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To obtain information about the knowledge and attitudes of Italian hospice nurses concerning cancer pain management and to determine the predictor of nurses' pain management knowledge. Nationwide descriptive study. Hospice nurses in Italy from 9 hospice units distributed in the north, center, and south of Italy. Sixty-six nurses completed the questionnaire, indicating a 66.6% response rate. The Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Survey (Italian version) and a background information form were used to collect the data. Knowledge and attitudes regarding cancer pain. Among the 39 pain knowledge questions assessed, the mean number of correctly answered question was 24.4 (SD = 4.2), with a range of 15 to 35 items correctly answered. The correct answer rate for the entire scale, on average, was 62.7% (SD = 28%). Further analysis of items showed that more than 30% of hospice nurses underestimated the patients' pain and they did not treat the pain in the correct way; they had an incorrect self-evaluation about their pain management knowledge. Results from stepwise regression showed that nurses with higher mean correct answer scores had attended more courses on pain education. From these results, we conclude that there are still significant knowledge deficits and erroneous beliefs that may hamper treatment of hospice patients in pain. The results of this study could be useful to institutions involved in the education and application of patient pain management.

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Background: The uncertainty is innate in parents of children under bone marrow trasplantation. The parents' view of uncertainty during their children's bone marrow transplantation (TCSE) hasn't yet been explored. There is evidence that uncertainty experienced as a reaction to disease is linked to a lower quality of life. The purpose of this study was to explore the parents' experience of uncertainty during their children's TCSE. Methods: This study applied qualitative approach using phenomenology method. To perform this qualitative study, semistructured interviews were performed. Basing on this analysis, we will evaluate if Mishel's Uncertainty in Illness Theory can explain this experience and specify the connection between uncertainty experienced by family and nursing care during TCSE. A convenience sample of 26 parents were recruited from TCSE unit in Padua Hospital. Each interview was audio recorded, transcribed, and coded for major theme using a content analysis approach. The extracted interviews were analyzed through Colaizzi method. Interview topics were: uncertainty aspects during bone marrow transplantation, means of uncertainty, life aspects influenced by uncertainty, how dealt with uncertainty. Results: From the analysis of the interviews four macro categories were defined: multiple uncertainty's meanings, multiple side of uncertainty, uncertainty side effects, management of uncertainty. The parents will live the consequences of such uncertainty for all their life and they will never find a boundary which lay the end. The bone marrow transplantation doesn't remove uncertainty, but it causes uncertainty. Parents report need for contact with expert nurses to discuss the meaning of their uncertainty, in order to reduce it. Conclusions: The parents' experience of uncertainty can be described following Mishel's Uncertainty in Illness Theory. The lives of the parents are dominated by uncertainty. Nurses need to be educated to be able to encourage parents to communicate their existential questions and the impact of the illness on their life. Enhanced awareness and increased understanding about parents' uncertainty can be important factors in improving nursing work environment and the quality of care presented to pediatric patients and their family.

Franco Pastori (1923-2003) fu per decenni professore ordinario di Diritto romano e di Istituzioni di diritto romano, oltre che a lungo presidente dell’Opera universitaria, poi ISU - Istituto per lo Studio Universitario -, della Statale di Milano. Didatta di straordinaria efficacia assai apprezzato dagli studenti, giurista dai molteplici interessi, pubblicò vari saggi soprattutto in tema di diritto privato romano. Il presente contributo tratta in particolare dei suoi scritti sul contratto di comodato e dell’impatto che ebbero sulla dottrina romanistica, nonché della sua capacità di evidenziare e valorizzare, nelle pubblicazioni ma ancor più nelle lezioni, la profonda eredità trasmessa dall’età romana al diritto moderno, ben espressa dal suo manuale Gli istituti romanistici come storia e vita del diritto, una sorta di “testamento spirituale” di Pastori.