Alessio Lo Cascio

Dr. Alessio Lo Cascio

Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Sicilia, Italy
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
DNDaniele Napolitano
Daniele Napolitano
Mattia BozzettiMattia Bozzetti
Mattia Bozzetti
Alessio Lo CascioAlessio Lo Cascio
Alessio Lo Cascio
GSGiuseppe De Stefano
Giuseppe De Stefano
NONicoletta Orgiana
Nicoletta Orgiana
DBDavide Bartoli
Davide Bartoli
Background/Objectives: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), significantly affects patients’ quality of life. Resilience and self-care are vital for disease management, yet their relationship with IBD remains underexplored. This study investigates how self-care behaviours influence resilience in patients with IBD, taking into account sociodemographic and clinical factors. Methods: This was a multicentre observational study. Data were collected during routine outpatient visits between April and June 2024. Participants (≥18 years) with an IBD diagnosis for at least 12 months were recruited. Data were collected using validated instruments, including the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-25), the Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory (SC-CII), and sociodemographic and clinical questionnaires. Disease activity was assessed using the Mayo Score (UC) and the Harvey–Bradshaw Index (CD). Descriptive, correlational, and regression analyses explored variable relationships. This study was conducted as part of the N-ECCO Research Grant initiative. Results: A total of 401 participants (CD: 196, UC: 205) were enrolled, with equal gender distribution (50.1% male). The descriptive analysis of self-care levels showed a mean score of 72.6 (SD = 12.5) for self-care maintenance, 81.0 (SD = 18.2) for self-care monitoring, and 70.5 (SD = 18.4) for self-care management. The UC patients had higher self-care management scores than the CD patients (p = 0.002). The median resilience score was 45, and self-care management positively predicted resilience (β = 0.041, p < 0.001). Disease severity negatively affected resilience and self-care, particularly in severe cases (β = −8.334, p < 0.001). The females reported higher resilience and self-care monitoring scores than the men. Conclusions: Resilience and self-care are interrelated and crucial in IBD management. Enhancing resilience through personalised nursing interventions and integrating psychological and educational support may improve self-care and clinical outcomes.

15 September 2022 in Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
sebastiano mercadantesebastiano mercadante
sebastiano mercadante
CAClaudio Adile
Claudio Adile
PFPatrizia Ferrera
Patrizia Ferrera
Alessio Lo CascioAlessio Lo Cascio
Alessio Lo Cascio
Alessandra CasuccioAlessandra Casuccio
Alessandra Casuccio

29 January 2024 in Cancers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
sebastiano mercadantesebastiano mercadante
sebastiano mercadante
PFPatrizia Ferrera
Patrizia Ferrera
Alessio Lo CascioAlessio Lo Cascio
Alessio Lo Cascio
Alessandra CasuccioAlessandra Casuccio
Alessandra Casuccio
Background: Pain catastrophizing is a group of negative irrational cognitions in the context of anticipated or actual pain. The aim of this study was to decipher the possible role of catastrophism on pain expression and outcomes after a comprehensive palliative care treatment. Methods: A consecutive sample of patients with uncontrolled pain was assessed. Demographic characteristics, symptom intensity included in the Edmonton symptom assessment system (ESAS), and opioid drugs used were recorded at admission (T0). The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) was measured for patients. Patients were also asked about their personalized symptom goal (PSG) for each symptom of ESAS. One week after a comprehensive palliative care treatment (T7), ESAS and opioid doses used were recorded again, and the number of patients who achieved their PSG (PSGR) were calculated. At the same interval (T7), Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) was calculated using patient global impression (PGI). Results: Ninety-five patients were eligible. A significant decrease in symptom intensity was reported for all ESAS items. PGI was positive for all symptoms, with higher values for pain, poor well-being, and poor sleep. Only the rumination subscale of catastrophism was significantly associated with pain at T0 (B = 0.540; p = 0.034). Conclusions: Catastrophism was not associated with the levels of pain intensity, PSG, PSGR, and PGI for pain, except the rumination subscale that was associated with pain intensity at T0. A comprehensive palliative care management provided the relevant changes in symptom burden, undoing the pain expression associated with rumination.

25 January 2023 in Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
sebastiano mercadantesebastiano mercadante
sebastiano mercadante
YGYasmine Grassi
Yasmine Grassi
Alessio Lo CascioAlessio Lo Cascio
Alessio Lo Cascio
Vincenzo RestivoVincenzo Restivo
Vincenzo Restivo
Alessandra CasuccioAlessandra Casuccio
Alessandra Casuccio

24 July 2025 in Nursing Reports
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Mattia BozzettiMattia Bozzetti
Mattia Bozzetti
MGMonica Guberti
Monica Guberti
Alessio Lo CascioAlessio Lo Cascio
Alessio Lo Cascio
DPDaniele Privitera
Daniele Privitera
CGCatia Genna
Catia Genna
Rosario CarusoRosario Caruso
Rosario Caruso
Background/Objectives: Clinical Research Nurses (CRNs) have emerged as pivotal actors in the conduct, coordination, and oversight of clinical trials globally. Over the past three decades, the role of the CRN has evolved in response to the increasing complexity of research protocols, ethical standards, and regulatory frameworks. Originating as task-oriented support figures, CRNs have progressively assumed broader responsibilities that include patient advocacy, protocol integrity, ethical vigilance, and interprofessional coordination. By mapping the global literature on CRNs, this review will examine how their role has been defined, implemented, and evaluated over the past three decades. Methods: A scoping review was conducted using JBI methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The search covered the peer-reviewed and gray literature from 1990 to 2024 across major databases. Data analysis combined traditional extraction with topic modeling, Multiple Correspondence Analysis, and k-means clustering to identify key themes. Results: From the 128 included studies, four major themes emerged: clinical trial management, role perception and team integration, professional competencies and development, and systemic barriers. Despite formal competency frameworks, CRNs face inconsistencies in role recognition, unstable contracts, and limited career pathways. Emotional strain and professional isolation are recurrent. Over time, their functions have evolved from task execution to broader responsibilities, including advocacy and ethical oversight. However, no studies reported patient-level outcomes, revealing a critical gap in the evidence base. Conclusions: CRNs play a vital but undervalued role in clinical research. Persistent structural challenges hinder their development and visibility. Enhancing institutional support and generating outcome-based evidence are necessary steps toward fully integrating CRNs into research infrastructures.

2 May 2022 in Pain
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
sebastiano mercadantesebastiano mercadante
sebastiano mercadante
Alessio Lo CascioAlessio Lo Cascio
Alessio Lo Cascio
CAClaudio Adile
Claudio Adile
PFPatrizia Ferrera
Patrizia Ferrera
ACAlessandra Msc Casuccio
Alessandra Msc Casuccio
Evaluation of opioid switching (OS) for cancer pain has not been properly assessed. The aim of this study was to assess an integrated score (Maddalena Opioid Switching Score) as a simple and repeatable tool to evaluate the outcomes of OS, facilitating the interpretation and comparison of studies, and information exchange among researchers. The integrated score took into account pain intensity, intensity of opioid-related symptoms, and cognitive function by using an author's formula. Physical and psychological symptoms were evaluated by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale and Patient Global Impression (PGI) by the minimal clinically important difference. One hundred six patients were analyzed. Ninety-five patients were switched successfully, and 11 patients underwent a further OS and/or an alternative procedure. The Maddalena Opioid Switching Score significantly decreased after OS and was highly correlated to PGI of improvement (P < 0.0005). In patients with unsuccessful OS, no significant changes in the Maddalena Opioid Switching Score and PGI were observed. A significant reduction in Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale items intensity was observed after OS. The Maddalena Opioid Switching Score resulted to be a sensitive instrument for measuring the clinical improvement produced by OS.