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Background Ethical climate in the workplace has been highlighted to have an important impact on workers' mental health; the evaluation of workplace ethics and its impact on workers' health should be considered an occupational health issue.Aims The present study aims to investigate ethical climate as perceived by workers, and its correlation with mental health outcomes, in particular, symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress.Methods A cross-sectional study was performed by administering an online survey, investigating socio-demographic variables, workplace ethics (through the Italian short version of the Corporate Ethical Virtues questionnaire) and mental health outcomes (using the short version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale). Descriptive analyses, analyses of variance and regression models were performed; P-values were considered significant for values <= 0.05.Results The sample included 176 workers; the mean age of participants was 46.22 years and 44% were males. The most represented job sector was health care (37%), and 42% of participants had college-level education. Ethical climate was significantly correlated with all mental health outcomes investigated in the study: anxiety (P <= 0.001), depression (P <= 0.05) and stress (P <= 0.05).Conclusions Results from this study highlighted a significant correlation between workplace ethical climate and depression, anxiety and stress. This study underlines the importance of evaluating and improving ethical climate to prevent the onset of psychological distress in workers. Furthermore, results from this study should be a starting point for future research investigating the role of ethics and mental health in employees' turnover intention and job satisfaction.This cross-sectional study was performed by investigating through an online survey of the relationship between results from the Italian short version of the Corporate Ethical Virtues questionnaire and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scal

Background In recent years many tools have been developed for the objective assessment of the impact of ethics in the occupational world; in the Italian context, many different methods have been used to assess ethical values in the occupational context, which presents difficulties for the occupational physician in the interpretation of the results. To standardize the evaluation of ethical standards in the workplace, the short version of a questionnaire based on the Corporate Ethical Virtues Model, which was recently validated in Italian, was used to evaluate ethical climate in a population of office workers. Methodology The questionnaire was administered to a large population of Italian office workers. Descriptive statistical analysis, as well as a logistic regression model, were performed to evaluate variables acting as predictors of ethical standards. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results/discussion In all, 3706 workers were included in the study; 1710 were males (46.14%). The total score obtained on the questionnaire by the workers participating in the study ranged from 31 to 96 points, with a mean of 72.16 (SD ± 11.01) points (higher values indicate better ethical standards). Job role and length of service were highlighted as statistically significant (P < 0.01) predictors of ethical standards. Conclusion/perspectives Role and length of service are predictors of ethical standards. The questionnaire may be used to evaluate ethical climate in the workplace, allowing the harmonization of the evaluation of ethical standards performed by the occupational physician. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of ethical climate on workers’ well-being.

Introduction: During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the use of digital devices during work activities has increased with important re-percussions on the psychological and physical well-being of the employees. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal and visual disorders related to the use of computers and home workstation. Methods: The study is a cross-sectional study. A checklist, from the National Institute of Health, was administered to white collar workers of a large international pharmaceutical company based in Italy. Results: Our study showed that postural breaks have a protective effect on neck/shoulder pain (OR 0.32, CI 0.16-0.62), back and lower extremity pain (OR 0.35, CI 0.18-0.69), and eye burning (OR 0.50, CI 0.27-0.94) of study participants. Conclusions: The research recommends that remote employees who often change their workstations should establish a suitable work environment and obtaining enough risk training from an occupational physician. This is essential for maintaining their mental and physical well-being.

Background: Students in medicine and other health professions are exposed to numerous occupational hazards, primarily biological hazards, during their academic careers at university. The aim of the present study was to investigate the seroprevalence characteristics of anti-HBsAg, anti-Measles, anti-Mumps, anti-Rubella and anti-Varicella IgG antibodies in healthcare students of a large teaching hospital in Rome. Methods: To accomplish the study's aims, antibody serology data were gathered from students of Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry, and Health Professions at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Rome Campus) during their first Health Surveillance visit, that took place from 2013 to 2023. Results: Our study sample included 2523 students, 44.4 % were protected against Hepatitis B, 87.3 % against measles, 85.5 % against mumps, 94.6 % rubella and 95.2 % against varicella. Differences in antibody coverage between age groups were statistically significant (p < 0.001), except for mumps. It found a lower probability of having seronegative anti-HBVs with an older date since the presumed primary vaccination. Conclusion: In our sample, seropositivity rate against vaccine-preventable diseases, especially for Hepatitis B, was often inadequate to prevent possible biological risks connected with the activities carried out on the ward.

BACKGROUND: According to scientific literature, burnout can be described as a multidimensional syndrome with three fundamental dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment. Every day, clown -doctors, play therapists, teachers and volunteers, such as ceramic art therapists, work in pediatric cancer wards to improve the quality of life of hospitalized children and activate positive resources during their therapeutic journey. METHODS: This study investigated burnout levels and the relationship between work -related stress and resilience in a total of 36 operators (clown -doctors, in -hospital teachers, play therapists, and ceramic art therapists), working at the Unit of Pediatric Oncology of IRCCS A. Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation in Rome, Italy. All participants completed a battery of questionnaires to evaluate burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory) and resilience (Connor -Davidson Resilience Scale). RESULTS: The results of this study show that these workers are exposed to work -related stress and that the burnout levels are not homogeneous across the various groups considered. The results also show the need to provide non -health hospital workers with a psychological support service or ensure the presence of a mental health professional to help them avoid the risk of burnout. CONCLUSIONS: The heavy emotional burden endured by these operators makes them vulnerable and exposes them to burnout.

Background. Paternity leave is a right that allows fathers to take care of their newborns in the first days of life; however, parental leave for fathers is still not recognized equally in European Union countries, with important consequences on the occupational wellbeing of employees. This review aimed to research the current legislation on paternity leave in 27 European Union countries. Material and methods. A review of the legislative framework for all 27 European Union member states was conducted through desk research on the online institutional repositories of the European Union, ministries, or National Institutes of Health of the selected countries to screen information on paternity leave legislation, population size, gross domestic product, gross domestic product per capita, unemployment rate and number of average children per family. Results. Our analysis shows that the duration of paternity leave and the daily allowance for absence from work vary significantly within the European Union. Cyprus and the Netherlands still fall short of the minimum 10 days required by the European directive. Disparities are even more pronounced concerning the period of uptake, as while in Romania, it must be taken within the first 56 days of the child’s life, in Sweden, there is the option to take it within the first 12 years. Conclusion. A unified vision of the issue is needed, since effective paternity leave regulations could have a positive effect on reducing the risk of parental stress and enhancing the birth rate, ensuring the psychological wellbeing of employees during the initial period of parenthood.

Students in medicine and other health professions are exposed to numerous occupational hazards, primarily biological hazards, during their academic careers at university. The aim of the present study was to investigate the seroprevalence characteristics of anti-HBsAg, anti-Measles, anti-Mumps, anti-Rubella and anti-Varicella IgG antibodies in healthcare students of a large teaching hospital in Rome. Methods: To accomplish the study's aims, antibody serology data were gathered from students of Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry, and Health Professions at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Rome Campus) during their first Health Surveillance visit, that took place from 2013 to 2023. Results: Our study sample included 2523 students, 44.4 % were protected against Hepatitis B, 87.3 % against measles, 85.5 % against mumps, 94.6 % rubella and 95.2 % against varicella. Differences in antibody coverage between age groups were statistically significant (p < 0.001), except for mumps. It found a lower probability of having seronegative anti-HBVs with an older date since the presumed primary vaccination. Conclusion: In our sample, seropositivity rate against vaccine-preventable diseases, especially for Hepatitis B, was often inadequate to prevent possible biological risks connected with the activities carried out on the ward.

Background: Healthcare university students are exposed to a range of risk factors during their hospital practical training, particularly in relation to biological hazards. Despite being students, they must be paid the same attention as health professionals in relation to the same possibility of transmitting infections to fellow colleagues, patients, and the wider community.The primary aim of this study is to investigate the seroprevalence characteristics of IgG antibodies against main infectious diseases in students enrolled in medical and health-related degree programs in an Italian university. Methods: We conducted a retrospective epidemiological study of health professions students of a university hospital in Rome, collecting sociodemographic information and serology of antibody titers under study (hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella) from 2013 to 2023. After initial description of the study population, bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to study the association between presence of antibodies with relevant variables. Results: Our study sample included 2523 students (68.5% females; mean age 22.2, SD 3.8), of which 44.4% were protected against HBV, 87.3% against measles, 85.5% against mumps, 94.6% rubella and 95.2% against varicella. Differences in antibody coverage between age groups were statistically significant (p < 0.001), with the exception of mumps. Surprisingly, the prevalence of HBV antibody titer below the seropositivity cutoff appeared to have an inverse correlation with older age (1998-99 OR 0.75 CI 0.61-0.93, 2000-01 OR 0.50 CI 0.41-0.62, 2002-04 OR 0.40 CI 0.31-0.52). Conclusions: Despite several recommendations and campaigns to promote vaccinations, the goal of achieving high immunization rates among healthcare workers still represents a challenge. Public health policies should focus on improving prevention strategies, including serological screening and workplace vaccination for non-immune individuals, especially fo

The COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Italy started in December 2020, and, due to the Omicron variant's emergence, a second booster dose was recommended for high-risk individuals and healthcare workers from July 2022. The aim of the study was to evaluate the vaccination coverages for the COVID-19 second booster dose and to identify predictors of its acceptance within the population of medical residents (MRs) of the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS (FPG) University Hospital. The study was conducted at FPG from October 4th to December 21st, 2022, and COVID-19 second booster dose and influenza vaccines were administered. The study analyzed collected data and conducted multivariate logistic regressions to explore potential predictors of vaccination adherence. The analyses performed were compared with the sample enrolled in FPG residency programs at the start of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. 1968 MRs were involved in the 2022-2023 vaccination campaign (mean age 28.97, SD 3.44), and the second booster dose of COVID-19 vaccination coverage was low (18.80%). Almost all participants opted for co-administration of COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations, leading to a similar rate of influenza vaccination coverage (16.26%). Being a frontline resident, meaning a direct involvement in managing COVID-19 patients and vaccination campaigns, was the main predictor of vaccination adherence (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.25-2.17). The dropping in influenza vaccination coverage in 2022-2023 and the low adherence to COVID-19 second booster dose among young physicians is concerning, calling for tailored vaccination campaigns and interventions.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has determined a radical change in workplace dynamics, with a reported increase in voluntary resignation from employment at a global level, especially among the young-est workers. The aim of this study is to investigate the social, demographic, and cultural characteristics of young people aged between 25 and 45 years who voluntarily resigned from their previous jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study; an ad hoc questionnaire was designed and admin-istered via an online link. Descriptive analyses were performed to describe the sample, and the Pearson analysis was performed to investigate statistically significant correlations; p values ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 72 valid responses were gathered. Mean age was 32.6 years; 43.1% participants were males, 54.2% were married, and 80.6% had no children; most participants (68.1%) had a college level education. The most reported cause of job resignation was work dissatisfaction (38.9%), followed by inadequate remuneration (27.8%). The most reported perspective for people who had resigned or were planning on resigning, was a better salary (27.8%), followed by the pursuit of a higher work-life balance (25.0%). The perception that having resigned was the right choice was significantly correlated with the timeframe of resignation (p<0.01), with having suffered from COVID-19 (p<0.05), and with a close relative having suffered from COVID-19 (p<0.01). Conclusion: This study highlighted that voluntarily resigning was significantly correlated to having suffered from COVID-19, or a close relative having suffered from it; 84.9% of participants who had resigned thought that it had been the right choice. The COVID-19 pandemic could have changed workplace perception, making employees feel more at risk; the indirect impact of the pandemic should be further investigated, and prevention strategies should be

Introduzione. Durante il percorso universitario, gli studenti della Facoltà di infermieristica sono esposti a diversi fattori di rischio per l’attività svolta nel tirocinio pratico ospedaliero, in particolare se riferito al rischio biologico. Risulta, pertanto, importante, nel corso della sorveglianza sanitaria ex D.lgs. 81/08, la valutazione della risposta anticorpale individuale per le malattie infettive per le quali è prevista la vaccinazione obbligatoria durante l’infanzia e che possono avere rilevanza in termini di rischio di contagio e trasmissione per lo studente stesso oltre che per il personale sanitario ed i pazienti (Epatite B, Morbillo, Parotite, Rosolia e Varicella). Obiettivi. L’obiettivo del presente studio è quello di indagare le caratteristiche di sieroprevalenza degli anticorpi IgG anti-HBsAg, anti-Morbillo, anti-Parotite, anti- Rosolia ed anti-Varicella, negli studenti della Facoltà di infermieristica di un “Teaching Hospital” in Roma. L’analisi comprende, inoltre, lo studio descrittivo dei fattori demografici del campione osservato. Materiali e Metodi. È stato effettuato uno studio osservazionale trasversale su 357 studenti della Facoltà di infermieristica, sottoposti a visita preventiva di sorveglianza sanitaria per rischio biologico potenziale. È stata valutata la risposta immunitaria ai virus in relazione al range di riferimento: Epatite B (positivo ≥10 mUI/ml, negativo <10 mUI/ml), Morbillo (positivo ≥150 mUI/ml, negativo <150 mUI/ml), Parotite (positivo ≥230 UA/ml, negativo <230 UA/ml), Rosolia (positivo ≥10 UI/ml, negativo <10 UI/ml), Varicella (positivo ≥50 mUI/ml, negativo <50 mUI/ml). È stata poi eseguita, con software STATA 17, un’analisi statistica descrittiva delle variabili qualitative e quantitative prese in esame ed un’analisi bivariata per studiare l’associazione tra copertura vaccinale e variabili rilevanti. Risultati. Il campione osservato è composto da 357 studenti, età media 21,2 (SD 4,1), dei quali 6

Introduzione. La violenza sui luoghi di lavoro è un problema di salute pubblica ed occupazionale, che può causare, oltre ad ansia, stress e depressione, anche insoddisfazione lavorativa, ed intenzione a cambiare lavoro (1-3). Nel contesto sanitario, la violenza verbale è il tipo di violenza più comune, ed è definita come l’uso di parole, toni o modi che minacciano, incolpano o mancano di rispetto agli operatori sanitari (3). In letteratura esistono diverse meta-analisi che indagano questo fenomeno, ma la diversità dei contesti e delle popolazioni considerate rende difficile utilizzare i dati disponibili per mettere in atto contromisure volte ad affrontare questa problematica. Obiettivi. In considerazione dell’impatto di questa problematica per la salute pubblica ed occupazionale, l’obiettivo di questa umbrella review è quello di raccogliere le meta-analisi volte ad indagare la violenza verbale sul luogo di lavoro contro gli operatori sanitari, per esaminare la prevalenza globale del fenomeno ed indagare le sue principali caratteristiche. Metodi. È stata elaborata una query utilizzando la metodologia PICO, includendo termini MeSH per le parole chiave: “operatori sanitari”, “violenza sul luogo di lavoro”, “meta-analisi”. Seguendo le linee guida Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta- Analyses, sono state cercate su PubMed, Scopus e ISI Web of Science le revisioni sistematiche e le meta-analisi rilevanti, pubblicate in lingua inglese fino a novembre 2022. Sono stati estratti i dati relativi ad autori, anno, paese, prevalenza, tipo di setting, popolazione. È stata effettuata una valutazione della qualità tramite la scala Risk Of Bias due to Missing Evidence (ROBIS). Risultati. Sono stati identificati 997 articoli nei tre database. Al termine del processo di screening per titolo ed abstract e valutazione dei full-text, state incluse 9 metaanalisi sulla violenza verbale. La maggior parte delle meta-analisi includeva studi condotti in più di u

Introduzione. Le “Linee guida per la valutazione e la gestione del rischio per la sicurezza dell’acqua nei sistemi di distribuzione interni degli edifici prioritari e non prioritari e in talune navi ai sensi della Direttiva (UE) 2020/2184”, trasposta con D. L.vo 18/2023, pubblicate all’interno del RAPPORTO ISTISAN 22/32, permettono di valutare, individuare e monitorare le potenziali fonti di pericoli chimici e microbiologici legati al sistema idrico, nonché sviluppare programmi di ispezione o verifiche per specifici parametri, come piombo e Legionella, riconosciuti anche all’interno del D.lgs. 81/2008 tra i composti e gli agenti biologici per cui è prevista la sorveglianza sanitaria. Obiettivi. Le Linee Guida intendono essere uno strumento per realizzare adeguate misure di gestione e controllo dei rischi legati al sistema di distribuzione idrico interno agli edifici, a partire dai “locali prioritari” sottoposti agli obblighi normativi, ovvero immobili di grandi dimensioni con numerosi utenti: ospedali, strutture assistenziali, navi, stazioni, aeroporti, ecc. Metodi. In una fase iniziale le linee guida sono state redatte da un gruppo multidisciplinare di esperti nei settori dell’acqua, della prevenzione sanitaria, igiene e salute pubblica, e impianti idraulici. Successivamente, al fine di garantire l’adeguatezza e la sostenibilità delle azioni e delle misure di controllo raccomandate, è stato condotto un confronto con esperti del Terzo settore. Sulla base di un’analisi complessiva dei rischi sono state definite cinque classi di edifici con diverse priorità di adozione di adeguati sistemi di gestione e controllo dei rischi: prioritari (classi A-D) e non prioritari (classe E). Risultati. Le Linee Guida permettono di individuare i “locali prioritari” in cui la valutazione del rischio e la gestione della sicurezza idrica nei sistemi di distribuzione interna è resa obbligatoria ai sensi del DL.vo 18/2023 e descrive i relativi sistemi di gestione e controllo dei risc

Introduzione. Durante la pandemia da COVID-19 è aumentato a livello globale l’utilizzo di dispositivi digitali connessi da remoto nello svolgimento delle più svariate attività lavorative, rappresentando da una parte una sfida innovativa per i lavoratori di tutte le età e dall’altra un rischio aggiuntivo per le potenziali ripercussioni sul loro benessere psicofisico. Il lavoro a distanza è stato preferito da alcuni lavoratori per la maggiore flessibilità nell’organizzazione della giornata lavorativa; tuttavia, esso ha anche comportato difficoltà logistiche legate all’ambiente di lavoro e maggiori rischi inerenti l’ergonomia delle postazioni di lavoro al videoterminale. Obiettivi. L’obiettivo dello studio è stato indagare la prevalenza dei disturbi muscolo-scheletrici e visivi legati all’uso del computer e alle postazioni di lavoro da remoto, con particolare riferimento all’attività in smart working durante la pandemia da COVID-19, al fine di valutare ed eventualmente suggerire strategie di miglioramento del comfort lavorativo e del benessere psicofisico del lavoratore. Materiali e Metodi. Su iniziativa del Medico Competente, è stata somministrata una checklist (Computer Workstation Ergonomics: Self-Assessment Checklist National Institutes of Health), tramite piattaforma Google Forms, al personale d’ufficio di un’azienda internazionale italiana. Il questionario comprendeva 35 domande ed era diviso in due sezioni: la prima sezione indagava le caratteristiche sociodemografiche; la seconda sezione, invece, intendeva valutare l’ergonomia della postazione di lavoro (es. utilizzo sedia da ufficio, tastiera, monitor) in relazione allo stato di salute del lavoratore (es. comparsa di sintomatologia dolorosa). Le ultime domande, inoltre, indagavano la frequenza e la modalità di effettuazione delle pause lavorative. Risultati e Conclusioni. I risultati dello studio hanno evidenziato che le pause posturali avevano un effetto protettivo sulla sintomatologia dolorosa a l

Introduzione. Durante la pandemia da COVID-19, è stato evidenziato, sia a livello mondiale che nazionale, un aumento delle dimissioni volontarie (1). In Italia l’impatto di questo fenomeno non è ancora ben documentato, è noto tuttavia che riguarda principalmente giovani tra i 25 ed i 45 anni di età, e dipendenti con anzianità in azienda da 1 a 5 anni (2). Tra le motivazioni principalmente addotte per le dimissioni vi sono: i cambiamenti del mercato del lavoro, la ricerca di migliori condizioni economiche, la ricerca di un maggior equilibrio tra vita privata e lavorativa, l’ambiente di lavoro ostile (2). Obiettivi. L’obiettivo del presente studio è quello di indagare le caratteristiche sociali, demografiche e culturali dei giovani che hanno dato le dimissioni volontarie durante la pandemia COVID-19. Gli obiettivi secondari sono, inoltre, stabilire le motivazioni, le concause, ed il periodo temporale in cui questo fenomeno ha raggiunto le sue dimensioni maggiori. Metodi. Lo studio condotto è di tipo osservazionale trasversale. È stato somministrato un questionario ad un campione di convenienza rispecchiante la popolazione target (giovani tra i 25 ed i 45 anni che abbiano dato dimissioni volontarie durante la pandemia). Il questionario era composto da 9 domande a carattere sociodemografico (genere, età, area geografica, etc) e da 7 domande volte ad indagare le motivazioni ed il periodo delle dimissioni. È stata effettuata un’analisi statistica descrittiva delle variabili e delle analisi di correlazione utilizzando il software STATA16. Risultati. Il campione è stato di 72 giovani, di cui 41 (56.9%) donne. Il 50% (n=36) dei partecipanti non avevano mai contratto il COVID-19 e quasi tutti (n=69, 95.8%) avevano ricevuto la terza dose di vaccinazione anti-COVID-19. Quarantadue soggetti avevano trovato un nuovo impiego dopo le dimissioni (58.3%). La causa principale di dimissione è stata l’insoddisfazione lavorativa (n=28, 38.9%); mentre la prospettiva futura che

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the psychological wellbeing of workers worldwide. Certain coping styles may increase burnout risk. To investigate the relationship between burnout and coping styles, a systematic review was performed.Methods: Following the PRISMA statements, three databases were screened up until October 2022, including research articles written in English language and investigating the relationship between burnout and coping strategies in workers. The quality of articles was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.Results: The initial search resulted in 3,413 records, 15 of which were included in this review. Most studies were performed on healthcare workers (n = 13, 86.6%) and included a majority of female workers (n = 13, 86.7%). The most used burnout assessment questionnaire was the Maslach Burnout Inventory (n = 8, 53.3%), and the most used coping assessment tool was the Brief-COPE (n = 6, 40.0%). Task-related coping was a protective factor for burnout in all four studies investigating its correlation with burnout dimensions. Two of the four studies investigating emotion-oriented coping found that it was protective while the other two found that it was predictive of burnout. All five studies investigating avoidance-oriented coping and burnout dimensions found that this coping style was predictive of burnout.Discussion: Task-oriented and adaptive coping were protective for burnout, avoidance-oriented, and maladaptive coping were predictive factors of burnout. Mixed results were highlighted concerning emotion-oriented coping, suggesting that different outcomes of this coping style may depend on gender, with women relying more on it than men. In conclusion, further research is needed to investigate the effect of coping styles in individuals, and how these correlates with their unique characteristics. Training workers about appropriate coping styles to adopt may be essential to enact prevention strategies to reduce burnout

Introduction: Work-related psychosocial risks have been identified as significant occupational health and safety risks; the occupational physicians must assess and monitor the health status of workers in order to verify that work is not a source of harm to exposed operators. The aim of the study was to investigate the outcomes related to anxiety and depression traits in workers exposed to stress-related work. Methods: A questionnaire was administered to a large population of Italian public administration workers; the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression Scale questionnaire was used to measure depression, the Self rating Anxiety Scale was used to measure anxiety, the UK Management Standards Indicator tool questionnaire was used to assess work adjustment. A descriptive analysis, a multivariate analysis, as well as logistic regression models were used to assess the health outcomes related to stress. Results: A total of 292 workers participated in the study; 100% of participants had a Centre for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression Scale score over the cut-off; 41.78% had a Self rating Anxiety Scale score over the cut-off; the results support a correlation between the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression Scale results and the UK Management Standards Indicator tool results; and a correlation between Self-rating Anxiety Scale results and the UK Management Standards Indicator tool results. Conclusions: The Demand, Management, Support and Relationship results were associated with mental health outcomes, and it could be a useful tool in occupational medicine, to identify workers at risk for negative mental health outcomes, becoming an essential tool in workers' health assessment and for prevention of mental health disorders.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted viral infection in the world. HPV vaccination adherence rates in men are generally lower than in women. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess adherence to HPV vaccination in young working-age males (18-30 years old). Methods: A systematic review was performed using three databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Results: After duplicate removal, the initial search resulted in 478 eligible papers. With the exclusion of 425 papers after screening the abstracts, full texts of 53 articles were reviewed. Subsequently, 45 were excluded. Among the eight studies included, four (50%) examined the vaccination adherence in young adults through data registered in nationwide insurance or private companies' databases, three (37.5%) in young adults in different settings through data collected from surveys and questionnaires, and one (12.5%) an HPV vaccination campaign in a family medicine residency practice. Conclusion: Adherence to HPV vaccination in men of working age (18-30 years) does not appear to be adequate (pooled prevalence 11%). In order to achieve a higher level of compliance, it is important to place an emphasis on vaccination campaigns in schools as well as in the workplace, after consultation with and approval from local, regional, and federal public health agencies.

Objectives: The aim of this umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses was to address workplace violence (WPV) against healthcare workers (HCWs). Several systematic reviews exist in the literature, but the diversity of settings, population considered, and type of violence investigated make it difficult to gain insight and use the vast amount of available data to implement policies to tackle WPV. With this in mind, we conducted an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on WPV against HCWs to examine the global prevalence of the phenomena and its features. Study design and methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, PubMed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science were searched for relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses published in English up to November 2022. Data on authors, year, country, violence type, prevalence (pooled and not), setting, population, and specific considerations were extracted. Results: A total of 32 systematic reviews were included, 19 of which performed a meta-analysis, investigating overall, physical, and non-physical violence. Even considering the variability of the data, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the scale of the problem. From our review, we found that overall violence prevalence among HCWs was reported to be as high as 78.9%, and nurses working in psychiatric wards were the professionals most impacted. Conclusion: In conclusion, this umbrella review revealed a high prevalence of WPV among HCWs, which varies between countries, population subgroups, and detection methods. Strengthening recognition of the problem could lead to appropriate local and international strategies to address it.

Introduction: In recent years, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, an increasing number of people were forced to stay at home. Working from home seems to have resulted in an increase of TElewoRk-RelAted stress (TERRA), defined as physical and mental stress due to telework, including the inability to cope with new information and communication technologies in a healthy manner, recognized as technostress. TERRA is a primary concern for Occupational Health worldwide, affecting psychophysical health and productivity. The aim of this systematic review is to determine if and how telework has actually increased TERRA levels in workers and its impacts, during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Materials and methods: Following the PRISMA statements, a systematic review was performed across three scientific databases (Pubmed, ISI Web of Knowledge and Scopus), using “telework”, “technostress” and “COVID-19” (and relative MeSH terms) as keywords. The research was restricted to articles in Italian and English, published up to August 2021. Results: As results, 518 articles were found; after removing duplicates, and exclusion based on title, abstract, and full text, 36 articles were included in the review. Most of articles demonstrate that women and who work at distance in full time mode show higher TERRA levels. Conclusions: This systematic review highlights some of the emerging psychophysical health issues related to TERRA, and offers an overview into the modern challenges workers have to face, in order to improve Total Worker Health through Occupational Medicine.

Le infezioni correlate all’assistenza (ICA) e la resistenza agli antibiotici (Antimicrobial Resistance, AMR) rappresentano una vera e propria emergenza sanitaria, con un impatto rilevante in termini clinici, sociali ed economici [1]. L’utilizzo eccessivo e inappropriato di farmaci antimicrobici è uno dei principali fattori di insorgenza della resistenza agli antibiotici nei patogeni umani, a causa di mutazioni o scambi genetici che ne facilitano la sopravvivenza. Gli effetti della resistenza, ovvero l’incapacità di un antibiotico, somministrato alle dosi terapeutiche, di ridurre la sopravvivenza o inibire la replicazione di un batterio patogeno, comportano gravi rischi di salute pubblica a livello globale, con aumento di mortalità per infezioni e ingenti costi sanitari e sociali. L’antibioticoresistenza è un fenomeno multifattoriale e multisettoriale, contro il quale interventi singoli e sporadici mostrano un impatto limitato [1, 2]. Una delle più importanti conseguenze derivanti da tale fenomeno è rappresentata dalle ICA che, assenti al momento del ricovero, si manifestano in un individuo durante la degenza in ospedale o in un qualsiasi contesto assistenziale, con una sempre più crescente selezione di ceppi di patogeni Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR). A livello europeo, ogni anno, le ICA colpiscono circa 4 milioni di pazienti e sono causa di oltre 37.000 decessi, di cui solo 10.000 in Italia. I costi per la gestione di queste infezioni, inoltre, superano il miliardo di €/anno, con un impatto economico notevole anche in termini di prolungamento dei tempi di degenza e maggior impiego di antibiotici. I dati provenienti dagli ospedali italiani mostrano un’incidenza di ICA del 5 ± 10%, con un tasso di mortalità fino al 20 ± 30% [1-6]. L’Organizzazione per la Cooperazione e lo Sviluppo Economico (OCSE) ha inoltre stimato che, tra il 2015 e il 2050, circa 2.4 milioni di persone potrebbero morire in Europa, Nord America e Australia a causa di infezioni da superbatteri

Personalized medicine, and particularly gender medicine, is becoming essential in daily medical practice. This narrative review aims to assess sex and gender differences in occupational risks among workers. We point out that female workers are more exposed to biological risks (i.e., 70% of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic were women), but also seem to be more protected against microorganisms (i.e., for HBV vaccination: OR 1.21, p = 0.0023); with regard to physical risks, women are more susceptible to radiations (the estimated incidence of solid tumors for 0.1 Gy of exposure is 0.013% in females and 0.008% in males), while men are more susceptible to heat (infertility prevalence was 22.7% in exposed workers vs 3.0% in controls); female video terminal workers are more susceptible to both computer vision syndrome (aOR 2.57 and aOR 2.35) and musculoskeletal symptoms (OR 3.6). From a psychological point of view, women are more at risk for work-related stress and burnout, as well as workplace mobbing (65% of affected workers are women) and verbal violence, while physical violence was more common among men. In conclusion, important sex and gender differences are present with regard to occupational risks and hazards, thus showing the necessity to improve medical surveillance and to allow occupational physicians to personalize health surveillance.

To reduce vaccine-preventable diseases in workers, workplace vaccination campaigns can be implemented on-site. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate adherence to workplace vaccination campaigns. Three databases, PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus, were screened systematically for articles in English or Italian addressing participation in an on-site vaccination program by employees. The following data was extracted: authors, year, country, type of vaccine, type of workplace, sample size, vaccination rate. Data on the prevalence of flu vaccination were calculated and pooled using a random-effects model. Thirteen articles were included in the review, ten in the meta-analysis. Most studies were conducted in the USA (30.7%) and most vaccination campaigns were against influenza (69.2%), with a pooled estimate of 42% (95% CI: 0.25–0.60%); participation rate was highly variable, ranging from 88.9% for an influenza vaccination campaign to 5.7% for a Lyme disease vaccination campaign. Offering free on-site vaccination can be a successful tool to ensure adherence to vaccination campaigns and administration of all required doses according to the vaccine administration scheme. The occupational physician can play a key role in implementing workplace campaigns for employee mandatory vaccinations.

The COVID-19 vaccination has proven to be the most effective prevention measure, reducing deaths and hospitalizations and allowing, in combination with non-pharmacological interventions, the pandemic to be tackled. Although most of the adverse reactions to vaccination present mild symptoms and serious effects are very rare, they can be the cause of legal action against the healthcare workers (HCWs) who administered it. To highlight differences in the medical liability systems, we performed a search for the three most populous countries in each continent on vaccine injury compensation programs, new laws or policies to protect HCWs administering vaccinations introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and policies on mandatory vaccinations, on literature databases and institutional sites. We found that in seven countries the medical liability system is based on Common Law, while in eleven it is mainly based on Civil Law. Considering the application of specific laws to protect HCWs who vaccinate during the pandemic, only the USA and Canada provided immunity from liability. Among the countries we analyzed, fourteen have adopted compensation funds. From an international perspective, our results highlight that in eleven (61.1%) countries medical liability is mainly based on Civil Law, whilst in seven (38.9%) it is based on Common Law.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing, with rapidly increasing cases all over the world, and the emerging issue of post COVID-19 (or Long COVID-19) condition is impacting the occupational world. Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the impact of lasting COVID-19 symptoms or disability on the working population upon their return to employment. Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statements we performed a systematic review in December 2021, screening three databases (PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, Scopus), for articles investigating return to work in patients that were previously hospitalized due to COVID-19. A hand-searched was then performed through the references of the included systematic review. A quality assessment was performed on the included studies. Results: Out of the 263 articles found through the initial search, 11 studies were included in this systematic review. The selected studies were divided based on follow-up time, in two months follow-up, follow-up between two and six months, and six months follow-up. All the studies highlighted an important impact of post COVID-19 condition in returning to work after being hospitalized, with differences based on follow-up time, home Country and mean/median age of the sample considered. Conclusions: This review highlighted post COVID-19 condition as a rising problem in occupational medicine, with consequences on workers' quality of life and productivity. The role of occupational physicians could be essential in applying limitations to work duties or hours and facilitating the return to employment in workers with a post COVID-19 condition.

Long COVID-19 is a term used to describe the symptomatic sequelae that develop after suffering from COVID-19. Very few studies have investigated the impact of COVID-19 sequelae on employment status. The aim of this research was to characterise sequelae of COVID-19 in a population of workers who tested positive for COVID-19, with a follow-up within one year of the acute illness, and to analyse the possible association between this and changes in the workers' occupational status. In this retrospective cohort study, a questionnaire was administered to 155 workers; descriptive, univariate (chi-square tests), and multivariate (logistic regression model) analyses were carried out. The mean age was 46.48 years (SD +/- 7.302); 76 participants were males (49.7%), and 33 participants reported being current smokers (21.3%). Overall, 19.0% of patients reported not feeling fully recovered at follow-up, and 13.7% reported a change in their job status after COVID-19. A change in occupational status was associated with being a smoker (OR 4.106, CI [1.406-11.990], p = 0.010); hospital stay was associated with age > 46 years in a statistically significant way (p = 0.025) and with not feeling fully recovered at follow-up (p = 0.003). A persistent worsening in anxiety was more common in women (p = 0.028). This study identifies smoking as a risk factor for workers not able to resume their job; furthermore, occupational physicians should monitor mental health more closely after COVID-19, particularly in female workers.

To maintain safety conditions in the provision of care and assistance, and to protect healthcare workers (HCWs) and patients, the Italian government required compulsory COVID-19 vaccination for HCWs, including medical residents (MRs). The aim of this study was to assess COVID-19 vaccination coverage in MRs in a large tertiary hospital in Italy, before and after the introduction of compulsory vaccination, according to demographic characteristics and specific residency. A database on COVID-19 vaccination status and infection of resident medical doctors was created. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were carried out on the data. A total of 1894 MRs were included in the study. Being vaccinated in the same hospital as the residency program was significantly related to the year of residency and being enrolled in a frontline residency. A significant association between compliance with the compulsory primary cycle vaccination and vaccination in the hospital residency was observed. Being enrolled in the second, third, and last years of residency, and in a frontline residency, were predictive of being vaccinated in the residency hospital. Almost 100% of the MRs participating in the study were vaccinated against COVID-19. Compulsory vaccination of HCWs, alongside greater and clearer information about the risks and benefits of vaccination, represents an important booster to ensure public health and to promote quality and safety of care.

Background: Many workers shifted to working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This review aims to investigate if this sudden change caused an increase in TElewoRk-RelAted stress (TERRA) which is defined as physical and mental stress caused by telework. Methods: A systematic review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was performed of three scientific databases (PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Scopus), which also included a quality assessment. Articles measuring stress, psychological or physical, in remote workers, published from December 2019 through August 2021 were included in the review. Results were extracted by reporting: authors, country, study design, type of workers, sample, questionnaires and measurements, and outcomes. Data were synthesized quantitatively for country, type of workers, and outcomes. Results: Out of the 518 articles found in the three databases, 19 articles were included in the systematic review (10,012 participants overall), and 78.9% of these highlighted an increase in TERRA levels in remote workers. Among 85.7% of the studies considering gender as a variable, TERRA levels were higher in female workers. Twelve (63.2%) of the studies investigated psychological well-being, two (10.5%) focused on the physical well-being of remote workers, three (15.8%) investigated both, and two studies had other outcomes (10.5%). Conclusions: Considering the redefinition of workplaces dictated by the COVID-19 pandemic, this review highlights the emerging issue of remote work and the use of technology in working from home, emphasizing a rapidly growing occupational health problem. Remote workers need to be provided with emotional and technical support to prevent TERRA in remote workers.

Background: Alcohol consumption is prohibited in some categories of workers due to its temporary and longterm effects. The purpose of this study is to review and evaluate the use of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) as a biomarker to screen alcohol consumption in workers. Methods: A systematic review was performed, searching three databases, PubMed, Scopus and Isi Web of Knowledge, up to December 2021, screening for studies that used CDT as a biomarker in workers. A quality assessment was performed on the included studies. Results: Seven studies met the inclusion criteria, accounting for more than 3200 workers from five different countries; in the samples observed, a positive percentage of CDT was found in the single studies between 7 and 24%. The large interval could be due to the differences in populations in the included studies; furthermore, not all workers are prohibited from drinking on the job. Four out of the seven studies also included questionnaires on alcohol consumption assessment. Finally, included articles were stratified by occupational hazards and by industrial sector. Interestingly, different methods of analysis and different cut-offs were used by the different authors. Conclusions: The use of CDT as a biomarker of alcohol consumption has high specificity. However, further studies are needed to be able to strongly validate the use of CDT for screening purposes in the working population to detect alcohol abuse.