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Garden Tabacchi
Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Unit, Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Via Pascoli 6, 90144 Palermo, Italy

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Journal article
Published: 11 March 2021 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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Background: The relationship between mothers and their children’s lifestyle is still unclear, especially in disadvantaged areas. Consequently, the study aims to identify a path explaining the extent to which maternal eating habits and physical activity (PA) level predict food-related aspects, PA practice and Quotient of Gross Motor Development (QGMD) in preschoolers from disadvantaged urban areas. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 79 dyads of mothers and children were recruited from kindergartens. Information related to family socio-demographic aspects, mothers’ and children’s dietary intake frequencies and PA/sedentariness, mothers’ weight and height, mothers’ perception on children’s food intake, and children’s food literacy (FL) was collected with a questionnaire and the Food Literacy Assessment Tool (preschool-FLAT), while gross-motor skills were measured with the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD); weight and height of children were directly collected. Results: Associations were found between mothers’ and children’s food habits; mothers’ and children’s fruit/vegetables consumption, and intake of the other items; mothers’ education or PA level and children’s FL; mothers’ PA or sedentariness and children’s QGMD; mothers’ BMI and food habits and children’s BMI; education and food habits. Conclusions: These findings can be useful to plan effective interventions targeted both to preschoolers and their mothers of disadvantaged urban areas for promoting healthy lifestyles, which have become increasingly difficult to achieve during COVID-19 pandemic.

ACS Style

Garden Tabacchi; Luca Petrigna; Giuseppe Battaglia; Giovanni Navarra; Antonio Palma; Marianna Bellafiore. An Interaction Path of Mothers’ and Preschoolers’ Food- and Physical Activity-Related Aspects in Disadvantaged Sicilian Urban Areas. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 2875 .

AMA Style

Garden Tabacchi, Luca Petrigna, Giuseppe Battaglia, Giovanni Navarra, Antonio Palma, Marianna Bellafiore. An Interaction Path of Mothers’ and Preschoolers’ Food- and Physical Activity-Related Aspects in Disadvantaged Sicilian Urban Areas. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (6):2875.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Garden Tabacchi; Luca Petrigna; Giuseppe Battaglia; Giovanni Navarra; Antonio Palma; Marianna Bellafiore. 2021. "An Interaction Path of Mothers’ and Preschoolers’ Food- and Physical Activity-Related Aspects in Disadvantaged Sicilian Urban Areas." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 6: 2875.

Journal article
Published: 17 January 2021 in Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
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The aim of this investigation was to identify possible related factors associated to the performance of the crunning test in European children and adolescents. A total number of 559 children and adolescents (age range 6–14 years) of which 308 boys (55.1%) and 251 girls (44.9%), from seven European countries, were screened. A questionnaire concerning demographic and personal life-related factors and a cognitive assessment were performed. A regression analysis was conducted with the performance measures of the crunning movement. T-tests and ANCOVA were used to analyze sub-group differences. Boys have greater crunning performance values compared to girls (5.55 s vs. 7.06 s, p < 0.001) and older children perform better than younger ones (R2 −0.23; p < 0.001). Children with healthy and active habits (exercising or spending time with family members vs. reading or surfing the internet) performed better in the test. Children engaged in team sports had better crunning performances compared to those engaged in individual sports (6.01 s vs. 6.66 s, p = 0.0166). No significant association was found regarding cognitive-related aspects in either children engaged in team or individual sports and the crunning performance. Older and male children performed better in the crunning test than younger and female children. Physical activity-related aspects of children’s life are associated with crunning movement performance. No association was found between higher cognitive performance and the crunning test results.

ACS Style

Ewan Thomas; Marianna Alesi; Garden Tabacchi; Carlos Silva; David Sturm; Fatma Şahin; Özkan Güler; Manuel Gómez-López; Simona Pajaujiene; Michele Basile; Ante Rada; Antonio Palma; Antonino Bianco. Cognitive and Physical Activity-Related Aspects of Children Associated to the Performance of the Crunning Movement. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 2021, 6, 9 .

AMA Style

Ewan Thomas, Marianna Alesi, Garden Tabacchi, Carlos Silva, David Sturm, Fatma Şahin, Özkan Güler, Manuel Gómez-López, Simona Pajaujiene, Michele Basile, Ante Rada, Antonio Palma, Antonino Bianco. Cognitive and Physical Activity-Related Aspects of Children Associated to the Performance of the Crunning Movement. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology. 2021; 6 (1):9.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ewan Thomas; Marianna Alesi; Garden Tabacchi; Carlos Silva; David Sturm; Fatma Şahin; Özkan Güler; Manuel Gómez-López; Simona Pajaujiene; Michele Basile; Ante Rada; Antonio Palma; Antonino Bianco. 2021. "Cognitive and Physical Activity-Related Aspects of Children Associated to the Performance of the Crunning Movement." Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 6, no. 1: 9.

Original research article
Published: 16 December 2020 in Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
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Many studies reported a positive relationship between motor skills, cognitive functions, and school performance in school-age children; however, little is known in preschool children. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of a physical education program (PEP) on locomotor, object control skills, and pre-literacy cognitive functions in a wide population of preschoolers and verify whether weight status could influence these abilities. In the context of the Training-to-Health Project, a sample of 1,029 preschoolers was recruited in kindergartens from the urban area of Palermo (Italy). Their gross motor and pre-literacy skills were tested before (PRE) and after (POST) following 16 weeks (2 h/week) of a PEP, which included ludic-motor activities aimed at developing body awareness and fundamental motor and perceptual-sensory skills. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) were performed to assess the skills before and after the intervention and to evaluate the effect of different categories of weight status on the examined variables. Regression analyses were conducted to confirm the hypothesized interrelationship between motor and pre-literacy skills in the considered sample. Both locomotor/object control and pre-literacy skills were significantly higher in children after the PEP (p < 0.05). We found 23% of overweight children and no significant difference between weight status classes in both PRE and POST PEP groups. In the POST group, higher locomotor and object control skills were mostly associated with better pre-literacy skills. This study shows that PEP was effective in improving both motor and pre-literacy skills in preschoolers independently from age and gender, while weight status did not affect these skills suggesting that this program can be administrated indifferently in children with different categories of weight status. Therefore, PEP could be a decisive education strategy to enhance motor and cognitive learning in preschool children and to achieve successful academic outcomes.

ACS Style

Giuseppe Battaglia; Valerio Giustino; Garden Tabacchi; Marianna Alesi; Claudia Galassi; Carmen Modica; Antonio Palma; Marianna Bellafiore. Effectiveness of a Physical Education Program on the Motor and Pre-literacy Skills of Preschoolers From the Training-To-Health Project: A Focus on Weight Status. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living 2020, 2, 1 .

AMA Style

Giuseppe Battaglia, Valerio Giustino, Garden Tabacchi, Marianna Alesi, Claudia Galassi, Carmen Modica, Antonio Palma, Marianna Bellafiore. Effectiveness of a Physical Education Program on the Motor and Pre-literacy Skills of Preschoolers From the Training-To-Health Project: A Focus on Weight Status. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. 2020; 2 ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giuseppe Battaglia; Valerio Giustino; Garden Tabacchi; Marianna Alesi; Claudia Galassi; Carmen Modica; Antonio Palma; Marianna Bellafiore. 2020. "Effectiveness of a Physical Education Program on the Motor and Pre-literacy Skills of Preschoolers From the Training-To-Health Project: A Focus on Weight Status." Frontiers in Sports and Active Living 2, no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 16 December 2020
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Many studies reported a positive relationship between motor skills, cognitive functions, and school performance in school-age children; however, little is known in preschool children. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of a physical education program (PEP) on locomotor, object control skills, and pre-literacy cognitive functions in a wide population of preschoolers and verify whether weight status could influence these abilities. In the context of the Training-to-Health Project, a sample of 1,029 preschoolers was recruited in kindergartens from the urban area of Palermo (Italy). Their gross motor and pre-literacy skills were tested before (PRE) and after (POST) following 16 weeks (2 h/week) of a PEP, which included ludic-motor activities aimed at developing body awareness and fundamental motor and perceptual-sensory skills. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) were performed to assess the skills before and after the intervention and to evaluate the effect of different categories of weight status on the examined variables. Regression analyses were conducted to confirm the hypothesized interrelationship between motor and pre-literacy skills in the considered sample. Both locomotor/object control and pre-literacy skills were significantly higher in children after the PEP (p < 0.05). We found 23% of overweight children and no significant difference between weight status classes in both PRE and POST PEP groups. In the POST group, higher locomotor and object control skills were mostly associated with better pre-literacy skills. This study shows that PEP was effective in improving both motor and pre-literacy skills in preschoolers independently from age and gender, while weight status did not affect these skills suggesting that this program can be administrated indifferently in children with different categories of weight status. Therefore, PEP could be a decisive education strategy to enhance motor and cognitive learning in preschool children and to achieve successful academic outcomes.

ACS Style

Giuseppe Battaglia; Valerio Giustino; Garden Tabacchi; Marianna Alesi; Claudia Galassi; Carmen Modica; Antonio Palma; Marianna Bellafiore. Effectiveness of a Physical Education Program on the Motor and Pre-literacy Skills of Preschoolers From the Training-To-Health Project: A Focus on Weight Status. 2020, 2, 579421 .

AMA Style

Giuseppe Battaglia, Valerio Giustino, Garden Tabacchi, Marianna Alesi, Claudia Galassi, Carmen Modica, Antonio Palma, Marianna Bellafiore. Effectiveness of a Physical Education Program on the Motor and Pre-literacy Skills of Preschoolers From the Training-To-Health Project: A Focus on Weight Status. . 2020; 2 ():579421.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giuseppe Battaglia; Valerio Giustino; Garden Tabacchi; Marianna Alesi; Claudia Galassi; Carmen Modica; Antonio Palma; Marianna Bellafiore. 2020. "Effectiveness of a Physical Education Program on the Motor and Pre-literacy Skills of Preschoolers From the Training-To-Health Project: A Focus on Weight Status." 2, no. : 579421.

Journal article
Published: 17 June 2020
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The standing broad jump (SBJ) is a valid, reliable and feasible field-based test, which can evaluate explosive strength of the lower limbs and physical fitness. This study aimed to provide normative data for the SBJ for male and female children and adolescents and describe differences in performance between age groups and genders. A total number of 2140 children and adolescents, sampled in seven European nations have been included for analysis. The SBJ was performed to derive percentile values for gender and each age group. In general, males have greater jumping performance compared to females. Data demonstrate a linear increase in the jumping distance for both males and females until adolescence. However, such increase is evident in males up to 16-17 years old, whereas in females a plateau value is met at 12-13 years old, with a subsequent decrease in the jumping performance. No differences were present in jumping performance between male and female children, however differences between male and female adolescents were evinced. The study has provided percentile values useful to monitor the physical fitness status of children and adolescents.

ACS Style

Ewan Thomas; Luca Petrigna; Garden Tabacchi; Eduardo Teixeira; Simona Pajaujiene; David J. Sturm; Fatma Nese Sahin; Manuel Gómez-López; Jelena Pausic; Antonio Paoli; Marianna Alesi; Antonino Bianco. Percentile values of the standing broad jump in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years old. 2020, 30, 9050 .

AMA Style

Ewan Thomas, Luca Petrigna, Garden Tabacchi, Eduardo Teixeira, Simona Pajaujiene, David J. Sturm, Fatma Nese Sahin, Manuel Gómez-López, Jelena Pausic, Antonio Paoli, Marianna Alesi, Antonino Bianco. Percentile values of the standing broad jump in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years old. . 2020; 30 (2):9050.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ewan Thomas; Luca Petrigna; Garden Tabacchi; Eduardo Teixeira; Simona Pajaujiene; David J. Sturm; Fatma Nese Sahin; Manuel Gómez-López; Jelena Pausic; Antonio Paoli; Marianna Alesi; Antonino Bianco. 2020. "Percentile values of the standing broad jump in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years old." 30, no. 2: 9050.

Journal article
Published: 16 April 2020 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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Background: The importance of assessing “food literacy” since youth has been highlighted and, to this purpose, valid and consistent instruments are needed. This study aimed to assess the validity and internal consistency of the preschool-FLAT (Food Literacy Assessment Tool). Methods. 505 children from 21 kindergartens, recruited within the Training-to-Health Project in Palermo (Italy), underwent oral sessions and activities on food-related aspects. Their knowledge/skills were recorded in the preschool-FLAT. The following scale measures were assessed: Content validity; internal consistency (Chronbach’s alpha coefficients); construct validity (Structural Equation Modeling—SEM); discriminant validity (intervention subgroup of 100 children vs. control group of 27 children). Results. Acceptable content validity of a 16-items scale and overall adequate internal consistency were revealed: Content validity index (CVI) 0.94, content validity ratio (CVR) 0.88, Chronbach’s alpha 0.76. The SEM revealed a 4-factor model fitting the data well (comparative fit index 0.939, root mean square error of approximation 0.033). Discriminant validity was good (intervention group scoring higher than control, p < 0.001, unpaired Student’s t-test). Conclusion. The preschool-FLAT revealed good psychometric properties, adequate validity and internal consistency. This is the only instrument in the literature specifically targeted to 3–6 years old children that could be effectively used to assess food literacy.

ACS Style

Garden Tabacchi; Giuseppe Battaglia; Giuseppe Messina; Antonio Paoli; Antonio Palma; Marianna Bellafiore. Validity and Internal Consistency of the Preschool-FLAT, a New Tool for the Assessment of Food Literacy in Young Children from the Training-To-Health Project. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17, 2759 .

AMA Style

Garden Tabacchi, Giuseppe Battaglia, Giuseppe Messina, Antonio Paoli, Antonio Palma, Marianna Bellafiore. Validity and Internal Consistency of the Preschool-FLAT, a New Tool for the Assessment of Food Literacy in Young Children from the Training-To-Health Project. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17 (8):2759.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Garden Tabacchi; Giuseppe Battaglia; Giuseppe Messina; Antonio Paoli; Antonio Palma; Marianna Bellafiore. 2020. "Validity and Internal Consistency of the Preschool-FLAT, a New Tool for the Assessment of Food Literacy in Young Children from the Training-To-Health Project." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 8: 2759.

Journal article
Published: 06 March 2020 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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Background: Physical fitness in youth is a predictor of health in adulthood. The main objective of the present study was to understand if an enriched sport activity program could increase physical fitness in a population of schoolchildren. Methods: In a sample of 672 children aged 10.0 ± 1.90 years, different motor skills were tested by the 1 kg and 3 kg ball throw (BT), the standing broad jump (SBJ), the 30 m sprint (30mS), the leger shuttle run (LSR), the illinois agility test (IGT), and the quadruped test (QT). Within the controlled-trial, the intervention group (ESA) underwent an additional warm-up protocol, which included cognitive enhancing elements, for 14 weeks while the control group continued with ordinary exercise activity. Results: A significant increase was present regarding the 1 kg and 3 kg BT, the SBJ, the 30mS, and the IGT, while no significant difference was shown regarding the QT and the LSR in the ESA group between pre and post intervention. In the control group, no differences were present for any test except for the QT and the LSR post-test. Conclusion: A 14-week structured physical intervention had moderate effects regarding throwing, jumping, sprinting, and agility in a sample of schoolchildren.

ACS Style

Ewan Thomas; Antonino Bianco; Garden Tabacchi; Carlos Marques Da Silva; Nuno Loureiro; Michele Basile; Marcello Giaccone; David J. Sturm; Fatma Neşe Şahin; Özkan Güler; Manuel Gómez-López; Guillermo F. López Sánchez; Simona Pajaujiene; Ilona Judita Zuoziene; Ante Rada; Marianna Alesi; Antonio Palma. Effects of a Physical Activity Intervention on Physical Fitness of schoolchildren: The Enriched Sport Activity Program. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17, 1723 .

AMA Style

Ewan Thomas, Antonino Bianco, Garden Tabacchi, Carlos Marques Da Silva, Nuno Loureiro, Michele Basile, Marcello Giaccone, David J. Sturm, Fatma Neşe Şahin, Özkan Güler, Manuel Gómez-López, Guillermo F. López Sánchez, Simona Pajaujiene, Ilona Judita Zuoziene, Ante Rada, Marianna Alesi, Antonio Palma. Effects of a Physical Activity Intervention on Physical Fitness of schoolchildren: The Enriched Sport Activity Program. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17 (5):1723.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ewan Thomas; Antonino Bianco; Garden Tabacchi; Carlos Marques Da Silva; Nuno Loureiro; Michele Basile; Marcello Giaccone; David J. Sturm; Fatma Neşe Şahin; Özkan Güler; Manuel Gómez-López; Guillermo F. López Sánchez; Simona Pajaujiene; Ilona Judita Zuoziene; Ante Rada; Marianna Alesi; Antonio Palma. 2020. "Effects of a Physical Activity Intervention on Physical Fitness of schoolchildren: The Enriched Sport Activity Program." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 5: 1723.

Review
Published: 15 December 2019 in Sustainability
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High levels of physical fitness (PF) can positively affect both health and cognitive function, thus monitoring its levels in youth can help increase health and quality of life in adult populations later on. This systematic review aims to identify PF field-based tests used in young European populations practicing sport to find tools that are adequate for the considered target involving a new battery within the Enriched Sport Activities (ESA) project. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement was followed. In the 83 identified articles, the main tests used were: vertical/horizontal jumps (for muscular strength/power); push-ups, running at maximum effort, sit-ups (for muscular strength/endurance); multistage non-intermittent and intermittent tests (for aerobic endurance); sit and reach (for flexibility); sprinting and agility T-tests (for speed and agility, respectively); 10 × 5 m shuttle run (SR) (for both speed and agility). Few studies assessed coordination, reaction time, power, and balance. Although the selected tests are widely used and validated, they do not determine all PF aspects and do not reflect sport-specific features. A final decision was made for the inclusion of the following tests: standing broad jump, seated medicine ball throw, 20 m SR test, 30 m sprint, Illinois test, and a new test, i.e., the crunning test, to assess different skill-related components at once. The use of this combination of tests allows for the assessment of all PF components and can help planning effective training programs and cultivate sporting talent.

ACS Style

Garden Tabacchi; Guillermo F. Lopez Sanchez; Fatma Nese Sahin; Meltem Kizilyalli; Rosario Genchi; Michele Basile; Musa Kirkar; Carlos Silva; Nuno Loureiro; Eduardo Teixeira; Yolanda Demetriou; David Joseph Sturm; Simona Pajaujene; Ilona J. Zuoziene; Manuel Gómez-López; Ante Rada; Jelena Pausic; Nemanja Lakicevic; Luca Petrigna; Kaltrina Feka; Ana Ribeiro; Marianna Alesi; Antonino Bianco. Field-Based Tests for the Assessment of Physical Fitness in Children and Adolescents Practicing Sport: A Systematic Review within the ESA Program. Sustainability 2019, 11, 7187 .

AMA Style

Garden Tabacchi, Guillermo F. Lopez Sanchez, Fatma Nese Sahin, Meltem Kizilyalli, Rosario Genchi, Michele Basile, Musa Kirkar, Carlos Silva, Nuno Loureiro, Eduardo Teixeira, Yolanda Demetriou, David Joseph Sturm, Simona Pajaujene, Ilona J. Zuoziene, Manuel Gómez-López, Ante Rada, Jelena Pausic, Nemanja Lakicevic, Luca Petrigna, Kaltrina Feka, Ana Ribeiro, Marianna Alesi, Antonino Bianco. Field-Based Tests for the Assessment of Physical Fitness in Children and Adolescents Practicing Sport: A Systematic Review within the ESA Program. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (24):7187.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Garden Tabacchi; Guillermo F. Lopez Sanchez; Fatma Nese Sahin; Meltem Kizilyalli; Rosario Genchi; Michele Basile; Musa Kirkar; Carlos Silva; Nuno Loureiro; Eduardo Teixeira; Yolanda Demetriou; David Joseph Sturm; Simona Pajaujene; Ilona J. Zuoziene; Manuel Gómez-López; Ante Rada; Jelena Pausic; Nemanja Lakicevic; Luca Petrigna; Kaltrina Feka; Ana Ribeiro; Marianna Alesi; Antonino Bianco. 2019. "Field-Based Tests for the Assessment of Physical Fitness in Children and Adolescents Practicing Sport: A Systematic Review within the ESA Program." Sustainability 11, no. 24: 7187.

Journal article
Published: 02 September 2019 in Public Health Nutrition
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Objective:Food literacy (FL) is a crucial need encompassing basic literacy and fundamental movement skills. The present study aimed to investigate the FL level in pre-schoolers and to evaluate the effect of potential predictors and the associations with gross motor and emergent literacy skills.Design:Cross-sectional study conducted within the Training-to-Health Project.Setting:Kindergartens (n 21) in the Palermo City Council, Italy.Participants:Pre-school children aged 3–6 years (n 921) followed education sessions on nutritional topics, practical activities and compiled prearranged sheets. FL was assessed by the five-domain toolkit ‘preschool-FLAT’; gross motor and emergent literacy skills were assessed by the Italian version of the gross motor development test and the PRCR-2/2009, respectively. Correlation and regression analyses were performed to assess relationships between FL scores and gender, age, weight, height, BMI, gross motor and emergent literacy skills.Results:Independent predictors (β, se) of higher FL were female gender (1·06, 0·315, P < 0·01), older age (0·08, 0·019, P < 0·001) and greater height (0·13, 0·03, P < 0·001). The adjusted coefficients were significant for quotient of gross motor development and in particular for the locomotor component (0·03, 0·01, P < 0·01 and 0·16, 0·046, P < 0·001, respectively). Almost all associations with the emergent literacy skills were significant (β = −0·02 to 0·47).Conclusions:The study suggests that children raised in an environment where both cognitive and motor skills are enhanced can have better chances of increasing FL and success at school. Thus, the need for monitoring FL and its predictors since early age is highlighted.

ACS Style

Garden Tabacchi; Giuseppe Battaglia; Marianna Alesi; Antonio Paoli; Antonio Palma; Marianna Bellafiore. Food literacy predictors and associations with physical and emergent literacy in pre-schoolers: results from the Training-to-Health Project. Public Health Nutrition 2019, 23, 356 -365.

AMA Style

Garden Tabacchi, Giuseppe Battaglia, Marianna Alesi, Antonio Paoli, Antonio Palma, Marianna Bellafiore. Food literacy predictors and associations with physical and emergent literacy in pre-schoolers: results from the Training-to-Health Project. Public Health Nutrition. 2019; 23 (2):356-365.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Garden Tabacchi; Giuseppe Battaglia; Marianna Alesi; Antonio Paoli; Antonio Palma; Marianna Bellafiore. 2019. "Food literacy predictors and associations with physical and emergent literacy in pre-schoolers: results from the Training-to-Health Project." Public Health Nutrition 23, no. 2: 356-365.

Journal article
Published: 05 March 2019 in Italian Journal of Pediatrics
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The observed increase in body weight and cardiometabolic risk (CR) in youth from developed countries contributes to the global burden of chronic diseases in adult age. The aim of this work is to provide a patterning of the associations between different factors and the weight status and CR of the subjects involved in the Italian ministerial ASSO project. This study involved 919 students from high schools in Palermo. Weight, height and waist circumference were collected by trained teachers; weight status was estimated by the BMI cut-offs for adolescents and CR through the waist-to-height ratio. Questionnaires were administered through the web-based ASSO-NutFit software. Chi-square test investigated the variables significantly associated with the outcomes, which were then included in a Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), to explore their dimensional relationship to weight status and CR. Poisson regressions were conducted separately for the two outcomes, reporting raw and adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) and Bootstrap Method was used to determine confidence intervals (CIs), to assessing the degree of effect of the explanatory variables over the outcomes. Two main dimensions were evidenced, with the overweight/obese group and the group at CR characterized by the following strongly associated factors: male gender, overweight/obese parents, following a slimming regime, caesarean birth, sedentariness, being under/overweight at birth, presence of metabolic risk, going to school by car/scooter, not using supplements. This study contributed to identifying those adolescents that should be prioritized in interventions aiming at reducing overweight/obesity and CR in this age group.

ACS Style

Antonino Bianco; Anna Rita Filippi; João Breda; Vincenza Leonardi; Antonio Paoli; Luca Petrigna; Antonio Palma; Garden Tabacchi. Combined effect of different factors on weight status and cardiometabolic risk in Italian adolescents. Italian Journal of Pediatrics 2019, 45, 32 .

AMA Style

Antonino Bianco, Anna Rita Filippi, João Breda, Vincenza Leonardi, Antonio Paoli, Luca Petrigna, Antonio Palma, Garden Tabacchi. Combined effect of different factors on weight status and cardiometabolic risk in Italian adolescents. Italian Journal of Pediatrics. 2019; 45 (1):32.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Antonino Bianco; Anna Rita Filippi; João Breda; Vincenza Leonardi; Antonio Paoli; Luca Petrigna; Antonio Palma; Garden Tabacchi. 2019. "Combined effect of different factors on weight status and cardiometabolic risk in Italian adolescents." Italian Journal of Pediatrics 45, no. 1: 32.

Chapter
Published: 01 January 2019 in Healthcare Policy and Reform
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Adolescents' obesity is a major concern in our modern life that could lead to significant increase in the rate of obese future generations and consequently in the health budget. The ASSO (Adolescence Surveillance System for Obesity prevention) project in Italy is tackling this new pandemic using the new e-technology through a multi facets monitoring system on life style including food consumptions, meal patterns and habits, alcohol, smoking, physical activity, fitness and sedentariness, and biological/genetic, and socio-cultural/environmental characteristics of adolescents. The project has been recently piloted in the South of the country. This chapter summarizes the design and structure of the ASSO system, its implementation and the results of an evaluation process for its possible extension to the whole Italian territory and to other European realities as a national surveillance system.

ACS Style

Garden Tabacchi; Monèm Jemni; Joao L Viana; Antonino Bianco. Adolescence Surveillance System for Obesity Prevention (ASSO) in Europe. Healthcare Policy and Reform 2019, 603 -629.

AMA Style

Garden Tabacchi, Monèm Jemni, Joao L Viana, Antonino Bianco. Adolescence Surveillance System for Obesity Prevention (ASSO) in Europe. Healthcare Policy and Reform. 2019; ():603-629.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Garden Tabacchi; Monèm Jemni; Joao L Viana; Antonino Bianco. 2019. "Adolescence Surveillance System for Obesity Prevention (ASSO) in Europe." Healthcare Policy and Reform , no. : 603-629.

Chapter
Published: 01 January 2019 in Censorship, Surveillance, and Privacy
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Adolescents' obesity is a major concern in our modern life that could lead to significant increase in the rate of obese future generations and consequently in the health budget. The ASSO (Adolescence Surveillance System for Obesity prevention) project in Italy is tackling this new pandemic using the new e-technology through a multi facets monitoring system on life style including food consumptions, meal patterns and habits, alcohol, smoking, physical activity, fitness and sedentariness, and biological/genetic, and socio-cultural/environmental characteristics of adolescents. The project has been recently piloted in the South of the country. This chapter summarizes the design and structure of the ASSO system, its implementation and the results of an evaluation process for its possible extension to the whole Italian territory and to other European realities as a national surveillance system.

ACS Style

Garden Tabacchi; Monèm Jemni; Joao L. Viana; Antonino Bianco. Adolescence Surveillance System for Obesity Prevention (ASSO) in Europe. Censorship, Surveillance, and Privacy 2019, 2088 -2113.

AMA Style

Garden Tabacchi, Monèm Jemni, Joao L. Viana, Antonino Bianco. Adolescence Surveillance System for Obesity Prevention (ASSO) in Europe. Censorship, Surveillance, and Privacy. 2019; ():2088-2113.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Garden Tabacchi; Monèm Jemni; Joao L. Viana; Antonino Bianco. 2019. "Adolescence Surveillance System for Obesity Prevention (ASSO) in Europe." Censorship, Surveillance, and Privacy , no. : 2088-2113.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2019 in Journal of Human Sport and Exercise
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ACS Style

Antonino Bianco; Giuseppe Napoli; Maria Di Pasquale; Annarita Filippi; Manuel Gómez-López; Giuseppe Messina; Angelo Iovane; Garden Tabacchi. Factors associated with the subjective health complaints among adolescents: Results from the ASSO Project. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise 2019, 14, 1 .

AMA Style

Antonino Bianco, Giuseppe Napoli, Maria Di Pasquale, Annarita Filippi, Manuel Gómez-López, Giuseppe Messina, Angelo Iovane, Garden Tabacchi. Factors associated with the subjective health complaints among adolescents: Results from the ASSO Project. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise. 2019; 14 (2):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Antonino Bianco; Giuseppe Napoli; Maria Di Pasquale; Annarita Filippi; Manuel Gómez-López; Giuseppe Messina; Angelo Iovane; Garden Tabacchi. 2019. "Factors associated with the subjective health complaints among adolescents: Results from the ASSO Project." Journal of Human Sport and Exercise 14, no. 2: 1.

Journal article
Published: 05 September 2018 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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The aim of the present investigation was to describe profiles of adolescents’ fitness level, identify latent classes of fitness-related risk behaviours, and describe their sociodemographic and environmental predictors. In total, 883 adolescents (16.4 ± 1.4 years; 167.3 ± 10.4 cm; 62.8 ± 13.5 kg; 62.2% males) were assessed for personal and lifestyle information and for physical fitness components. Eleven possible fitness determinants and seven predictors were included. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to determine fitness-related risk behaviours. Logistic regressions predicted class membership and assessed associations with fitness levels and fitness components. Five latent classes were recognised: 1—virtuous, 30.7% of respondents; 2—low physical activity/sport, 18.8%; 3—incorrect alcohol/food habits, 25.8%; 4—health risk/overweight, 15.9%; 5—malaise/diseases, 8.8%. Sex, age, parents’ overweightness/obesity and education, and school type predicted most classes significantly. Compared to class 1, class 2 had higher odds of having all poor fitness components except upper body maximal strength; class 4 had higher risk of low muscular endurance; and class 5 was likely to have lower maximal strength, muscular endurance, and speed/agility. Educating adolescents to reach a sufficient practice of PA/sport could help decreasing the risk of low health-related fitness more than discouraging them from using alcohol, addressing proper food behaviours and habits, and helping them understand their psychophysical malaise symptoms.

ACS Style

Garden Tabacchi; Avery Faigenbaum; Monèm Jemni; Ewan Thomas; Laura Capranica; Antonio Palma; Joao Breda; Antonino Bianco. Profiles of Physical Fitness Risk Behaviours in School Adolescents from the ASSO Project: A Latent Class Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2018, 15, 1933 .

AMA Style

Garden Tabacchi, Avery Faigenbaum, Monèm Jemni, Ewan Thomas, Laura Capranica, Antonio Palma, Joao Breda, Antonino Bianco. Profiles of Physical Fitness Risk Behaviours in School Adolescents from the ASSO Project: A Latent Class Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2018; 15 (9):1933.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Garden Tabacchi; Avery Faigenbaum; Monèm Jemni; Ewan Thomas; Laura Capranica; Antonio Palma; Joao Breda; Antonino Bianco. 2018. "Profiles of Physical Fitness Risk Behaviours in School Adolescents from the ASSO Project: A Latent Class Analysis." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 15, no. 9: 1933.

Journal article
Published: 02 June 2018 in Sustainability
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Monitoring physical fitness (fitness) and identifying, since the beginning, possible determinants in youth could be useful to preserve health and avoid morbidities in adulthood. The main objective of this study is to provide details on the fitness levels of a sample of adolescents living in the Southern area of Italy and describe its associations with biological/genetic, socio-cultural/environmental, and lifestyle (physical activity/sedentariness, alcohol/smoking, meal patterns/habits) factors. The study was conducted within the Adolescence Surveillance System for Obesity Prevention (ASSO) project, funded by the Italian Ministry of Health and examining adolescents’ lifestyle in relation to obesity. Fitness measures were collected through the ASSO-fitness tests battery (FTB) and examined in relation to 79 selected possible influencing factors, which were collected through a web-based questionnaire included in the ASSO-NutFit software. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess associations, with ORs and 95% CIs estimated as crude and adjusted. A total of 919 participants were initially recruited, but fitness data were collected for 544 students aged 13–19 (68% M, 32% F). Fitness level was low for 14.2% of the students, medium for 67.8%, and high for 18.0%. The independent determinants of low physical fitness in our sample of adolescents were included in the biological/genetic and physical activity/sedentariness dimensions: female gender (Adj OR 8.33, CI 2.08–33.33), obesity (Adj OR 1.97, CI 1.10–9.22), practicing sport less than 3 h/week (Adj OR 6.09, CI 1.63–22.72), practicing sport with strength/speed as prevalent biomotor ability (Adj OR 8.97, CI 1.43–56.19), using PC/internet for more than 3 h/day (Adj OR 4.46, CI 1.17–16.98). Drinking alcohol was instead a protective factor. This study confirms that females and obese individuals need more attention in the interventions aimed at increasing fitness levels. It suggests that local actions should be implemented with the aim of increasing sport practices and reducing sedentary time spent in front of PC/internet. The focus should be particularly addressed to sports with strength or speed as dominant biomotor abilities.

ACS Style

Antonino Bianco; Ambra Gentile; Stefano Boca; Antonio Paoli; Giuseppe Messina; Manuel Gómez-López; Antonio Palma; Garden Tabacchi. An Exploratory Analysis of Factors Associated with Health-Related Physical Fitness in Adolescents. The ASSO Project. Sustainability 2018, 10, 1847 .

AMA Style

Antonino Bianco, Ambra Gentile, Stefano Boca, Antonio Paoli, Giuseppe Messina, Manuel Gómez-López, Antonio Palma, Garden Tabacchi. An Exploratory Analysis of Factors Associated with Health-Related Physical Fitness in Adolescents. The ASSO Project. Sustainability. 2018; 10 (6):1847.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Antonino Bianco; Ambra Gentile; Stefano Boca; Antonio Paoli; Giuseppe Messina; Manuel Gómez-López; Antonio Palma; Garden Tabacchi. 2018. "An Exploratory Analysis of Factors Associated with Health-Related Physical Fitness in Adolescents. The ASSO Project." Sustainability 10, no. 6: 1847.

Chapter
Published: 01 January 2017 in Advances in Business Information Systems and Analytics
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Adolescents' obesity is a major concern in our modern life that could lead to significant increase in the rate of obese future generations and consequently in the health budget. The ASSO (Adolescence Surveillance System for Obesity prevention) project in Italy is tackling this new pandemic using the new e-technology through a multi facets monitoring system on life style including food consumptions, meal patterns and habits, alcohol, smoking, physical activity, fitness and sedentariness, and biological/genetic, and socio-cultural/environmental characteristics of adolescents. The project has been recently piloted in the South of the country. This chapter summarizes the design and structure of the ASSO system, its implementation and the results of an evaluation process for its possible extension to the whole Italian territory and to other European realities as a national surveillance system.

ACS Style

Garden Tabacchi; Monèm Jemni; Joao L Viana; Antonino Bianco; Madjid Tavana; Tomayess Issa; Piet Kommers; Theodora Issa; Pedro Isaías; Touma B. Issa. Adolescence Surveillance System for Obesity Prevention (ASSO) in Europe. Advances in Business Information Systems and Analytics 2017, 83 -108.

AMA Style

Garden Tabacchi, Monèm Jemni, Joao L Viana, Antonino Bianco, Madjid Tavana, Tomayess Issa, Piet Kommers, Theodora Issa, Pedro Isaías, Touma B. Issa. Adolescence Surveillance System for Obesity Prevention (ASSO) in Europe. Advances in Business Information Systems and Analytics. 2017; ():83-108.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Garden Tabacchi; Monèm Jemni; Joao L Viana; Antonino Bianco; Madjid Tavana; Tomayess Issa; Piet Kommers; Theodora Issa; Pedro Isaías; Touma B. Issa. 2017. "Adolescence Surveillance System for Obesity Prevention (ASSO) in Europe." Advances in Business Information Systems and Analytics , no. : 83-108.

Research papers
Published: 29 December 2016 in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
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Vaccine knowledge of the general population is shaped by different information sources and strongly influences vaccination attitudes and uptake. The CCM-Italian Ministry of Health ESCULAPIO project attempted to identify the role of such information sources, in order to address adequate strategies to improve information on vaccines and vaccine preventable diseases. In the present study, data on 632 adults from Southern Italy regarding information sources were collected, and their perceived and actual knowledge on vaccinations were compared and analyzed in relation to socio-demographic characteristics and information sources. The main reported reference sources were general practitioners (GPs) (42.5%) and pediatricians (33.1%), followed by mass media (24.1%) and the Internet (17.6%). A total of 45.4% reported they believed to be informed (45.4%), while those estimated to be truly informed were 43.8%. However, as showed in the multivariate logistic regression, people having the perception to be correctly informed ascribed their good knowledge to their profession in the health sector (Adj OR 2.28, CI 1.09–4.77, p < 0.05) and to friends/relatives/colleagues (AdjOR 6.25, CI 2.38–16.44, p < 0.001), while the non-informed population thought the responsibility had to be attributed to mass media (AdjOR 0.45, CI 0.22–0.92, p < 0.05). Those showing the real correct information, instead, were younger (AdjOR 1.64, CI 1.04–2.59, p < 0.05), and their main reference sources were pediatricians (AdjOR 1.63, CI 1.11–2.39, p < 0.05) and scientific magazines (Adj OR 3.39, CI 1.51–7.59, p < 0.01). Only 6% knew the “VaccinarSì” portal, developed to counter the widespred antivaccine websites in Italy. The post-survey significant increase of connections to “VaccinarSi” could be ascribed to the counselling performed during questionnaire administration. Strategies to improve information about vaccination should be addressed to fortifying healthcare workers knowledge in order to make them public health opinion leaders. General population should be provided with correct indications on trustworthy websites on vaccines to contrast false information supplied by anti-vaccinists on their own websites or social networks pages and on the mass media.

ACS Style

Garden Tabacchi; Claudio Costantino; Manuela Cracchiolo; Antonio Ferro; Valentina Marchese; Giuseppe Napoli; Sara Palmeri; Daniele Domenico Raia; Vincenzo Restivo; Andrea Siddu; Francesco Vitale; Alessandra Casuccio; the ESCULAPIO working group. Information sources and knowledge on vaccination in a population from southern Italy: The ESCULAPIO project. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics 2016, 13, 339 -345.

AMA Style

Garden Tabacchi, Claudio Costantino, Manuela Cracchiolo, Antonio Ferro, Valentina Marchese, Giuseppe Napoli, Sara Palmeri, Daniele Domenico Raia, Vincenzo Restivo, Andrea Siddu, Francesco Vitale, Alessandra Casuccio, the ESCULAPIO working group. Information sources and knowledge on vaccination in a population from southern Italy: The ESCULAPIO project. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. 2016; 13 (2):339-345.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Garden Tabacchi; Claudio Costantino; Manuela Cracchiolo; Antonio Ferro; Valentina Marchese; Giuseppe Napoli; Sara Palmeri; Daniele Domenico Raia; Vincenzo Restivo; Andrea Siddu; Francesco Vitale; Alessandra Casuccio; the ESCULAPIO working group. 2016. "Information sources and knowledge on vaccination in a population from southern Italy: The ESCULAPIO project." Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics 13, no. 2: 339-345.

Review
Published: 10 May 2016 in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
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Low measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunization levels in European children highlight the importance of identifying determinants of parental vaccine uptake to implement policies for increasing vaccine compliance. The aim of this paper is to identify the main factors associated with partial and full MMR vaccination uptake in European parents, and combine the different studies to obtain overall quantitative measures. This activity is included within the ESCULAPIO project, funded by the Italian Ministry of Health. ORs and CIs were extracted, sources of heterogeneity explored and publication bias assessed. Forty-five papers were retrieved for the qualitative study, 26 of which were included in the meta-analysis. The following factors were associated with lower MMR vaccine uptake: misleading knowledge, beliefs and perceptions on vaccines (OR 0.57, CI 0.37-0.87); negative attitudes and behaviors toward vaccination (OR 0.71, CI 0.52-0.98); demographic characteristics, such as different ethnicity in Southern populations (OR 0.44, CI 0.31-0.61), higher child's age (OR 0.80, CI 0.76-0.85); low socio-economic status (OR 0.64, CI 0.51-0.80), especially low income (OR 0.39, CI 0.25-0.60) and education (OR 0.64, CI 0.48-0.84), high number of children (OR 0.54, CI 0.42-0.69), irregular marital status (OR 0.80, CI 0.66-0.96). The factors explaining heterogeneity were country location, administration modality, collection setting and responses reported on MMR alone or in combination. Findings from this study suggest policy makers to focus communication strategies on providing better knowledge, correct beliefs and perceptions on vaccines, and improving attitudes and behaviors in parents; and to target policies to people of ethnic minority from Southern Europe, low educated and deprived, with higher number of children and non-married marital status.

ACS Style

Garden Tabacchi; Claudio Costantino; Giuseppe Napoli; Valentina Marchese; Manuela Cracchiolo; Alessandra Casuccio; Francesco Vitale; ESCULAPIO working group. Determinants of European parents' decision on the vaccination of their children against measles, mumps and rubella: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics 2016, 12, 1 -15.

AMA Style

Garden Tabacchi, Claudio Costantino, Giuseppe Napoli, Valentina Marchese, Manuela Cracchiolo, Alessandra Casuccio, Francesco Vitale, ESCULAPIO working group. Determinants of European parents' decision on the vaccination of their children against measles, mumps and rubella: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. 2016; 12 (7):1-15.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Garden Tabacchi; Claudio Costantino; Giuseppe Napoli; Valentina Marchese; Manuela Cracchiolo; Alessandra Casuccio; Francesco Vitale; ESCULAPIO working group. 2016. "Determinants of European parents' decision on the vaccination of their children against measles, mumps and rubella: A systematic review and meta-analysis." Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics 12, no. 7: 1-15.

Evaluation study
Published: 01 March 2016 in Medicine
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The Adolescents Surveillance System for Obesity prevention (ASSO) Project aimed at developing standardized and web-based tools for collecting data on adolescents' obesity and its potential determinants. This has been implemented and piloted in the local area of Palermo city, Italy. The aim of the present study is to provide an overview of the Project's design, implementation, and evaluation, highlighting all the aspects for a potential scale-up of the surveillance system on the whole national territory and abroad, as a sustainable and effective source of data.The overall structure and management, the ASSO-toolkit, the ASSO-NutFit software, and all developed and used procedures for recruiting, training, and data collecting/analyzing are addressed. An interim evaluation has been performed through a feasibility study; a final Project evaluation has been performed reporting the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) and the attributes that a surveillance system should have.This article provides a detailed overview of the Project and highlights that ASSO can be considered a valid, logical, coherent, efficient, and sustainable surveillance system that is consistent with countries' needs and priorities.The system developed by the ASSO Project provides high-quality data and complies with several characteristics typical of a suitable surveillance system. It has a potential of being adopted within the National Health Service and other countries' Health Services for monitoring adolescents' obesity and its determinants, such as food intakes, behaviors, physical activity, and fitness profiles.

ACS Style

Garden Tabacchi; Antonino Bianco; Nicola Alessi; Anna Rita Filippi; Giuseppe Napoli; Monèm Jemni; Laura Censi; Joao Breda; Nathali Lehmann Schumann; Alberto Firenze; Francesco Vitale; Caterina Mammina. Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of the Adolescents and Surveillance System for the Obesity Prevention Project. Medicine 2016, 95, e3143 -e3143.

AMA Style

Garden Tabacchi, Antonino Bianco, Nicola Alessi, Anna Rita Filippi, Giuseppe Napoli, Monèm Jemni, Laura Censi, Joao Breda, Nathali Lehmann Schumann, Alberto Firenze, Francesco Vitale, Caterina Mammina. Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of the Adolescents and Surveillance System for the Obesity Prevention Project. Medicine. 2016; 95 (12):e3143-e3143.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Garden Tabacchi; Antonino Bianco; Nicola Alessi; Anna Rita Filippi; Giuseppe Napoli; Monèm Jemni; Laura Censi; Joao Breda; Nathali Lehmann Schumann; Alberto Firenze; Francesco Vitale; Caterina Mammina. 2016. "Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of the Adolescents and Surveillance System for the Obesity Prevention Project." Medicine 95, no. 12: e3143-e3143.

Multicenter study
Published: 27 October 2015 in Epidemiol Prev
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Valentina Malerba; Claudio Costantino; Giuseppe Napoli; Valentina Marchese; Alessandra Casuccio; Garden Tabacchi; Francesco Vitale. Antimeningococcal and antipneumococcal vaccination determinants: a European systematic literature review. Epidemiol Prev 2015, 39, 1 .

AMA Style

Valentina Malerba, Claudio Costantino, Giuseppe Napoli, Valentina Marchese, Alessandra Casuccio, Garden Tabacchi, Francesco Vitale. Antimeningococcal and antipneumococcal vaccination determinants: a European systematic literature review. Epidemiol Prev. 2015; 39 (4):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Valentina Malerba; Claudio Costantino; Giuseppe Napoli; Valentina Marchese; Alessandra Casuccio; Garden Tabacchi; Francesco Vitale. 2015. "Antimeningococcal and antipneumococcal vaccination determinants: a European systematic literature review." Epidemiol Prev 39, no. 4: 1.