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Background: General practitioners (GPs) have to be considered as key figures of health promotion among health care workers since they are strongly asked to recommend influenza vaccination to their patients and perform on them. Despite this consideration, GPs have influenza vaccination rates that are significantly below the 75% coverage proposed by International Public Health guidelines. In order to increase future coverage of influenza vaccination within GPs, and through them within the population, the aim of this study was to assess determinants associated with influenza vaccine uptake among GP trainees. Methods: A survey was carried out on GP trainees attending the training course in Community Medicine of Western Sicily (Italy). Each participant was interviewed via an anonymous self-administered questionnaire which included questions on attitudes, behaviours and perceptions regarding influenza and influenza vaccination. Results: Vaccination coverage was 26.2% for seasonal 2008-2009 influenza, 20.0% for pandemic A (H1N1) influenza and 18.7% for seasonal 2009-2010 influenza. Considering themselves as a high risk group for developing influenza was significantly associated with seasonal 2009-2010 influenza vaccine (adj-OR 2.35). Vaccination for seasonal 2009-2010 influenza (adj-OR 1 063), pandemic A (H1N1) influenza (adj-OR 16.77) and seasonal 2010-2011 influenza (adj-OR 38.08) were significantly more frequent in GP trainees who had been vaccinated more than three times in the previous five influenza seasons. Conclusion: Influenza vaccine uptake among GP trainees is more a habit than a professional responsibility, and influenza vaccination is still administrated to patients on the basis of GP trainees’ clinical evaluation or patient willingness. Multidisciplinary learning pathways may implement vaccination coverage in the attempt to modify the current GP trainees’ attitude towards recommended influenza vaccination.

Background: Annual flu vaccination of healthcare workers (HCWs) is recommended worldwide as the best way to prevent influenza and to avoid its transmission. However, in several European Countries, vaccination rate among HCWs is still less than 25%. The aim of this study was to determine the HCW vaccination coverage during a three year period in a large University Hospital, identifying socio demographic and occupational variables involved in the decision to accept influenza vaccination. Moreover, for the 2007-2008 season, we also assessed the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in reducing influenza-related absenteeism.Methods: During three consecutive influenza seasons (from 2005-2006 to 2007-2008), a cross-sectional study was carried out on all HCWs employed in the “Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico” (AOUP) of Palermo (Italy). Socio-demographic and occupational data of HCWs were collected from administrative hospital personnel records and included gender, age, birthplace, residence, profession and the workplace unit. In addition, during the 2007-2008 season, a retrospective study was conducted to evaluate absence from work due to influenza–like illness (ILI) in vaccinated versus unvaccinated personnel.Results: A total of 7,848 HCW-years were observed and 881 vaccines were administered during the study period. Vaccination rate declined from 14.7% in 2005-2006 to 8.2% in 2007-2008 (Chi-square for trend=53.6, pConclusions: Our experience encourages flu vaccination of HCWs and accentuates the importance of annual influenza vaccination programs for healthcare personnel.

Background: although the epidemiological features of overweight and obesity have been well described, especially for very populous urban areas, less evidences are available for small urban areas. The aim of the present work was to assess BMI and factors associated with overweight and obesity in a representative sample of general population of a small city of Western Sicily (Italy). Methods: four hundred and eleven randomly selected adult subjects from general population living in a small Sicilian city with 7 144 inhabitants were interviewed by a standardized questionnaire investigating life-styles, eating habits, anthropometric measurements (weight, height and BMI) and socio-economic deprivation. Results: the standardized prevalence of overweight and obesity were 43.8% and 18.3%, respectively. The multivariate analysis has indicated an increased risk of BMI≥25 in subjects 40-59 years old (OR=2.3; 95% CI=1.2-4.4) in comparison with 18-39 years old, in males (OR=2.8; 95% CI=1.6-4.7) in comparison with females, and in participants who had a higher socio-economic deprivation (OR=1.3; 95% CI=1.1-1.7). ConclusionS: in small urban areas some demographic factors and socio-economic deprivation can be considered important risk factors for increased BMI also after controlling for the most common confounding factors.