Altamura Gerardo, Lorenzon Antonio, Fioretti Paola, Granvillano Giuseppa, Guarise Emanuele, LA Gatta Emanuele, Lorenzini Elisa, Uncini Marco, Nurchus Mario Cesare
Department of Health Sciences and Public Health, Section of Hygiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.
J Prev Med Hyg. 2025 May 31;66(1):E20-E30. doi: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2025.66.1.3211. eCollection 2025 Mar.
The growing importance of Preventive Medicine is creating a need for specialised professional figures, that are often missing in the actual national and international contexts. This study aimed to assess attitudes, knowledge, and compliance with preventive measures of the Italian physicians specializing in this field, addressing the unrecognized significance of the figure of a prevention expert in Italy and the inadequate training in this Public Health branch.
Between May 1 and May 31, 2023, an online survey was administered to approximately 200 Hygiene and Preventive Medicine Residents (HPMMDR), covering demographic data, health behaviours, training and interests in Preventive Medicine and in undergoing a visit of a "preventive doctor". The collected data were cross-referenced to understand which variables were most related to knowledge and interests in this field. Statistical analyses included parametric tests, hierarchical cluster analysis, and ordered logit regression.
Demographically, 57.0% were female, median age 31, with central Italy having the highest representation (52.3%). Analyses revealed associations between demographics, health behaviors, and attitudes. Ordered logit regression showed a significant correlation (OR = 11.3, p = 0.03) between a healthier lifestyle and belief in specialists' usefulness.
Despite the lack of recognition and insufficient education, the study unveiled substantial interest and willingness to learn among HPMMDRs in Italy. Findings emphasize the need for recognizing shared priorities and implementing actions for effective Preventive Medicine interventions, guiding future research and policy decisions.
预防医学的重要性日益凸显，这使得对专业人才的需求不断增加，而在当前的国内和国际背景下，这类人才往往短缺。本研究旨在评估意大利从事该领域的医生对预防措施的态度、知识水平和依从性，探讨意大利预防专家这一角色未得到认可的重要性以及该公共卫生分支领域培训不足的问题。
在2023年5月1日至5月31日期间，对约200名卫生与预防医学住院医师（HPMMDR）进行了一项在线调查，内容涵盖人口统计学数据、健康行为、预防医学培训及兴趣以及接受“预防医生”问诊的情况。对收集到的数据进行交叉比对，以了解哪些变量与该领域的知识和兴趣最为相关。统计分析包括参数检验、层次聚类分析和有序逻辑回归。
从人口统计学角度来看，57.0%为女性，年龄中位数为31岁，意大利中部地区的占比最高（52.3%）。分析揭示了人口统计学、健康行为和态度之间的关联。有序逻辑回归显示，更健康的生活方式与相信专家的有用性之间存在显著相关性（OR = 11.3，p = 0.03）。
尽管缺乏认可且教育不足，但该研究揭示了意大利卫生与预防医学住院医师中有浓厚的兴趣和学习意愿。研究结果强调了认识共同优先事项并采取行动以实施有效的预防医学干预措施的必要性，为未来的研究和政策决策提供指导。
