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Background: Studies from several countries have documented gender disparities in the management of coronary artery disease. Whether such gender disparities are seen in Italy and, if so, whether they can be explained by factors such as age and severity of illness were investigated. Methods: 77 974 Piedmontese patients, admitted between 1999 and 2002, with a primary diagnosis of myocardial infarction (ICD 410), angina (ICD 413), chronic ischaemia (ICD 414) and chest pain (ICD 786.5) were studied. The number of men and women undergoing surgical treatment was extracted and the male-female odds ratios calculated. Several risk factors and a risk adjustment technique (APR-DRG) were used to control for possible confounders. Backward stepwise multiple logistic regression was used to adjust for significant covariates.

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effectiveness of various disinfection methods available for stethoscopes. In March 2019, we performed a search in PubMed and Scopus using the search terms: “reducing stethoscopes contamination” and “disinfection stethoscopes”; the Mesh terms used in PubMed were “Decontamination/methods” or “Disinfection/methods” and “Stethoscopes/microbiology”. Selection criteria were: English language; at least one disinfection method tested. A total of 253 publications were screened. After title, abstract, and full-text analysis, 17 papers were included in the systematic review. Ethanol at 90%, Ethanol-Based Hands Sanitizer (EBHS), triclosan, chlorhexidine, isopropyl alcohol, 66% ethyl alcohol, sodium hypochlorite, and benzalkonium chloride have been proven to lower the presence of bacteria on stethoscopes’ surfaces. In addition, alcohol wipes show effective results. A wearable device emitting ultraviolet C by Light-Emitting Diode (LED) resulted efficacious against common microorganisms involved in Healthcare Associated Infections. The cover impregnated with silver ions seemed to be associated with significantly higher colony counts. Instead, copper stethoscopes surface reduced bacterial load. The disinfection of stethoscopes appears to be essential. There are many valid methods available; the choice depends on various factors, such as the cost, availability, and practicality.

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Job satisfaction plays an important role in healthcare organization and management; it is critical for maintaining and improving staff efficiency and consequently the quality of care provided. Organizational restructuring processes, including mergers, are likely to affect job satisfaction levels, but evidence of the impact they have is surprisingly scarce. The aim of the study was to describe a methodology used to measure job satisfaction of the employees at a Local Health Unit (LHU) in Italy immediately after a merger and to assess the determinants associated with any reduction in worker satisfaction. The study was conducted among employees of the LHU of the Sardinia Region in July 2018, after a merger of eight subregional LHUs had taken place. The entire staff was enrolled, of which a total of 1,737 employees were surveyed. We used a questionnaire exploring socio-demographic and working characteristics of the employees, the various areas related to job satisfaction and interviewee opinions on the merger process. Multivariable stepwise backward logistic regression models were built to identify factors independently associated with lower job satisfaction. The results of a multivariable analysis showed that lower job satisfaction was more likely in employees with an administrative role (aOR: 2.34, 95% CI: 1.37–4.00) or a career demotion (aOR: 1.84, 95%CI: 1.11–3.03). High levels of mental stress were strongly associated with lower job satisfaction (aOR: 5.64, 95%CI: 4.16–7.64). “More equity of employee rewards” was the only example of a set of responder suggestions found to be associated with lower job satisfaction (aOR: 2.30, 95%CI: 1.51–3.47). Generally, responders showed a good level of job satisfaction—and this was also the case following the merger—but some job profile determinants were strongly associated with low employee satisfaction. The results of the study highlighted several challenging areas and critical issues relating to working conditions. Further surveys are required to confirm these results and to monitor their evolution over time.