(1) Background: vaccination of healthcare workers (HCWs) against seasonal influenza is considered the most effective way to protect HCWs, ensure patient’s safety and to maintain essential health care services during influenza epidemics. With the present study we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of incremental bundles of measures implemented during the last three flu campaigns and to assess the attitudes towards influenza vaccination and a potential vaccine against COVID-19 among HCWs, in a large university hospital in Pisa, Italy. (2) Methods: We described measures implemented during 2018/2019, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 and assessed their impact on flu vaccine coverage (VC) among employees and residents in Pisa university hospital. We considered sex, profession and ward to investigate differences in uptake. In addition, in 2020 a survey was developed and distributed to all employees to evaluate flu and COVID-19 vaccines attitudes. (3) Results: during the 2018/19 and 2019/20 flu campaigns the overall VC rate among HCWs was, respectively, 10.2% and 11.9%. In 2020/21 the overall VC rate jumped to 39.3% (+ 230.6%). Results from the survey indicated a more positive attitude towards flu vaccine as compared to COVID-19 vaccines among the 10.6% of the staff members who responded to the survey. In addition, 70.97% of HCWs totally agreed that being vaccinated against influenza would be more important than the previous years because of COVID-19 emergency. (4) Conclusions: a significant increase in VC was observed in 2020/21, especially among those sub-groups with consistently lower uptake in previous years. The COVID-19 pandemic positively influenced flu vaccination uptake during the 2020/21 season.

The objective of this study is to evaluate ChatGPT’s accuracy and reliability in answering complex medical questions related to occupational health and explore the implications and limitations of AI in occupational health medicine. The study also provides recommendations for future research in this area and informs decision-makers about AI’s impact on healthcare. A group of physicians was enlisted to create a dataset of questions and answers on Italian occupational medicine legislation. The physicians were divided into two teams, and each team member was assigned a different subject area. ChatGPT was used to generate answers for each question, with/without legislative context. The two teams then evaluated human and AI-generated answers blind, with each group reviewing the other group’s work. Occupational physicians outperformed ChatGPT in generating accurate questions on a 5-point Likert score, while the answers provided by ChatGPT with access to legislative texts were comparable to those of professional doctors. Still, we found that users tend to prefer answers generated by humans, indicating that while ChatGPT is useful, users still value the opinions of occupational medicine professionals.

Clinical-instrumental investigations, such as electrocardiography (ECG), represent a corollary of a procedures that, nowadays, is called upon as part of the principles of precision medicine. However when carrying out the professional routine examinations, most tend to ignore how a “simple” instrument can offer indispensable support in clinical practice, even in occupational medicine. The advent of the digital age, made of silicon and printed circuit boards, has allowed the miniaturization of the electronic components of these electro-medical devices. Finally, the adoption of patient wearables in medicine has been rapidly expanding worldwide for a number of years. This has been driven mainly by consumers’ demand to monitor their own health. With the ongoing research and development of new features capable of assessing and transmitting real-time biometric data, the impact of wearables on cardiovascular management has become inevitable. Despite the potential offered by this technology, as evident from the scientific literature, the application of these devices in the field of health and safety in the workplace is still limited. This may also be due to the lack of targeted scientific research. While offering great potential, it is very important to consider and evaluate ethical aspects related to the use of these smart devices, such as the management of the collected data relating to the physiological parameters and the location of the worker. This technology is to be considered as being aimed at monitoring the subject’s physiological parameters, and not at the diagnosis of any pathological condition, which should always be on charge of the medical specialist We conducted a review of the evolution of the role that electrophysiology plays as part of occupational health and safety management and on its possible future use, thanks to ongoing technological innovation.

(1) Background: In 2022, monkeypox (Mpox) was declared a public health emergency. The European Medicines Agency has authorized the use of Imvanex/Jynneos, a smallpox vaccine, for coverage against pox. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are all considered by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to be at risk, but in Italy, vaccination was offered only to laboratory personnel. The present study aims to investigate smallpox vaccination coverage (VC) that provides protection against Mpox among HCWs in an Italian university hospital and to assess HCWs’ attitudes towards the possibility of getting vaccinated against Mpox. (2) Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey. 336 HCWs from selected wards were asked to fill out a self-declaration to collect their sex, profession, ward, vaccination status, and attitude toward Mpox vaccination. (3) Results: 60.71% of HCWs involved provided the requested data; 38.7% of them were previously vaccinated against smallpox, which corresponds to 23.5% of the total HCWs in the wards considered. Considering those born before 1979 as vaccinated, VC increases from 23.5% to 41.7%; the percentage of HCWs who adhered to vaccination is 23%; laboratory technicians showed a lower willingness to be vaccinated. The ward with the highest willingness to vaccinate is proctological surgery. (4) Conclusions: Based on our experience, a variability in smallpox VC and in willingness to vaccination has emerged both among different job titles and age categories and across the wards analyzed. Additionally, our survey reveals that vaccination attitudes are higher among HCWs from wards that currently do not have free access to such vaccinations.

This study investigates the impact of dermatological diseases on work activity, with a particular focus on potential gender differences. The primary objectives are to evaluate the severity of these conditions and their implications for job performance, productivity, and non-work-related daily activities. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on employed patients with dermatological conditions between September 2021 and November 2023. Participants completed a new self-reported survey, including the Dermatological Diseases Work Impact Questionnaire (2DWIQ), along with two validated tools: the Work Ability Score (WAS) and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire. Participants were stratified by occupational category (blue- and white-collar workers). Statistical analyses were adjusted for factors influencing questionnaire outcomes, and the internal reliability of the 2DWIQ was assessed using Cronbach’s α. The study included 417 participants (231 men and 186 women) affected by a dermatological disease primarily atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and hidradenitis suppurativa. Women reported significantly higher levels of absenteeism, overall work impairment, and activity impairment compared to men. Additionally, they had lower WAS scores, indicating poorer work ability. Dermatological diseases have a greater impact on women, affecting both their work performance and daily lives. Gender-specific interventions are crucial to reducing the physical and psychological burden of these conditions and improving occupational health management.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate ChatGPT’s accuracy and reliability in answering complex medical questions related to occupational health and to explore the implications and limitations of AI in occupational health medicine while providing recommendations for future research in this area and informing decision-makers about AI impact in healthcare. Methods: A group of physicians was enlisted to create a dataset of questions and answers on Italian occupational medicine legislation. They were divided into two teams, each assigned to a different subject area. ChatGPT was used to generate answers for each question with/without legislative context. The doctors evaluated human and generated answers in blind, with both teams reviewing each other’s work. Results: Occupational physicians perform better than ChatGPT in generating accurate questions on a 5-point likert score, while ChatGPT with access to legislative context is comparable to professional doctors in providing complete answers. Still, we found that users tend to prefer answers generated by humans, indicating that while ChatGPT is useful, users still value the opinions of occupational medicine professionals. Conclusions: The study evaluated ChatGPT’s effectiveness in occupational medicine and identified crucial factors for its responsible use. It emphasizes ongoing dialogue and reflection for AI development in healthcare. ChatGPT provides 24/7 assistance to occupational physicians, increasing efficiency and reducing costs, monitoring workers’ health, and offering personalized service. It has the potential to transform occupational medicine and create safer work environments.