The management of chronic diseases requires personalized healthcare that allows older adults to manage their diseases at home. This systematic review aimed to describe the smart home technologies used in the management of chronic diseases in older people. A systematic literature review was conducted on four databases and was reported following the PRISMA statement. Nineteen articles were included. The intervention technologies were classified into three groups: smart home, characterized by environmental sensors detecting motion, contact, light, temperature, and humidity; external memory aids, characterized by a partnership between mobile apps and smart home-based activity learning; and hybrid technology, with the integration of multiple technologies, such as devices installed at patients’ homes and telemedicine. The health outcomes evaluated are vital signs, medication management, ADL-IADL, mobility, falls, and quality of life. Smart homes show great potential in the management of chronic diseases by favouring the control of exacerbations and increasing patients’ safety by providing support in disease management, including support for cognitively impaired older people. The use of smart homes in the community could bring numerous benefits in terms of continuity of care, allowing the constant monitoring of older people by local and hospital health services.

This study examines the relationship between functional disability and work ability in workers affected by low back pain (LBP) through an analysis of correlations between the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Work Ability Index (WAI). The role of personal and work factors on functional disability/work ability levels has also been studied. LBP is the most common musculoskeletal problem and a major disabling health problem worldwide. Its etiology is multifactorial. Multidisciplinary approaches may help reduce the burden of pain and disability and improve job continuity and reintegration at work. A cohort of 264 patients affected by LBP from an Italian outpatient clinic were included in a clinical diagnostic/therapeutic trial aiming at rehabilitation and return to work through an integrated investigation protocol. Data were collected during the first medical examination using anamnestic and clinical tools. The final sample is composed of 252 patients, 57.1% man, 44.0 % blue collars, 46.4% with the high school degree, 45.6% married. WAI and ODI reported a negative and fair correlation (r = –0.454; p = .000). Workers with acute LBP symptoms have a higher probability of severe disability than those with chronic LBP symptoms. White collars without depressive symptoms reported higher work ability – even in chronic disability conditions-than those with depressive symptoms. The study found that ODI and WAI have a convergent validity and this suggests that the two tools measure capture distinctive aspects of disability related to personal, environmental, and occupational characteristics. The most important and modifiable prognostic factors found for ODI and WAI were depressive symptoms, workday absence, and intensity of back pain. The study also found a mild association between age and ODI. The study's findings highlight the importance of using a multidisciplinary approach to manage and prevent disability due to LBP.

Background/Objectives: The execution of clinical trials is increasingly constrained by operational complexity, regulatory requirements, and variability in site performance. These challenges have direct implications for the reliability of trial outcomes. However, standardized methods to evaluate site-level performance remain underdeveloped. This study introduces the Clinical Trial Site Performance Measure (CT-SPM), a novel framework designed to systematically capture site-level operational quality and to provide a scalable short form for routine monitoring. Methods: We conducted a multicenter study across six Italian academic hospitals (January–June 2025). Candidate performance indicators were identified through a systematic review and expert consultation, followed by validation and reduction using advanced statistical approaches, including factor modeling, ROC curve analysis, and nonparametric scaling methods. The CT-SPM was assessed for structural validity, discriminative capacity, and feasibility for use in real-world settings. Results: From 126 potential indicators, 18 were retained and organized into four domains: Participant Retention and Consent, Data Completeness and Timeliness, Adverse Event Reporting, and Protocol Compliance. A bifactor model revealed two higher-order dimensions (participant-facing and data-facing performance), highlighting the multidimensional nature of site operations. A short form comprising four items demonstrated good scalability and sufficient accuracy to identify underperforming sites. Conclusions: The CT-SPM represents an innovative, evidence-based instrument for monitoring trial execution at the site level. By linking methodological rigor with real-world applicability, it offers a practical solution for benchmarking, resource allocation, and regulatory compliance. This approach contributes to advancing clinical research by providing a standardized, data-driven method to evaluate and improve performance across networks.

Background/Objectives: Human dignity is an inalienable value central to human rights and ethics. Professional dignity is pivotal to fostering self-esteem, job satisfaction, and high-quality care in nursing. Despite its importance, no validated tool currently exists to measure nurses’ professional dignity in English-speaking contexts. This study aimed to develop and psychometrically test the Nurses’ Professional Dignity Scale (NPDS). Methods: The tool’s development was guided by a theoretical model from a meta-synthesis. A consensus meeting with five nurse researchers identified three core dimensions for the NPDS: Respect, Professional Value, and Appreciation. Nineteen items were initially generated and refined through face and content validity assessments (all item-level content validity indices [I-CVIs] ≥ 0.80; scale-level content validity index/Ave [S-CVI/Ave] = 0.92). Psychometric testing was conducted with 227 nurses across clinical settings in the United States using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to validate a three-factor model. Results: The CFA confirmed the three-factor model with acceptable fit indices (CFI = 0.938, TLI = 0.923, RMSEA = 0.069), resulting in the retention of 15 items. The scale demonstrated excellent reliability, with composite reliability coefficients of 0.92 for Respect, 0.82 for Professional Value, 0.93 for Appreciation, and 0.91 for the overall scale. Conclusions: The NPDS is a valid and reliable measure of nurses’ professional dignity, aligning with theoretical frameworks. It captures both status-dignity and condition-dignity aspects, encompassing respect, professional competence, and societal appreciation, offering a multidimensional structure for assessing individual domains and overall scores. The NPDS contributes to advancing nursing research and practice by addressing workplace dignity, enhancing job satisfaction, and fostering supportive organizational environments that recognize nurses’ professional worth. Future studies are recommended to validate the scale in diverse populations and explore its stability over time through longitudinal research. This study highlights the importance of preserving nurses’ dignity in improving professional identity, workplace environments, and patient care outcomes.

Background: Perfectionism is a growing concern among university students, who face high expectations, demanding workloads, and complex academic tasks. These pressures often lead to stress, negatively impacting performance, well-being, and career trajectories. Existing measures of perfectionism and related stress lack focus on their causes and relevance to students. Methods: This study developed and psychometrically tested an inventory assessing the causes (ROOTS), manifestations (MPS-R), and stress (IPSS-R) related to perfectionism. A multicenter cross-sectional online survey was conducted across multiple Italian universities with 469 students. The ROOTS tool was developed, and the MPS and IPSS were adapted following established guidelines. Content validity was examined, and pilot testing was performed. Confirmatory factor analyses tested three-factor models with a second-order factor for each instrument. Construct validity and reliability were also assessed. Results: The ROOTS, MPS-R, and IPSS-R demonstrated strong structural and construct validity, with acceptable reliability. Significant correlations highlighted the interconnectedness of perfectionism’s causes, manifestations, and stress. Conclusions: The Perfectionism Inventory offers a comprehensive tool for identifying causes, manifestations, and consequences of perfectionism in university students. It can help educators and policymakers develop strategies to mitigate its impact on mental health and academic success. Future research should explore its applicability in other populations.

Objective: To assess the effect of transitioning to remote working during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in a population of adults affected by chronic low back pain (cLBP).Methods: An online questionnaire was sent by email to teleworkers affected by cLBP. Demographic data, remote working features and tasks, and LBP burden were analyzed. The psychological burden of remote working was evaluated with the World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index and the Patient Health Questionnaire-2. LBP severity was evaluated using a visual analogue scale. LBP-related disability was assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index. The effect of LBP on working capacity was examined with the Occupational Role Questionnaire. Independent risk factors related to LBP worsening were identified using a multivariate logistic regression model.Results: During remote working, LBP severity was significantly higher compared to previous in-person working (p < 0.0001), as well as average weekly work hours (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the risk of LBP worsening was associated with higher depression scores (odds ratio [OR], 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00–1.91; p = 0.048), increased stress levels (OR: 3.00, 95% CI: 1.04–8.65; p = 0.042), and being divorced (OR: 4.28, 95% CI: 1.27–14.47; p = 0.019). Conversely, living with others (OR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07–0.81; p = 0.021), and reporting unchanged stress levels (OR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.08–0.65; p = 0.006) were associated with a lower risk of LBP worsening.Conclusion: Our findings highlight key factors to consider for improving remote workers’ physical and mental wellbeing and decrease their LBP burden.