The purpose of our study is to examine whether cancer and treatments are associated with job loss or changes in employment status. Eight prospective studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis, with a population aged 18–65 years, analyzing treatment regimen and psychophysical and social status in post-cancer follow-up of at least 2 years. In the meta-analysis, a comparison was made between recovered unemployed cases and cases from a standard reference population. Results are summarized graphically using a forest plot. We showed that cancer and subsequent treatment are risk factors for unemployment with an overall relative risk of 7.24 (lnRR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.32–2.63) or for change in employment status. Individuals undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment and those with brain and colorectal cancers are more likely to develop disabilities that negatively affect the risk of unemployment. Finally, variables such as low level education, female sex, older age, and being overweight before starting therapy are associated with higher risk of unemployment. In the future, it will be necessary for people with cancer to have access to specific health, social welfare, and employment support programs. In addition, it is desirable that they become more involved in their choice of therapeutic treatment.

Background: Vaccine hesitancy, amplified by the COVID-19 “infodemic,” has emerged as a pressing public health challenge. Communication strategies are pivotal for enhancing vaccine literacy, countering misinformation, and sustaining immunization programs. Objective: This systematic review evaluates the association between communication channels and vaccine hesitancy and adherence, while examining the moderating role of sociodemographic factors. Methods: A PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)–compliant search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, yielding 17,407 records screened according to predefined eligibility criteria (peer-reviewed studies with N>1000 adults assessing communication media targeting vaccine hesitancy and adherence, excluding pediatric, health care–specific, and non-English research). After full-text assessment, studies were appraised using the Modified Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument for methodological quality and the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist, ROBIN-I (Risk of Bias in Nonrandomized Studies of Interventions), or RoB 2.0 (Risk-of-Bias 2.0 tool for randomized trials) tools for risk of bias. Results: Thirty-six studies were included (26 cross-sectional, 4 quasi-experimental, 4 randomized controlled trials, 1 cohort, and 1 global analysis). Randomized and nonrandomized experimental studies demonstrated that tailored communication strategies delivered via radio, web platforms, and social media significantly improved vaccine acceptance. Adaptive public health campaigns achieved up to an 8% weekly increase in uptake in Madagascar (relative risk 1.08; 95% CI 1.01-1.15) and a 7.8% higher vaccination rate among Nigerian adults at first follow-up compared with controls. Digital and social media campaigns effectively reduced hesitancy and enhanced trust among hesitant pregnant women in the United States. Sociodemographic factors significantly moderated communication outcomes: a COVID-19 chatbot proved most effective among individuals with lower education and minority backgrounds, while religiosity (b=0.17; 95% CI 0.05-0.30; t810=2.80; P=.005) and cultural congruence (odds ratio 1.89; P<.01) influenced message credibility and engagement, respectively. The persuasive effect of online memes on COVID-19 vaccine intentions was not significantly influenced by gender (P=.83), age (P=.60), or political orientation (P=.44). Age-specific effects were observed, with greater responsiveness to a social media campaign among adults aged 25-34 years and reduced hesitancy among older groups. Multiple cross-sectional studies indicated higher adherence among audiences exposed to traditional media (television, radio, newspapers) and lower trust among social media users. Other studies suggested significant influences of gender, age, socioeconomic status, education level, and political orientation. Conclusions: By synthesizing fragmented evidence, this review provides a systematic examination of the interplay between multichannel media and vaccine acceptance. It diverges from existing literature by integrating both traditional and digital media perspectives through the lens of sociodemographic moderation. This work offers a critical framework for public health interventions, advocating for rigorous longitudinal research to establish definitive causal links between communication and behavior. Consequently, these findings support a “precision” communication model, enabling the development of culturally congruent strategies tailored to specific recipient profiles to bolster vaccine adherence. Trial Registration: PROSPERO CRD42025637441; https://tinyurl.com/4r9w83kw

Background/Objectives: Dietary supplement (DS) use is a growing trend among university students, often influenced by non-institutional information. This study investigated the lifetime prevalence, behavioural correlates, and self-reported adverse effects of DS use according to EU regulatory definitions, evaluating how consumption frequency and product diversity relate to safety outcomes and student receptivity toward educational initiatives. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2001 students at the University of Catania. Multivariable logistic regression models were utilized to identify factors associated with lifetime DS use and favourability toward informative meetings. Results: The lifetime prevalence of DS use was 55.7%. The strongest correlate of use was self-rated knowledge, with comparable odds among moderately (OR = 4.02; 95% CI: 3.17–5.10) and well/completely informed participants (OR = 4.70; 95% CI: 3.44–6.42). Increased odds of consumption were also associated with information from health professionals (OR = 2.19; 95% CI: 1.59–3.02), friends (OR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.37–2.65), and enrollment in scientific fields (OR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.23–2.35). Overall, 34.6% of users reported at least one symptom temporally associated with supplement intake. Despite these reports, 74.3% of the sample welcomed institutional meetings, with favourability among users significantly associated with daily supplement intake (OR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.23–3.14) and smoking status (OR = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.24–2.54). Conclusions: The results highlight a gap between high self-rated knowledge and the frequency of self-reported side effects. The strong student interest in formal guidance underscores the need for universities to integrate evidence-based nutritional and supplement-safety education into their curricula to ensure safe supplementation practices.

Background/Objectives: Influenza poses a substantial global public health challenge, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. Vaccination is the most effective preventive measure, and recent strategies in Italy emphasize the principle of “appropriateness”—the alignment of specific vaccine formulations (e.g., adjuvanted or high-dose) with targeted risk groups to optimize protection. Nevertheless, challenges persist in ensuring the consistent administration of the most suitable vaccine, particularly among high-risk individuals who would benefit most. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using data from the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 influenza vaccination campaigns of the Local Health Authority of Catania. Vaccination data were analyzed by age group and vaccine type, based on national immunization guidelines. Population categories included individuals ≥ 65 years, adults 60–64 years, adults 18–59 years (with/without chronic conditions), children, and pregnant/postpartum women. Vaccine types analyzed were aQIV, QIV-HD, QIV-SD, QIVcc, and LAIV. Descriptive statistics were used, and Relative Risk (RR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) was calculated using the 60–64 age group as a reference. Analyses were performed with Stata 18.0. Results: In 2023–2024, 78.8% of individuals ≥ 65 received recommended vaccines, compared to 100% in the 60–64 group (RR = 0.23; 95% CI: 0.225–0.231). Adults 18–59, children, and pregnant/postpartum women showed ≥99% adherence. In 2024–2025, appropriateness in the ≥65 group improved to 96.1% (RR = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.118–0.128). All other groups maintained high adherence (≥99%), except for 6.2% of children aged 6 months–2 years who inappropriately received LAIV. Conclusions: Despite dramatically improved vaccination appropriateness in the elderly, a persistent and critical safety issue--inappropriate administration LAIV use in 6.2% of young children—highlights the need for targeted interventions to ensure complete patient safety.

Background: Care-related infections are infectious diseases that occur in a care setting. The most important prevention methods are hand hygiene and the proper use of gloves and gowns. Recent literature points out that hand contact with mobile devices or potentially contaminated environments can promote an increased occurrence of health care–associated infections (HAIs). Objective: This study aims to analyze the correlation between the microbial population present on the hands of health care professionals in the wards of the Tor Vergata Hospital in Rome and the microorganisms present on the surfaces of their smartphones and tablets by searching for the main agents responsible for HAIs. Methods: Sterile swabs will be used to collect samples from hands and smartphones, which will then be plated on nutrient agar and other selective media for microbial count. Colonies showing growth and morphological characteristics suggestive of potential pathogens will be isolated and subjected to further analysis for identification at the species level and for antimicrobial resistance profiling (using a proprietary automated analytical profile index system). Sampling will be conducted quarterly (first 2 weeks of each quarter) to assess any changes in microbial flora. In parallel, an Italian version of the World Health Organization questionnaire on health care workers’ knowledge of hand hygiene and a questionnaire on the use of high-touch devices will be administered to participants. Each quarter, 30 health workers will be selected, resulting in a total of 120 health workers and 240 samples collected by the end of the study. For each sample, the analysis will focus on quantifying the total bacterial load at 37 °C and 22 °C, along with detecting coliforms or Escherichia coli, Enterococci, Staphylococci, Acinetobacter, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, and any associated antimicrobial resistance. Results: The study aims to begin sample collection by June 2025. The protocol was properly evaluated and approved by the territorial ethics committee “Lazio Area 2” on March 21, 2024, with the code 76.24 CET2 utv_ptv. Conclusions: The findings of this study will be crucial in highlighting the need for targeted education and training of health care practitioners involved in the study, with a focus on the prevention of HAIs. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/60450

Background and Objectives: Urinary tract infections are common in clinical practice, but in hospital settings, especially among older and catheterized patients, the microbial ecology and resistance burden may differ substantially from community-acquired infections. Local surveillance is therefore essential to support appropriate empirical treatment and antimicrobial stewardship. The objective is to describe the microbiological epidemiology of urinary isolates in a tertiary hospital and evaluate temporal trends in antimicrobial resistance among the most frequently isolated microorganisms. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzed microbiology laboratory data from Tor Vergata University Hospital, Rome, Italy, collected from January 2022 to June 2025. After WHONET-based deduplication using a 30-day repeat-isolate rule, 5788 deduplicated urinary isolates and 85,888 microorganism–drug associations were included. Descriptive analyses, cumulative antibiograms/antimycograms, and quarterly resistance trends were assessed using univariable and multivariable regression analyses. Results: The population was predominantly elderly, inpatient, and catheter-exposed. Gram-negative organisms predominated, followed by Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. The most frequent isolates were E. coli, K. pneumoniae, E. faecalis, and C. albicans. Although microorganism distribution remained broadly stable over time, resistance increased in several clinically relevant organism–drug combinations, especially among major Enterobacterales. Conclusions: In this high-complexity hospital population, urinary isolates showed a relatively stable microorganism distribution but progressive changes in susceptibility among selected urinary isolates. These findings support setting-specific microbiological surveillance and stewardship-informed empirical treatment strategies.