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Technostress is an emergent phenomenon related to the pervasive use of technology and is associated with the increased computerisation and digitalisation seen over recent decades. This cross-sectional observational study aims to investigate the impact that stress from the use of technologies (i.e. technostress) has on the productivity and life of an individual. Cross-sectional study. Data were collected using a previously proposed and validated questionnaire. The questionnaire was translated into Italian and transformed into an online format with a Google Docs form. The questionnaire was then associated with a link and QR code (also available in paper format) and disseminated manually and through the use of e-mail and social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter. The study sample included 313 individuals, 54.6% of whom were women. The mean age of the sample participants was 34.7 years. The dependent variables were technstressors (i.e. techno-overload, techno-invasion, techno-complexity, techno-insecurity and techno-uncertainty), role stressors (i.e. role overload and role conflict) and productivity. In the multivariate analysis, techno-overload was significantly associated with female gender (β = 0.128; P = 0.018) and unemployment (β = −0.303; P < 0.001); techno-invasion was significantly associated with female gender (β = 0.098; P = 0.081) and degree-level education (β = 0.149; P = 0.008); techno-complexity was significantly associated with female gender (β = 0.107; P = 0.057) and being married (β = 0.113; P = 0.046); techno-uncertainty was significantly associated with unemployment (β = 0.337; P < 0.001); role overload was significantly associated with female gender (β = 0.160; P = 0.014) and productivity was significantly associated with degree-level education (β = 0.125; P = 0.057). This observational study evaluated the phenomenon of both work-related and non–work-related technostress of 313 individuals aged between 16 and 65 years. The present study investigated the impact of five techno-stressors, two role stressors and productivity. The results indicate that different techno-stressors are significantly associated with female gender, degree-level education and unemployment. Further research in this field is required to better understand and clarify the epidemiology, clinical presentation and determinants of technostress. • Technostress is an emergent phenomenon related to the pervasive use of technology in the current digital age. • Different techno-stressors are significantly associated with female gender, degree-level education and unemployment. • Further research is required on the epidemiology, clinical presentation and determinants of technostress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to measure the burden of burnout in a sample of healthcare workers (HCWs) consisting of general practitioners, professors from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, nurses, medical students and nursing students. Cross-sectional questionnaire survey. A descriptive analysis was carried out, using averages, medians, standard deviations (SD) and ranges for quantitative variables. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were also performed. In total, 535 HCWs completed the survey. Multivariate analysis shows that increasing age (β = −0.183; P = 0.047), being a university professor (β = −0.118; P = 0.001), having a high physical score (β = −0.370; P < 0.001) and a high mental score (β = −0.574; P < 0.001) resulted in less personal burnout. Low work burnout was associated with being a student (β = −0.144; P < 0.001), a university professor (β = −0.146; P < 0.001), having a high physical score (β = −0.366; P < 0.001) and having a high mental score (β = −0.648; P < 0.001). Being female (β = −0.122; P < 0.001), a university professor (β = −0.333; P = 0.001), a student (β = −0.433; P < 0.001), having a high physical score (β = −0.26; P < 0.01) and having a high mental score (β = −0.460; P < 0.001) were predictors for reduced client burnout. However, high client burnout was seen in individuals who had a commuting time >30 min (β = 0.084; P = 0.012) predicts. This study shows that burnout is an important issue among HCWs and that prevention strategies must be considered, with a particular focus on physical and mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pictorial warnings may contribute to lower attractiveness of smoking, particularly among adolescents. The present study compared the impact of two different label styles of tobacco product warnings (textual and pictorial) among adolescents in a new standardized way, using the Adolescent Label Impact Index (ALII). A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Adolescent aged 10–20 years completed an online questionnaire. The ALII score was used to assess the impact of only-textual (ALII-T) and pictorial advertisements (ALII-P). A total of 1,759 students (68.4% response-rate) declared that graphic warnings have a significant impact than textual ones (p < 0.05). The younger group, which has never smoked or just tried and believed in the harmful effects of tobacco, is associated with both scales of ALII scales (T and P) (p < 0.01). The socioeconomic status was associated with ALII-T (p < 0.01), but not ALII-P; female gender, smoker-peers, perception of the body weight are related to the ALII-P (p < 0.05) but not ALII-T. The pictorial labels represent a policy of tobacco use control that has potential effects, in particular in reducing communication inequalities between socio-economic categories, reinforcing the knowledge about the damage of smoking, discouraging adolescents, especially the younger ones who do not have never smoked or have just tried to become smokers. Siriana Campioni, Department of Public Health and Infectious Disease, "Sapienza" University of Rome Gabriele Castorina, Armando Platania, Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Department "GF Ingrassia" Hygiene and Public Health, University of Catania, Italy; Ilenia Bellini, School of Specialization in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence Omar Enzo Santangelo, Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care "Giuseppe D'Alessandro," University of Palermo Clara Ferrara, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics Palermo Civic Hospital and National Center of Clinical Excellence (ARNAS Di Cristina-Benfratelli) Palermo, Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Physical activity initiation and maintenance are particular challenges in the postmastectomy recovery and in particular Dragon Boat racing seems to be a useful sport activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of focal muscle vibration as a proprioceptive input to improve upper limb functioning in a group of “paddlers” patients. Methods. A group of paddlers has been evaluated before vibratory treatment (T0), immediately after therapy (T1), after one week (T2), and after one month (T3) with DASH questionnaire, Body Image Scale, McGill pain questionnaire, Constant Scale, and Short Form 36 questionnaire. Results. Fourteen patients showed a significant reduction in disability score (p=0,001) using DASH scale, an improvement of upper limb function (p=0,001) using the Constant scale, and a reduction of pain (p=0,007) at the McGill pain questionnaire. The Mental Composite Score of the Short Form 36 questionnaire showed significant results (p=0,04) while no significant results had been found regarding the physical mental score (p=0,08). Conclusion. Focal muscle vibration may be a useful treatment in a postmastectomy recovery of upper limb functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The position sense of the shoulder joint is important during reaching. Objective. To examine the existence of additional competence of the shoulder with regard to the ability to measure extracorporeal space, through a novel approach, using the shoulder proprioceptive rehabilitation tool (SPRT), during reaching. Design. Observational case-control study. Methods. We examined 50 subjects: 25 healthy and 25 with impingement syndrome with a mean age [years] of 64.52 +/− 6.98 and 68.36 +/− 6.54, respectively. Two parameters were evaluated using the SPRT: the integration of visual information and the proprioceptive afferents of the shoulder (Test 1) and the discriminative proprioceptive capacity of the shoulder, with the subject blindfolded (Test 2). These tasks assessed the spatial error (in centimeters) by the shoulder joint in reaching movements on the sagittal plane. Results. The shoulder had proprioceptive features that allowed it to memorize a reaching position and reproduce it (error of 1.22 cm to 1.55 cm in healthy subjects). This ability was lower in the impingement group, with a statistically significant difference compared to the healthy group (p<0.05 by Mann–Whitney test). Conclusions. The shoulder has specific expertise in the measurement of the extracorporeal space during reaching movements that gradually decreases in impingement syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Our study aimed to estimate the prevalence of pregnancy e-health seekers in a large Italian sample; to explore the factors influencing the choices of the childbearing women regarding their lifestyles after internet consultation; and finally to investigate potential differences between primiparous and multiparous women in internet use to find information about pregnancy. Methods A multicentre survey was carried out in seven Italian cities. Data were collected through a validated questionnaire administered in waiting rooms of outpatient departments by medical doctors. Respondents were questioned about their sociodemographic status, their use of the internet to seek pregnancy information and their consequent choices to modify their lifestyles. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results Almost all women were pregnancy e-health seekers (95%), including those who also received information from healthcare professionals. Indeed, the main reason for searching the web was the need of further knowledge on pregnancy-related topic, over and beyond other key advantages of the net such as anonymity, simplicity and rapidity. A higher likelihood of changing lifestyle after pregnancy e-health was observed among the women who searched institutional websites; declared more confidence in the information retrieved; participated into pregnancy-centred forum online; and were residents in Italy. Conclusions To reduce the likelihood for women of both finding erroneous information or misinterpreting correct ones, healthcare professionals should commit to fill the information gap and guide pregnant women in the online searches. Also, future studies are strongly needed to analyse the quality and accuracy of health information found on the web. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Graphs are often used in medical communication, both in clinical practice and health management. They can help the processing of quantitative information but may also contribute to drawing wrong conclusions. The aim of the survey is to study the graphical perception of the data at the management level and its possible effects, showing how some criteria of appraisal of a phenomenon are influenced by the graphical format. Methods: One hundred and five medical doctors and health direction professionals of hospitals in Naples, Rome, Siena and Turin were interviewed. Four different graphs or table related to the same hypothetical data on average hospital stay in the period January 2000 to September 2003 were shown to participants, and their impressions were recorded. Results: Less than one-fourth of the participants understood that the data set was the same for the different diagrams. The process of understanding is mostly correlated with being a director, having a degree in medicine and working in central–northern cities. The table seems easier for interpretation (98.1%), more suitable (84.8%), more used (92.4%) and more pleasant than other data presentation. On the other hand radar format had worse results in all questions. Conclusions: The choice of a graphical format may influence the understanding of data. Further research is needed in order to sustain the improvement of medical and health professionals’ knowledge in the display data format. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aim: To investigate the effects of adherence to the Mediterranean diet and familial dysmetabolisms on acne development. Methods: A community-based case–control study was carried out in Italy enrolling cases as acneic outpatients of a dermatological ambulatory service and controls as clinically healthy acne-free subjects. Food consumption were evaluated with a validated food-frequency questionnaire, exploring the consumption of pasta, meat, cheese, fish, fruit, vegetables, and olive oil. Adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet was assessed by a 10-point Mediterranean diet scale that incorporated the main characteristics of this diet. A logistic regression analysis estimated the variables who predicted the odds of being case, using those variables that at the univariate analysis yielded a p-value <0.25. Results are presented as odds ratio (OR) or adjusted OR (AOR). Results: The study included 93 cases (36.6% males, median age 17 years) and 200 controls (32% males, median age 16 years). The Mediterranean diet score ≥6 revealed a protective effect towards acne (crude OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.08–0.64). Logistic regression analysis showed that familial hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes, and hypertension are strong risk factors for acne (AOR 8.79, 95% CI 1.67–46.22; 3.32, 95% CI 1.27–8.63; and 2.73, 95% CI 1.07–6.96, respectively), while the Mediterranean diet represents a protective factor (score ≥6, AOR 0.31, 95% CI 0.11–0.89). Conclusions: The odds for familial dysmetabolisms was higher in cases than in controls, confirming their role in determining or maintaining acne. Moreover, this is the first study demonstrating a protective role of the Mediterranean diet in the pathogenesis of acne. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Deli R, Macrì LA, Radico P, Pantanali F, Grieco DL, Gualano MR, La Torre G. Orthodontic treatment attitude versus orthodontic treatment need: differences by gender, age, socio-economical status and geographical context. Community Dent Oral Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2012; 40 (Suppl. 1): 71-76. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract - Objectives: To investigate the relationship between the attitude towards orthodontic treatment and the objective level of orthodontic need, and variables like gender, socioeconomic status and geographical context, among 6- to 16-year-old children. Methods: The attitude of 2284 Italian children towards orthodontics was assessed using the Child Orthodontic Attitude Survey (COAS) questionnaire, previously validated for Italian-speaking children. The level of orthodontic need was evaluated by using the Risk of Malocclusion Assessment (ROMA) Index while socioeconomic status (SES) was based on parental job activities. The univariate analysis was performed using chi-square tests to find differences between groups for categorical variables, while multivariate analyses were conducted using logistic regression models. Results: Individuals with a higher SES had a statistically significant lower need of orthodontic treatment ( P = 0.003). Children with a very high SES were from northern (20.8%) and central Italy (65.9%), while only 13.3% lived in southern Italy ( P < 0.001). Logistic regression showed that females, older children, in-treatment subjects and children from the region of Puglia were more likely to have orthodontics (OR = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.66-2.64, OR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.01-1.15, OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.11-1.97, OR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.05-1.95, respectively). Conclusions: The orthodontic treatment attitude largely depends on age, gender and geographical context but is not influenced by the real level of orthodontic therapy need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]