Organizational Aspects Research Articles

Mindfulness in the business context: a multi-level model

Purpose The study of mindfulness is still shown to be of interest in different aspects of organisations and/or businesses. Therefore, this study aims to present an integrative, multi-level model of mindfulness based on a holistic approach that can contribute to better governance practices and lead to competitive advantages. Design/methodology/approach To fulfil this aim, an extensive integrative review of the literature, from the main articles about this topic, was made. Findings This study shows that the concept of mindfulness, a conscious presence or full attention and its relation with organisations or firms’ personal, behavioural and social characteristics, in the current context of great adversity, uncertainty and unpredictability, is of interest at the individual, organisational and social level. Practical implications This conceptual study has important implications for both practice and theory. It demonstrates that mindfulness significantly impacts the manager/business person’s ecosystem at the individual, organisational and social levels, particularly in relation to Sustainable Development Goals. Originality/value This study introduces a comprehensive theoretical model that explains this relationship and organises information from a multi-level perspective. This approach can contribute to the advancement of theory by clarifying and discussing the role of mindfulness at the individual, organisational and societal levels. It also identifies opportunities and outlines future research directions, aiming to promote more sustainable development.

New colleague or gimmick hurdle? A user-centric scoping review of the barriers and facilitators of robots in hospitals

Healthcare systems are confronted with a multitude of challenges, including the imperative to enhance accessibility, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and the quality of healthcare delivery. These challenges are exacerbated by current healthcare personnel shortages, prospects of future shortfalls, insufficient recruitment efforts, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, global viral concerns, and ageing populations. To address this escalating demand for healthcare services, healthcare systems are increasingly adopting robotic technology and artificial intelligence (AI), which promise to optimise costs, improve working conditions, and increase the quality of care. This article focuses on deepening our understanding of the barriers and facilitators associated with integrating robotic technologies in hospital environments. To this end, we conducted a scoping literature review to consolidate emerging themes pertaining to the experiences, viewpoints perspectives, and behaviours of hospital employees as professional users of robots in hospitals. Through screening 501 original research articles from Web-of-Science, we identified and reviewed in full-text 40 pertinent user-centric studies of the integration of robots into hospitals. Our review revealed and analysed 14 themes in-depth, of which we identified seven as barriers and seven as facilitators. Through a structuring of the barriers and facilitators, we reveal a notable misalignment between these barriers and facilitators: Finding that organisational aspects are at the core of most barriers, we suggest that future research should investigate the dynamics between hospital employees as professional users and the procedures and workflows of the hospitals as institutions, as well as the ambivalent role of anthropomorphisation of hospital robots, and emerging issues of privacy and confidentiality raised by increasingly communicative robots. Ultimately, this perspective on the integration of robots in hospitals transcends debates on the capabilities and limits of the robotic technology itself, shedding light on the complexity of integrating new technologies into hospital environments and contributing to an understanding of possible futures in healthcare innovation.

A Socio-Ecological Approach to Work Performance: A pilot study among Workers with Chronic Skin Diseases

Abstract Objectives Chronic skin diseases (CSD) may lead to productivity losses. This mixed-methods study investigated symptom severity, social challenges, need for workplace accommodation, sick leave and their association with perceived impaired work performance (IWP) among workers with CSD. Methods Data were collected from April to June 2023. Participants (n = 102) completed an online questionnaire sent from the Institute for Occupational Safety and Hygiene and almost 20% were interviewed. The analyses included logistic regression and structural equation models and a thematic analysis. Results Of participants, 72.3% reported perceived IWP. The need for workplace accommodation and sick leave duration were directly associated with IWP. These findings were integrated with common themes based on a socioecological approach. Conclusions By working together to address personal, interpersonal, organizational, and societal aspects associated with CSD, occupational physicians and stakeholders can alleviate perceived IWP.

Meaningful app-work? Exploring meaningful work experiences of food delivery couriers in Poland

PurposeThe rise of app-based work in the gig economy, particularly within the food delivery sector, challenges traditional employment paradigms and raises questions about the potential for achieving meaningful work experiences. This study explores whether such work can be considered meaningful for food delivery couriers in Poland.Design/methodology/approachThis research adopts a qualitative, case-study approach, conducting 30 in-depth interviews with food delivery couriers in Poland. The study investigates how these workers perceive the meaningfulness of their work, focusing on the interplay between subjective and organisational aspects of their work.FindingsThe findings reveal that despite the precarious nature of app-based work, couriers often find meaningful experiences through perceived autonomy, gamified control and the physical demands of their job. The study highlights the dual nature of app work, where the same elements that contribute to worker engagement and a sense of independence also perpetuate exploitation and job insecurity.Research limitations/implicationsThe study’s reliance on a convenience sample of 30 interviews conducted via social media may not represent the broader population of food delivery couriers. Future research should expand the sample size and include a more diverse range of participants to improve generalisability.Practical implicationsThe insights from this study can inform platform designers and policymakers to create more supportive environments for gig workers. Enhancing algorithmic transparency, providing better social protections and implementing fair gamification strategies can help mitigate the negative aspects of gig work and improve job satisfaction.Social implicationsThe study underscores the need for regulatory changes to ensure minimum guaranteed earnings and health and safety provisions for gig workers. By fostering a supportive and transparent work environment, the gig economy can better contribute to worker well-being and social equity.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the limited body of literature on meaningful work within the gig economy, particularly focusing on food delivery couriers in Poland. It provides new insights into how workers create and perceive meaningful work in a highly digitised and algorithmically managed environment.

Integration of flexible corporate demographic policy tools into the personnel management system

Amid staff shortages and rising labour costs, many Russian enterprises are looking for non-material methods to man age personnel. Organizational, labour and socio-psychological aspects of employee incentives are closely linked to the corporate demographic policy tools. The article aims to analyse the demand for flexible working arrangements for employees with family responsibilities, as well as to determine the opportunities for integrating flexible organizational and labour tools of corporate de mographic policy into the personnel management system. Flexibilization theory in the context of corporate demographic policy constitutes the methodological basis of the study. The standard methods of structured personal interviews, frequency analysis with equality of proportions hypothesis test using a chi-square statistic, and comparison of mean values based on the Kruskal Wallis test were applied. The empirical evidence includes collective agreements and local regulations of the largest employers in the Russian Federation, as well as results of a sociological survey conducted in June–September, 2023 (the analyzed sample cov ered 2,804 respondents). The study statistically proves that employees working flexible hours are more satisfied with their job and life compared to those with rigid schedules. It also shows that flexible working arrangements are in demand among employees with parental commitments. The paper presents a model and an algorithm for integrating flexible organizational and labour tools of corporate demographic policy into the personnel management system. We develop a list of HR metrics and identify potential positive implications of this integration through strengthening the HR brand, increasing employee loyalty and engagement, and reducing staff turnover.

What does an Ideal Day Centre Look Like? The User Perspective on Day-Structuring Programmes for People with Mental Illness

Day centres for people with mental disabilities are widespread. Nevertheless, there are only a few studies on their utilisation and effectiveness. This study examines what an ideal day centre should look like from the perspective of the users. Six guided focus groups were conducted with 4-8 users each. The discussions were transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis. 36 participants (67% women, aged 20-62 years). The day centres fulfilled 5 functions: Improving mental health, experiencing community, maintaining daily structure, meaningful occupation and building up workability. The results revealed important aspects of organisation, current and desired activities and support. Day centres are seen as an elementary component of intermediate mental health care. Users have clear ideas about how day centres can support their social and occupational rehabilitation.

Tekstmarkering, kommentarar og metaspråk

How do students in the second year of upper secondary school (vg2) comment on each other’s texts, which text aspects are emphasized and what meta-language do they use in such comments? The article presents a study of first drafts of academic articles in two vg2 classes, where students provide each other with feedback in the form of markings and comments. The texts are part of a text exchange project between two different classes from different parts of the country, where students provide anonymous feedback to the students in the other class. In addition to a classification of the comments with regard to text aspect and the functions of the comments, the specific meta-language the students use is examined more closely. The analysis shows that the students have a good balance between form and content and between micro and macro level in their text comments. At the same time, both praising and directive comments are largely general, which can make them less suitable as a basis for revision. All in all, it seems that the students have stronger and more explicit competence in the overall content and text organization aspects of the texts than is the case for form aspects and language systemic aspects. It is also related to the overall organization of the texts that they to the greatest extent display the use of an expanded meta-language.

Corpora and corpus-based studies of the languages of the Russian Federation

The article describes corpus resources for the languages of Russia and their use in linguistic research. The linguistic diversity of the country is quite substantial: currently 155 languages are identified as languages of Russia. Many of them are under threat of extinction, which makes the task of creating corpora particularly relevant as a tool for language preservation. In this study we conducted a survey among the staff of the Institute of Linguistics of the Russian Academy of Sciences and other colleagues, which helped us collect the data about 73 corpus resources representing various languages and dialects of Russia. The sample covers both major languages and languages with relatively few speakers, including unwritten languages. The article examines various parameters by which corpora may differ, and offers examples of research based on materials from the corpora. The final part of the article discusses the organizational aspects of creating and maintaining corpus resources. The results of the study suggest that corpus resources not only play an important role in preserving the linguistic diversity of Russia but also represent a valuable tool for various research tasks, as well as for creating other language resources.

Manajemen Badan Usaha Milik Desa ( BUMDes) “Berkah Banyu Makmur” Di Desa Pancasan Kecamatan Ajibarang Kabupaten Banyumas

This research examines the Management of Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) "Berkah Banyu Makmur" in Pancasan Village, Ajibarang District, Banyumas Regency. The research method used is qualitative with descriptive analysis. Using primary and secondary data collected through observation, interviews and documentation. The management theory used is the George R. Terry, Leslie W. Rue, G. A. Ticolau model, with its 4 aspects, namely: Planning, Organizing, Actuating, and Controlling. The research results show that BUMDes "Berkah Banyu Makmur" has succeeded in implementing management functions well. The planning aspect involves village deliberations and regulations for business development as well as efforts to make Pancasan an Edutourism Village. The organizational aspects are clear and structured, as well as the development of BUMDes using the hexahelix model. Aspects of implementing BUMDes' daily operational activities have been regulated and structured with individual and team duties and responsibilities. Routine monitoring and evaluation aspects to ensure goals are achieved, with monthly and daily monitoring. With continuous efforts and strong commitment to the vision of becoming an Edutourism Village, it is hoped that this BUMDes can continue to develop and provide greater benefits for the people of Pancasan Village, as well as becoming an inspiring example for BUMDes in the surrounding area.

Pediatric critical care nursing empowerment through distance education and simulation in Accra, Ghana

BackgroundThe study assessed a distance simulation and education intervention designed to improve nursing empowerment in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Ghana. MethodsThis was a single center, mixed methods, longitudinal simulation-based pilot study. A distance pediatric critical care nursing curriculum that combined interactive learning via Zoom and distance simulation using the Virtual Resus Room was designed and delivered from the United States to KBTH PICU nursing staff. ResultsThe Clinical Teamwork Scale, used to assess team performance after each simulation, demonstrated an upward trend over time in all categories. The modified Simulation Effectiveness Tool was utilized to evaluate the learners' perceptions of the effectiveness of the simulation in meeting their learning objectives. Qualitative content analysis of this free-text feedback highlighted the course's educational content, organizational aspects, learning experience, simulation case scenarios and relevance to pediatric critical care in Ghana. ConclusionsA distance pediatric critical care nursing curriculum, relevant to local practice and resources, was implemented through an international partnership and contributed to nursing empowerment through improved learning and confidence.

Preoperative assessment of adults undergoing elective noncardiac surgery: Updated guidelines from the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care.

When considering whether a patient is fit for surgery, a comprehensive patient assessment represents the first step for an anaesthetist to evaluate the risks associated with the procedure and the patient's underlying diseases, and to optimise (whenever possible) the perioperative surgical journey. These guidelines from the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (ESAIC) update previous guidelines to provide new evidence on existing and emerging topics that consider the different aspects of the patient's surgical path. A comprehensive literature review focused on organisation, clinical facets, optimisation and planning. The methodological quality of the studies included was evaluated using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) methodology. A Delphi process agreed on the wording of recommendations, and clinical practice statements (CPS) supported by minimal evidence. A draft version of the guidelines was published on the ESAIC website for 4 weeks, and the link was distributed to all ESAIC members, both individual and national, encompassing most European national anaesthesia societies. Feedback was gathered and incorporated into the guidelines accordingly. Following the finalisation of the draft, the Guidelines Committee and ESAIC Board officially approved the guidelines. In the first phase of the guidelines update, 17 668 titles were initially identified. After removing duplicates and restricting the search period from 1 January 2018 to 3 May 2023, the number of titles was reduced to 16 774, which were then screened, yielding 414 abstracts. Among these, 267 relevant abstracts were identified from which 204 appropriate titles were selected for a comprehensive GRADE analysis. Additionally, the study considered 4 reviews, 16 meta-analyses, 9 previously published guidelines, 58 prospective cohort studies and 83 retrospective studies. The guideline provides 55 evidence-based recommendations that were voted on by a Delphi process, reaching a solid consensus (>90% agreement). This update of the previous guidelines has covered new organisational and clinical aspects of the preoperative anaesthesia assessment to provide a more objective evaluation of patients with a high risk of postoperative complications requiring intensive care. Telemedicine and more predictive preoperative scores and biomarkers should guide the anaesthetist in selecting the appropriate preoperative blood tests, x-rays, and so forth for each patient, allowing the anaesthetist to assess the risks and suggest the most appropriate anaesthetic plan. Each patient should have a tailored assessment of their fitness to undergo procedures requiring the involvement of an anaesthetist. The anaesthetist's role is essential in this phase to obtain a broad vision of the patient's clinical conditions, to coordinate care and to help the patient reach an informed decision.

Contours of modern didactics of professional education: an analysis of foreign studies

Introduction. Vocational education plays a special role in a global policy agenda focused on technological development worldwide. Quality vocational education makes an effective contribution to innovative economic development and equitable sustainable development of human capital. The analysis of trends in the development of educational technologies becomes a source of research of didactic and organizational aspects of professional education as a necessary condition for solving the tasks of Russia's state policy in the sphere of formation of innovation economy. The purpose of the study is to analyze foreign research in the field of didactics and organization of vocational education. Materials and methods. We conducted the study based on content analysis of foreign studies that took place between 2013 and 2023. We analyzed reports and scientific articles posted on open information platforms. The study presents the results of the analysis of 30 information sources. These are materials from the European Union's analytical data portal CEDEFOP, NMC Horizon Project Sector Analysis monitoring on technological solutions in STEM+ education, materials from the report of the Swiss Economic Institute (KOF), results of the analysis of scientific articles. Results. The analysis of sources made it possible to outline the external (invariant) contour of pedagogical approaches and technologies in the sphere of didactics and organization of vocational training and education (VET) in different countries. We also established that the internal didactic contour in each educational organization is formed considering the specifics of the choice of specialties for training and has a variable character. Because of the analysis of foreign sources, we systematized strong technological solutions that have a significant impact on the development of didactics of vocational education in the context of the request to prepare specialists for activities in the field of high-tech production. Prospects for further research. The results obtained can be useful for researchers in the field of professional education in designing the design of the educational process with modern educational technologies.

Incidence of malignant neoplasms and organizational aspects of cancer care in the Republic of Kazakhstan

BackgroundThis study aims to investigate the incidence and mortality rates of malignant neoplasms in Kazakhstan in 2022 and to analyze the organizational aspects of cancer care. MethodsData from 33,177 patients with malignant neoplasms registered in oncological institutions in 2022 were analyzed. The study focused on treatment completion rates and the distribution of treatment modalities, including surgical, radiation, medicinal, combined, comprehensive, and chemo-radiation therapies. Comparative analysis with international data was conducted to assess the effectiveness and adherence to global oncological standards. ResultsThe analysis revealed that 55.2 % of patients completed specialized treatment, with complex treatment being the most common modality (94.3 %). High completion rates were observed in breast cancer (65.9 %) and cervical cancer (68.8 %), reflecting the effectiveness of early detection and multidisciplinary approaches. However, lower completion rates were noted in liver cancer (26.2 %) and leukemia (23.0 %), highlighting the need for improved diagnostic and treatment strategies. Comparative international data indicated similar trends, with countries like the USA, UK, Japan, and Australia demonstrating the effectiveness of multidisciplinary and comprehensive treatment approaches. ConclusionThe study underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in treating malignant neoplasms, with Kazakhstan's practices largely aligning with international standards. Nevertheless, there is a need to enhance early diagnosis and treatment completion rates for specific cancers such as liver cancer and leukemia. Strengthening screening programs, improving access to modern treatments, and integrating international best practices can further improve patient outcomes in Kazakhstan.

ВЗАИМОСВЯЗЬ СОЦИАЛЬНО-ПСИХОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ И ОРГАНИЗАЦИОННЫХ АСПЕКТОВ КОРПОРАТИВНОЙ КУЛЬТУРЫ ПРОИЗВОДСТВЕННОЙ ФАРМАЦЕВТИЧЕСКОЙ КОМПАНИИ

In the context of the risks of business process transformation and digitalization of production, an important aspect is the search and implementation of new approaches to the company's human resource management system. The purpose of this study is to describe the results of a study of the relationship between the socio-psychological and organizational aspects of the corporate culture of a pharmaceutical manufacturing company and their management capabilities. The main research methods used are: system analysis, survey-questionnaire, rating-scaling and expert assessments. Factors such as the socio-psychological climate in the team and the development of sports activities in a pharmaceutical company are considered. It is shown that these aspects play an important role in strengthening corporate culture and increasing employee motivation. Taking into account socio-psychological and organizational factors in activities contributes to achieving the common goals of the employee and the employer, maintaining values that affect the level of the company's reputation. Conclusions are drawn about the need to take into account the interrelationship of socio-psychological and organizational aspects necessary for effective management of the corporate culture of a particular pharmaceutical company.

Utilization of big data analytics to identify population health trends and optimize healthcare delivery system efficiency

Big data analytics has emerged as an incredibly valuable tool in understanding population health trends and improving the effectiveness of healthcare delivery systems. By leveraging big data sources from various domains, including the patients’ electronic health records, claims data, wearables, and social media accounts, healthcare organizations can obtain novel and rich insights regarding population health characteristics, predisposing factors, and disease progression. The arrival of big data has transformed healthcare organizations by providing a scientific population health management and health system enhancement tool. Using superior analytical tools, healthcare entrepreneurs and policymakers can discover relations, rates, and patterns that are concealed in large data sets. Such knowledge can be used for early detection of possible interventions, management of resources, and prevention measures, thus leading to better health and less spending on health issues. Moreover, big data analytics helps in early diagnostics and the development of management strategies for high-risk groups, which in turn improves the functioning and effectiveness of healthcare systems. It is also important to note that big data solutions in healthcare are not limited to population health management, but also include functional aspects of healthcare organizations. Additionally, using data about patient movements, resource consumption, and clinical activity, it is possible to determine inefficiencies and opportunities to improve processes in healthcare organizations. This approach of collecting and analyzing data helps in decision making thus reducing time and improving patient flow and experience. However, incorporating real-time data into the clinical decision support systems can improve diagnostic capabilities, treatments offered, and patient tracking resulting in improved quality of services delivered.

Advanced Ancient Steelmaking Across the Arctic European Landscape

Abstract This article presents results that seriously challenge conventional frameworks regarding the time, course, and cultural context of the introduction of iron and steel in Europe, in turn central metals in the narrative of civilization development. From focusing on 2,000-year-old finds from 42 different sites across the national borders of present-day northernmost Norway, Finland, and Sweden, our study reveals advanced iron and steel production contemporaneous with Roman steel production within the hitherto unthinkable cultural context of hunter-gatherers. By employing archaeometric analyses alongside a lens that considers the Arctic climate and landscape, long-standing inadequate interpretative frameworks are challenged and we manage to shed novel light on the metallurgical practices and skills of the ancient Arctic hunter-gatherers. By examining local conditions, the research specifically reveals adaptation strategies and previously underexplored social and organizational aspects of early ironmaking. The implications of these findings are profound, urging historians and archaeologists to adopt similar methods and perspectives to potentially uncover additional “unthinkable” locations/regions or contexts with advanced and early metalworking.

Is genomic testing properly evaluated? A systematic review of health technology assessment reports

Abstract Background The last decade has witnessed a steady embrace of Personalized Medicine. However, the evaluation of genetic/genomic tests is not straightforward. The purpose of this systematic review is to identify health technology assessment (HTA) reports assessing genetic and genomic tests, to summarize the methodologies used, the maturity level of the evidence included in it and the highlighted gaps in research. Methods PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched. Additionally, a desk research was performed on the main HTA reports repositories. HTA reports expressly created to assess genetic/genomic technologies including at least three core evaluation components (analytic validity, clinical validity, clinical utility, economic evaluation, organizational aspects, ethical, legal, and social implications) were included. This study was supported by the EC and MUR under PNRR - M4C2-I1.3 Project PE_00000019 ‘HEAL ITALIA’. Results Overall, 27331 unique records were retrieved, 55 of which were included in the systematic review. The reports were mainly from Australia (29%), Canada (27%) and UK (25%), regarded pharmacogenomics (36%) and oncology (35%), and analysed test use for treatment choice (29%) and diagnosis (13%). The most reported evaluation components were economic evaluation (87%), clinical utility (76%), and clinical validity (67%). Personal utility (7%), ethical (15%), legal (11%) and social (24%) implications and the patient’s perspective (27%) were poorly represented. Analytical validity, safety, and organizational aspects were included in about half of the reports. Discussion Although these are only preliminary results, the substantial lack of a shared standard in the evaluation of genetic/genomic applications appears clear, given the heterogeneity of the dimensions addressed between reports, as well as the need to strengthen the evaluation of the neglected dimensions, often of primary importance in the definition of the value and risks of personalized medicine. Key messages • The findings highlight the lack of a standard in evaluating genetic/genomic applications. • A common methodology should be developed to comprehensively evaluate genetic/genomic applications.

Evaluating Genetic Testing: A Systematic Review of Assessment Frameworks

Abstract Introduction The assessment of the risks and benefits of genetic/genomic tests has long been addressed using various frameworks. They are mostly ACCE-based, focus on technical aspects, but often overlook economic and organizational considerations. The few HTA-based approaches, though more comprehensive, lack validation and implementation. This review’s purpose is to identify all evaluation frameworks for genetic/genomic tests and synthesize their key aspects. Methods PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched. Inclusion criteria were documents describing evaluation frameworks for genetic/genomic tests, that were original, specifically created, and covering at least three assessment domains. This study was supported by the EC and MUR under PNRR - M4C2-I1.3 Project PE_00000019 ‘HEAL ITALIA’. Results Overall, 12546 unique records were screened, of which 67 documents were assessed for eligibility. A total of 29 studies were included, reporting 24 different frameworks. These frameworks were published between 2000 and 2019, mostly from USA (50%), Canada (13%) and UK (13%). There was substantial interest in the economic facets of the technology (92%), albeit without extensive detail, and high attention was given to its technical accuracy (70-90%). The clinical value was also consistently mentioned (70-90%), similarly to legal, ethical, and social considerations (70-80%). However, there was minimal emphasis on non-health outcomes (20-50%), and insufficient attention to organizational, educational, and implementation barriers (20-50%). Discussion A pressing need exists for a universally accepted evaluation framework for genetic/genomic tests. Applying a general HTA methodology, potentially based on the EUnetHTA core model, that can integrate solid theoretical and methodological principles, and result in a validated, comprehensive, and widely shared tool for genetic test evaluation, is a viable option to foster the implementation of these technologies. Key messages • Genetic/genomic test evaluations focus on technical accuracy and clinical value, often missing economic and organizational aspects. • A universal, validated, HTA-based evaluation framework for genetic/genomic tests is needed to enhance their implementation in clinical practice.

Health Impact Assessment in Personalized Prevention: three applications on pharmacogenomic testing

Abstract Background In recent years, literature on the efficacy of genetic and genomic tests has expanded, yet the impact of personalized prevention programs that include such tests remains understudied. Our study aims to test the use of the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) framework, traditionally applied in non-health policy evaluation, to assess the impacts of personalized prevention policies. Methods We selected a policy mandating dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) genetic test use before prescribing fluoropyrimidine for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Three HIAs are being conducted in Italy, Portugal, and Finland to assess the applicability across different contexts. The assessment involves literature review, comparative risk modeling, and stakeholder interviews. Three national steering committees, comprising representatives from key interest groups and experts, will evaluate evidence to gauge policy impacts and offer recommendations. Results The potential impacts identified include CRC patients’ outcomes, economic, organizational, patient experience, clinician workload, and equity. Preliminary results show a consensus in literature and national guidelines on the ability of the DPYD test to reduce adverse events and enhance the quality of life of CRC patients. However, the assessment reveals context-specific effects regarding equity, influenced by the prevalence of ethnic groups and variations in access to health services across regions. Differences also emerged on organizational aspects like the availability of resources such as laboratories and personnel. A lack of literature was observed on patient acceptability and clinician attitudes towards the test. Conclusions The use of HIA in personalized prevention might assist in identifying policy impacts often overlooked through the involvement of key interest groups in the assessment process. Such effort can further emphasize the significance of evaluating these programs while considering the geographical context. Key messages • Our study innovatively applies the Health Impact Assessment framework to evaluate personalized prevention programs in pharmacogenomic, addressing a critical research gap. • Preliminary findings underscore the importance of considering geographical factors in public health policy evaluation, highlighting nuanced context-specific effects.

Preferences regarding the Booster Dose of Covid-19: a cross-sectional study in Central Italy

Abstract Background Examining information sources, communication channels, and preferred content formats is crucial for adapting and improving future communication strategies in vaccination campaigns. This study aims to evaluate the information and communication preferences regarding the booster dose of Covid-19 among employees of the Central Tuscany Local Health Authority (CT-LHA). Methods From July to October 2022, a questionnaire was administered to 7,000 out of approximately 15,000 CT-LHA employees. The questionnaire analyzed communication, organizational, and access aspects regarding preferences for the Covid-19 booster dose. The sample was stratified into healthcare workers (HCWs) and non-healthcare workers (NHCWs). Chi-squared tests were performed using STATA, with the significance level set at 95%. Results The returned questionnaires were 1,885 (26.9%), with the majority being HCWs (64.4%). HCWs rated the quality of communication significantly lower compared to NHCWs, who rated it very high (p < 0.05). HCWs also rated the ease of booking the Covid-19 booster dose and access modalities to vaccination significantly lower than NHCWs (p < 0.05). NHCWs expressed a preference for receiving scientific information from Ministry of Health tutorials, while HCWs preferred information from their general practitioner (p < 0.05). HCWs preferred to receive organizational information from healthcare management, while NHCWs preferred information from vaccination physicians (p < 0.05). Additionally, HCWs preferred company operating procedures for disseminating information, whereas NHCWs preferred corporate communications circulars (p < 0.05). Conclusions HCWs and NHCWs showed differences in perceived quality of communication, ease of access to vaccination services, and preferred sources of information. HCWs rated the quality of communication and access to vaccination services lower than NHCWs. This results suggest the need for tailored communication strategies to effectively reach both groups. Key messages • Health organizations need to develop targeted communication approaches that address the specific needs and preferences of their employees. • Flexibility and adaptability are crucial to adapt communication methods and channels to strengthen vaccination initiatives and promote public health outcomes.