Background: In Italy many diabetics still lack adequate care in general practice. We assessed the effectiveness of different strategies for the implementation of an evidence-based guideline for the management of noncomplicated type 2 diabetes among General Practitioners (GPs) of Lazio region.

We conducted a study to assess the degree of varicella underreporting in Italy, and its distribution by age group and geographical area. Underreporting in individuals from 6 months to 20 years of age was computed as the ratio between the varicella seroprevalence in 1996 and the 1996 lifetime cumulative incidence based on statutory notifications. The degree of underreporting at the national level was 7.7 (95% CI 7.4-7.9); underreporting was greater in older age groups and in southern Italy. Quantification of underreporting can contribute to better understanding of the burden of varicella and to evaluating the potential impact of mass vaccination.

The incidence of reported tetanus in Italy decreased from 0.5/100 000 in the 1970s to 0.2/100 000 in the 1990’s. During this period of time, the case-fatality ratio decreased from 68% to 39%. Italy has the highest reported number of tetanus cases in European countries. Elderly women are the most affected: the proportion of women aged over 64 years among cases has increased from 60% in the 1970s to 76% in the 1990s. Vaccination campaigns need to be conducted to target this group, and the surveillance of tetanus has to be improved to identify additional groups of population at risk.

No abstract

Aim: In this article, we aim to present a tool for the early assessment of medical technologies. This evaluation system was designed and implemented by the National Centre for HTA and the National Centre for Innovative Technologies of the Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Italy, in order to respond to an institutional commitment within the “Health Technologies Assessment Team” that was established to face the huge demand for the evaluation of Health Technologies during the pandemic event caused by COVID-19, with a smart and easy-to-use framework. Methods: Horizon scanning was conducted through a brief assessment carried out according to the multicriteria decision analysis methodology. Each HTA domain was attributed a score according to a pros/cons and opportunities/threats system, derived from evidence in the literature. Scores were weighted according to different perspectives. Scores were presented in a Cartesian graph showing the positioning according to the potential value and the perceived risk associated with the technology. Results: Two case studies regarding the early assessment were reported, concerning two specific technologies: an individual protection device and a contact tracking system.