerged in China in the last few months of 2019 has now spread globally. Italy registered its first case in the second half of February, and in a short time period, it became the top country in Europe in terms of the number of infected people and the first in the world in terms of deaths. The medical and scientific community has been called upon to manage the emergency and to take measures. Dentists also need to take new precautions during their clinical activity to protect themselves, coworkers and patients from the risks of contagion and to avoid further spread of infection. Methods: Following the data published in the international literature as well as the guidelines and directives constantly updated by the WHO and by the national health authorities, a questionnaire to be completed anonymously was submitted online to Italian dentists using social tools and online professional platforms. The collected data were processed statistically, providing descriptive data and analysis of correlations of the most significant parameters using the Pearson's χ2, the Likelihood-Ratio χ2, Cramér's V, Fisher's exact test, Goodman and Kruskal's γ, and Kendall's τb (p < 0.05). Results: A total of 535 dentists from Italy participated in the survey. A good level of scientific knowledge about coronavirus and the extra precautionary measures needed to limit the spread was related to the age of respondents and their sex. Coming from areas with higher concentrations of cases affected knowledge, level of attention and perception of risk related to dental activity. Conclusions: At the moment, there are no therapies or vaccines to contain the infection with the new coronavirus that is causing many infections, many of which are fatal, worldwide. Dentists are one of the categories at highest risk of encountering diseases and infections because they work in close proximity with patients, and in their procedures, there is always contact with aerosols with high bacterial and viral potential. Therefore, during this COVID-19 emergency, it is important that dentists are properly informed and take the appropriate precautionary measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The decline of health among university students represents an important and growing public health concern. Health problems and unhealthy lifestyle habits are common among many students, but factors influencing students' health are not fully understood. Methods Italian university students from different study programs and curriculum years were asked to fill out a self-administered questionnaire, collecting data about age, gender, curriculum year, study program and health-related quality of life (QOL). Two latent factors were extracted: physical component summary score and mental component summary score. T -test, one-way ANOVA, multivariate and age and sex-stratified analyses were performed. Results Students scored relatively poor on health-related QOL, with an overall mental component summary score of 41,3% (± 10,0) and physical component summary score of 52,9% (±6,0), with significantly higher mental component summary score for male students (P = < 0,005). Studying economics, law (b = −2,513, P = 0,007) or engineering (b = −2,762; P = 0,001) was associated to negatively influence students' health. Conclusions Factors such as study program are associated with health-related QOL. Further longitudinal studies assessing additional socio-demographic factors are needed to fully assess what influences students' health. Students' health should be at the top of the agenda of public health researchers, academic supervisors and policy-makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Established measures of well-being rarely examine active lifestyle or religious behaviors. Though these could be assessed using individual measures, in older populations, the availability of a brief composite instrument with adequate psychometric properties would be desirable. Aims: Two studies were conducted to assess the psychometric properties (i.e., item adequacy, factorial structure, reliability and validity) of a new tool that was developed to self-rate personal satisfaction among Italian elders, the SODdisfazione dell'Anziano (SODA) Questionnaire. Methods: 135 young adults (mean age = 29.5 years, SD = 7.4) took part in Study 1, whereas Study 2 was carried out with 474 cognitively healthy 60–98-year-old people, that were asked to complete a battery of well-known well-being measures including the SODA one. Results: Study 1 showed that the SODA questionnaire is a reliable and valid self-report tool defined by three factors, assessing satisfaction about physical and cognitive health, religious well-being, and satisfaction about time spent for leisure activities, respectively. Study 2 replicated the outcomes of Study 1, highlighting the factor structure of the SODA inventory. Moreover, a series of stepwise linear regression analyses pointed out what factors (i.e., education, physical health, social desirability, participation to outdoor leisure activities, gender, and age) predicted the variance relative to the SODA indexes. Discussion: Current findings show the solid psychometric properties of SODA. Conclusions: SODA represents a brief, but reliable and valid, instrument for the assessment of satisfaction (focused on the state level) in late adult span. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To test the impact of a nudge strategy (dish of the day strategy) and the factors associated with vegetable dish choice, upon food selection by European adolescents in a real foodservice setting. Methods: A cross-sectional quasi-experimental study was implemented in restaurants in four European countries: Denmark, France, Italy and United Kingdom. In total, 360 individuals aged 12–19 years were allocated into control or intervention groups, and asked to select from meat-based, fish-based, or vegetable-based meals. All three dishes were identically presented in appearance (balls with similar size and weight) and with the same sauce (tomato sauce) and side dishes (pasta and salad). In the intervention condition, the vegetable-based option was presented as the "dish of the day" and numbers of dishes chosen by each group were compared using the Pearson chi-square test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was run to assess associations between choice of vegetable-based dish and its potential associated factors (adherence to Mediterranean diet, food neophobia, attitudes towards nudging for vegetables, food choice questionnaire, human values scale, social norms and self-estimated health, country, gender and belonging to control or intervention groups). All analyses were run in SPSS 22.0. Results: The nudging strategy (dish of the day) did not show a difference on the choice of the vegetable-based option among adolescents tested (p = 0.80 for Denmark and France and p = 0.69 and p = 0.53 for Italy and UK, respectively). However, natural dimension of food choice questionnaire, social norms and attitudes towards vegetable nudging were all positively associated with the choice of the vegetable-based dish. Being male was negatively associated with choosing the vegetable-based dish. Conclusions: The "dish of the day" strategy did not work under the study conditions. Choice of the vegetable-based dish was predicted by natural dimension, social norms, gender and attitudes towards vegetable nudging. An understanding of factors related to choosing vegetable based dishes is necessary for the development and implementation of public policy interventions aiming to increase the consumption of vegetables among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informal caregivers play a crucial role in supporting persons with multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurodegenerative disease resulting in progressive worsening of physical and cognitive functioning. While research extensively showed that caregiving workload can be perceived as burdensome, little attention was devoted to the relation connecting workload and caregivers' well‐being. Building on previous literature on stress and coping, the aim of this study was to test the mediational role of coping between caregivers' tasks and well‐being. A group of 680 caregivers of persons with MS (M age = 46.45; 51.2% women) was recruited in eight Italian MS centres between June 2015 and December 2016. Caregiving tasks related to basic activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental ADL, psycho‐emotional and social‐practical care were assessed through the Caregiving Tasks in MS Scale; coping strategies (avoidance, criticism and coercion, practical assistance, supportive engagement, positive reframing) were investigated through the Coping with MS Caregiving Inventory; well‐being was evaluated through the Psychological Well‐Being Scales. Analyses substantiated a multi‐mediation model including tasks in basic ADL, psycho‐emotional and social‐practical care, and the coping strategies avoidance, criticism/coercion, supportive engagement, positive reframing. Basic ADL care was negatively related to psychological well‐being through lower use of supportive engagement and positive reframing. By contrast, psycho‐emotional and social‐practical tasks were both negatively and positively related to psychological well‐being, through higher use of avoidance and criticism/coercion as well as supportive engagement and positive reframing. Findings suggest that caregiving tasks are not solely detrimental to well‐being, but they may also provide a positive contribution through the adaptive coping strategies supportive engagement and positive reframing. Findings also highlighted task‐specific areas that could be targeted in intervention in order to effectively lighten burden and promote well‐being among caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The present study focuses on perpetrators of workplace incivility. OBJECTIVE: We set to answer two questions: 1) why the perpetrator instigates uncivil behaviors in the workplace, and 2) what are the consequences of workplace incivility on the perpetrator him/herself. METHODS: We examined the perpetrator burnout outcome of instigated incivility and infected emotional contagion as predictor of one's uncivil behaviors towards others and tested the cross-country structural invariance of the hypothesized nomological network on data from the U.S. and Italy. RESULTS: Data from employees in the U.S. (N = 350) and Italy (N = 273) suggest that contagion of joy infected into others and anger infected into others were related to instigated incivility, which, in turn, was positively related to emotional exhaustion and cynicism. Our results were structurally invariant across the two countries. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to the victims of incivility, the perpetrator of workplace incivility also suffers from heightened burnout. As such, an employee experiencing and infecting into other employees his/her own negative/positive emotions increases/decreases his/her own tendency to initiate rude behaviors toward others. Overall, our findings shed light on predictors and consequences of workplace instigated incivility. We hope our research can serve as a springboard to the understanding and prevention of incivility initiated by employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The study investigated the association of narcissistic leadership, workload and emotional demands with nurses' job satisfaction and the mediational role of meaningful work. Background: Considering the strong positive relationship that meaningful work has with job satisfaction, investigating its antecedents is crucial. Method: A group of 602 nurses participated in the study completing a self‐report questionnaire. Structural equation model analysis was applied. Results: Narcissistic leadership showed a negative association while emotional demands showed a positive one with meaningful work. The three determinants had a negative association with job satisfaction, while meaningful work showed a positive one. The indirect relationship with job satisfaction mediated by meaningful work was negative for narcissistic leadership and positive for emotional demands. Conclusion: The study adds to the literature mainly by the investigation of the mediational role of meaningful work in a sample of nurses. Implications for Nursing Management: Measures should promote supportive, instead of narcissistic, leadership behaviours. Moreover, nurses should be assisted in identifying emotional demands as a meaningful aspect of their work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Advanced Nursing (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) is the property of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 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.)

Aim and objective: To test the psychometric properties of the nursing students' version of the 24‐item Caring Behaviours Inventory. Background: Caring is at the heart of nursing and should also be a core value in nursing education. Caring can be manifested through measurable behaviours. The Caring Behaviors Inventory is a valid and reliable measure of nurses' caring behaviours in clinical settings. It has already been used among nursing students, but it needs more psychometric testing. Design: Cross‐sectional validation study. Method: The questionnaire was filled in by 300 undergraduate nursing students at two Italian universities in May 2016. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted using Mplus maximum likelihood with GEOMIN oblique rotation. A multifaceted approach was used to evaluate the model fit. The STROBE checklist for cross‐sectional studies was followed. Results: Four dimensions were identified: "being with," "doing with competence," "responding to individual needs" and "providing effective care." Adequate fit indices and high reliability of the factors were found. Correlations between factors were positive and significant. Conclusion: This study makes it possible to use the same tool to compare the caring practices perceived by students, nurses and patients. Further studies with bigger samples could be stratified to investigate the associations between caring levels and student characteristics. The Caring Behaviors Inventory can be used to call attention to caring in nursing education, helping to make this concept less elusive. Relevance to clinical practice: The effective self‐assessment of nursing students' caring behaviours offers opportunities for reflection on their caring practice. This could improve the caring level of their behaviours in clinical practice and help them to become caring nurses in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the health domain, well‐being is primarily assessed as autonomy and mental distress, whereas the quality of daily experience is rarely investigated. In this study, the relationship between autonomy levels and daily experience was explored. Thirty‐five Italian adults with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia provided for one week real‐time descriptions of daily activities and associated experiences through the Experience Sampling Method procedure. Participants were grouped based on autonomy levels assessed through Barthel Index. The relationships between activity typologies, the experiential dimensions, perceived challenges and skills, and autonomy level were analysed. Participants' predominant activities were personal care, associated with global disengagement, and leisure, associated with high control and desirability, but low perceived relevance. During social interactions participants reported engagement and emotional well‐being, and during productive activities high activation but negative affect. Multi‐level analysis highlighted that this association between activity type and experiential patterns recurred across autonomy levels. In addition, perceived challenges in the activity were lower that perceived personal skills across activities and autonomy levels. Findings suggest that persons with motor disabilities, regardless of their autonomy level, would benefit from more challenging opportunities for action in daily life, in order to attain well‐being through active skill mobilisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aim and objectives: To develop and initially validate the Positive Sexuality Scale (PSS) to assess adult female‐positive sexuality. Background: While traditional approaches focus on negative sexual experiences and sexual dysfunctions, within the positive psychology framework positive sexuality is a subjective experience of happiness and fulfilment with one's sexual expression, which contributes to well‐being. No measure exists that specifically measures adult female‐positive sexuality and can be confidently used with women of any fertility/childlessness status. Design: Two‐stage cross‐sectional study with a 4‐week test–retest, which follows the STROBE guidelines. Methods: Participants were 912 Italian women aged 18–45 (52.74% mothers, 23.79% voluntarily childless and 23.46% primary infertile), who completed the 5‐item PSS and a self‐report of psychological well‐being. A subsample (n = 61) completed the 4‐week test–retest. Results: Factor analyses supported a one‐factor model with measurement invariance across adulthood stage and fertility/childlessness status and good reliability. Younger and fertile women showed higher PSS scores, and moderate‐to‐high variability in infertile women's well‐being was accounted for by PSS scores. Conclusion: The PSS is a brief self‐report with initial evidence of validity and reliability that could be used in sex research, practice and education. Relevance to clinical practice: The PSS could assist health professionals to identify a positive resource to which women can draw on to deal with sex‐related issues. Implementing the assessment of female‐positive sexuality in infertility protocols could help professionals to identify a potential resource within couples facing infertility and its treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: In literature, there are many instruments for evaluating workaholism; however, they do not have convergent validity, because of the lack of a shared definition of workaholism. OBJECTIVE: We propose a new instrument for evaluating workaholism and work engagement, namely the Work-related Inventory (WI-10), which is based on Loscalzo and Giannini's (2017) comprehensive definition of workaholism. METHODS: We developed a pool of 36 items, covering: 1) addiction symptoms; 2) obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and 3) work engagement. Then, we conducted Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor analyses on a sample of 503 Italian workers (165 males, 337 females, one missing; Mean age = 38.26±10.84) aiming to reduce the number of items. RESULTS: The results showed a 10-items (2 filler) and 2-factor solution: 1) Workaholism and 2) Work Engagement; moreover, the WI-10 has good internal reliability, convergent and divergent validity. CONCLUSIONS: We found good psychometric properties for the WI-10. We also proposed the cut-off scores for the screening of the four kinds of workers proposed by Loscalzo and Giannini (2017): disengaged workaholics, engaged workaholics, engaged workers, and detached workers. The WI-10 will be useful for both research and preventive and clinical purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to assess the consistency and replicability of these process measures during provision of the Italian Medicines Use Review (I-MUR). Background: Medication review is a common intervention provided by community pharmacists in many countries, but with little evidence of consistency and replicability. The I-MUR utilised a standardised question template in two separate large-scale studies. The template facilitated pharmacists in recording medicines and problems reported by patients, the pharmaceutical care issues (PCIs) they found and actions they took to improve medicines use. Methods: Community pharmacists from four cities and across 15 regions were involved in the two studies. Patients included were adults with asthma. Medicines use, adherence, asthma problems, PCIs and actions taken by pharmacists were compared across studies to assess consistency and replicability of I-MUR. Findings: The total number of pharmacists and patients completing the studies was 275 and 1711, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found between the studies in the following domains: patients' demographic, patients' perceived problems, adherence, asthma medicines used and healthy living advice provided by pharmacists. The proportion of patients in which pharmacists identified PCIs was similar across both studies. There were differences only in the incidence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, the frequency of potential drug-disease interactions and in the types of advice given to patients and GPs. Conclusions: The use of a standardised template for the I-MUR may have contributed to a degree of consistency in the issues found, which suggests this intervention could have good replicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]