Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on palliative care provision by a hospital-based unit: results from an observational study

Anita Maria Tummolo1, Maria Adelaide Ricciotti1, Eleonora Meloni1, Sabrina Dispenza1, Marcello Di Pumpo 2,3, Gianfranco Damiani 1,2,3, Christian Barillaro.1

1 Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy
2 Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
3 These authors contributed equally to this work and share last authorship

 

Background

Palliative care is a key approach in improving the quality of life of patients and their families facing the end-of-life care process. It is widely regarded as a public-health concern, especially considering the rapidly increasing end-of-life care needs worldwide. Its provision has been highly challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic emergency.

Objective

This study aims to analyse whether and to what extent the provision of Palliative Care to non-COVID patients provided by a hospital-based unit has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Analysis of an injuries database in Italian ski resorts

Saverio Giampaoli1, Lorenzo Lupi1, Luigi Faccia2, Antonio Tessitore1, Sabrina Demarie1

1 University of Rome ‘‘Foro Italico’’, Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Piazza Lauro De Bosis, 6, 00135 Rome, Italy
2 Scuola Italiana Sci Assergi – Gran Sasso, s.s. 17 bis, 79, 67100 Assergi (AQ), Italy

 

Background
Italy is one of the main destinations for winter tourism. Specifically, the country can currently count on more than 5.700 km of ski runs, served by more than 1.700 lift facilities.

Objective
The purpose of this study has been the analysis of injuries in ski resorts in a continuous period spanning over several seasons (17 years). In addition, the possible effect of safety law enforcements, introduced in the selected period, were considered.

Material and methods
A ski injuries database, prepared as a duty of policemen involved in rescue activity and consisting of 246616 records of injuries for the period from 7th December 2002 to 31st December 2019, has been analysed for qualitative and quantitative variables.