Epidemiological surveillance systems 

In the same way as a doctor needs to examine a patient before prescribing a treatment, the prevention system needs to first build up a thorough knowledge of the general health of the population in order to identify any areas where action is needed.

 

This is achieved by putting into place a so-called surveillance system, which consists of periodical monitoring through surveys conducted among the public to gather information on lifestyles and habits that can foster the onset of chronic diseases.  

 

In a subsequent phase, the surveys are also used to collect data on awareness and compliance with the regional prevention programmes, to determine if and where improvements are necessary. 

 

Surveillance concerns a number of topics, such as smoking, physical inactivity, excessive weight gain, alcohol consumption, diets low in fruit and vegetables, adherence to cancer screening programmes, adoption of safety measures for the prevention of road accidents, in living and working environments, physical and psychological well-being, and much more. 

The 0–2 Years Surveillance System monitors several maternal behaviors that are important for the child’s health, such as folic acid intake before pregnancy, tobacco and alcohol consumption during and after pregnancy, and breastfeeding practices.

 

Other monitored aspects include recommended vaccinations, the correct sleeping position in the crib, reading aloud to the child, and safety in the car and at home.

The survey is administered in outpatient clinics to mothers who bring their children to be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, and rubella.

These vaccinations are provided within the child’s first fifteen months of life, which corresponds to the period covered by the survey.

 

The regional contact person is Maria Teresa Balducci from the Regional Epidemiological Observatory.

Documenti

Consult the reports, informational materials, and other documents related to the 0–2 Years Surveillance System

OKkio alla SALUTE is a national surveillance system on the eating habits and physical activity of primary school children aged 6 to 10 years. Its purpose is to collect information to better guide initiatives aimed at improving children’s living conditions and health. 

 

The study tool consists of four questionnaires: one for parents to complete at home, one for teachers, one for school principals, and one for the children. The latter is administered in the classroom only after explicit parental consent and includes fifteen questions referring to the period from the previous afternoon up to the morning of the survey. In addition, children’s weight and height are measured.

 

The project is coordinated by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), is conducted every two years, and provides a picture of children’s health status across provinces.

 

The regional contact persons are Pietro Pasquale, Head of Food Hygiene and Preventive Nutrition at the Regional Health Promotion Department of Regione Puglia; Giacomo Domenico Stingi, from the Food Hygiene and Nutrition Service of ASL BAT; and Maria Teresa Balducci, from ASL Bari.

Documenti

Consult the reports, informational materials, and other documents related to the OKkio alla SALUTE surveillance system.

Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) is an international study. The title, which clearly reflects the subject of the research, means “Health-related behaviours in school-aged children.”

 

The study tool is a questionnaire administered to a representative sample of boys and girls aged 11, 13, and 15 across the national territory. In general, the questionnaire focuses on health-related behaviours, individual and social resources, health outcomes, and sociocultural factors. However, the questions vary according to the age of respondents. For example, the youngest participants are not asked about sexual relationships or the use of drugs.

 

The study is conducted every four years throughout the country by the University of Turin, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office.

 

The regional contact persons are Pietro Pasquale, Head of Food Hygiene and Preventive Nutrition at the Regional Health Promotion Department of Regione Puglia; Giuseppina Pacella, from the Food Hygiene and Nutrition Service (SIAN) of ASL Lecce Nord; and Giacomo Domenico Stingi, from the SIAN of ASL BAT.

Documenti

Consult the reports, informational materials, and other documents related to the HBSC surveillance system.

The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) is a study on the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, doping substances, and illicit drugs among high school students. In particular, it examines experiences of substance use over a lifetime, during the past year, and during the past month.

 

The survey is conducted every year on a representative sample of high school students across Italy. The questionnaire is administered to entire classes, in a format similar to a written test.

The collected data are analyzed to understand whether students approve of the use of these substances and whether they are aware of the risks associated with their consumption. The questionnaire also includes a standardized scale to detect possible eating disorders.

 

The contact person is Sabrina Molinaro from the Department of Epidemiology and Health Services Research of the Institute of Clinical Physiology of the National Research Council.

The Progresses of Local Health Units for Health in Italy (PASSI) Surveillance System collects information on the lifestyles and habits of people aged 18 to 69. It also gathers data on knowledge of and participation in prevention programs.

 

The topics covered by the survey include smoking, physical inactivity, overweight, alcohol consumption, low fruit and vegetable intake, cardiovascular risk control, participation in cancer screening programs, adoption of safety measures to prevent road, domestic, and workplace accidents, influenza vaccination coverage, physical and psychological well-being, and various aspects of health-related quality of life.

 

The project is coordinated by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) and provides a province-by-province overview of the population’s health status.

The regional contact person is Silvio Tafuri from the Regional Epidemiological Observatory.

Documenti

Consult the reports, informational materials, and other documents related to the PASSI surveillance system.

Attivamente Sani was developed to pilot a surveillance system targeting high school students, with the aim of describing their nutritional status and lifestyle.

 

The monitoring includes the measurement of weight, height, and body composition. At the same time, students and their parents complete a questionnaire to collect data on physical activity, dietary habits, and alcohol and tobacco consumption.

Miglioriamoci! is conducted through online questionnaires completed by students and teachers, with the aim of evaluating projects implemented in schools across the Puglia Region, in order to assess the organization of health education programs.

 

The survey takes place in May and June on behalf of the Regional Health Policies Department, in coordination with the Regional School Office of Puglia.

The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) collects data on tobacco use among young people. The questions are administered every four years to boys and girls aged 13 to 15, selected from state and private schools across Italy to form a sample representative of the entire population under study.

 

At the national level, the project is coordinated by the University of Turin and is part of the Global Tobacco Surveillance System, a worldwide tobacco monitoring system supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office on Smoking and Health (CDC OSH), based in Atlanta, Georgia.

 

The regional contact persons are Pietro Pasquale, Head of Food Hygiene and Preventive Nutrition at the Regional Health Promotion Department of Regione Puglia; Giuseppina Pacella, from the Food Hygiene and Nutrition Service (SIAN) of ASL Lecce Nord; and Giacomo Domenico Stingi, from the SIAN of ASL BAT.