Lara Gitto

• PhD, MSc
• Professor (Associate) at University of Messina

Background Gli ultimi anni sono stati caratterizzati da un’emergenza sanitaria inattesa legata alla pandemia da COVID-19, che ha inciso significativamente nella vita di studenti e giovani adulti. Ci si può chiedere se i problemi rilevati a livello emozionale in coincidenza dello stato di pandemia stiano proseguendo negli anni successivi al COVID. L...

The combination of innovation and artificial intelligence (AI), with reference to innovative startups, presents a challenge for firms that start operating in the market. Such a transformation in the entrepreneurial scenario, which is likely to define new business models, has been observed in two European countries: Italy and Romania. In this articl...

Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (INPH) patients present symptoms common to other diseases, as dementia (AD). However, while dementia is not reversible, INPH dementia can be treated through neurosurgery. The perception characteristics of a small sample of patients (n = 19) were observed through the Rorschach Inblok test. Artificial Neural N...

Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (INPH) patients present symptoms common to other diseases, as dementia (AD). However, while dementia is not reversible, INPH dementia can be treated through neurosurgery. The perception characteristics of a small sample of patients (n=19) were observed through the Rorschach Inblok test. Artificial Neural Net...

Background International and national registries consistently report substantial differences in kidney transplant (KT) activity despite demonstrable clinical and financial benefits. The study aims to estimate the financial resources gained by KT and produce a benchmark analysis that would inform adequate strategies for the growth of the service. M...

Background: The Patient Reported Outcome for Fighting FInancial Toxicity (PROFFIT) questionnaire was developed to measure financial toxicity (FT) and identify its determinants. The aim of the present study was to confirm its validity in a prospective cohort of patients receiving anticancer treatment. Patients and methods: From March 2021 to July 20...

The objective of the present paper is to assess health-related quality of life (HQOL) of oncological patients. The treatment of cancer and of other invalidating and chronic pathologies cannot neglect the patients' personal dimensions, let alone the uncertainty surrounding therapies and their effectiveness. Simultaneous consideration of all these fa...

Abstract A low-protein diet in chronic kidney disease patients delays the natural progression towards endstage renal disease. The identification of the factors that guarantee patients’ adherence to the diet may help physicians to provide a better assistance as well as improving patients’ quality of life. Fifty-one patients following a low-protein...

Rationale: The principle of inseparability of teaching, academic research and assistance to patients, to which university physicians are subject in carrying out their work, invites reflection, aimed at identifying a combination of the three activities characterised, at the same time, by efficiency and effectiveness. Aims and objectives: The pres...

Background In this study, the Keynesian principle “savings may be used as investments in resources” is applied to Kidney Transplantation (KT), contextualizing the whole Organs Donation and Transplantation (ODT) service as a unique healthcare entity. Our aim was to define the financial resources that may be acquired in the form of savings from the K...

Abstract The present work aims at offering evidence on the impact of anti-COVID government actions on the volume of tourism. Using monthly Eurostat data on 27 European countries, it investigates the relation between the adoption of governmental measures, and tourism flows. The stringency index and the economic support index, measured through the i...

L'obiettivo della presente ricerca è verificare se i Non Performing Loans (NPLs) nei paesi asiatici, per il periodo 2000-2016, siano condizionati da alcuni fattori macroeconomici come, ad esempio, la corruzione o il debito pubblico. L'approccio econometrico seguito è il modello GLS. I risultati ottenuti confermano che le variabili considerate nella...

Il bene meritorio "istruzione" svolge un ruolo fondamentale per lo sviluppo socioeconomico delle moderne economie: l'istruzione è in grado di diminuire le diseguaglianze e favorire la crescita economica. Le politiche comunitarie degli ultimi vent'anni sono state rivolte alla progettazione di modelli scolastici efficaci, che potessero avere delle ri...

The analysis summarises the experience of a sample of patient at the University Polyclinic in Messina (Italy) and provides a detailed assessment of the satisfaction of patients experiencing healthcare at different Departments. Information collected through a specific survey allowed to build a dataset with more than 350 observations. Regressors were...

Objectives: The present study investigates the determinants of oncology patients' Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in Bulgaria. Looking at some patients' characteristics, including control variables in the estimated model - demographics and the time from the disease onset, it studies the relevance of HRQoL diverse factors: some of them are r...

Purpose Non-performing loans (NPLs) may determine an overall weakness of the banking system within a country. The purpose of the present study is to analyze the impact of government failures on NPLs in Asian countries in the time span 2000–2020. The variables employed as proxies of government failures are public debt as % of gross domestic product...

Il bene meritorio “istruzione” svolge un ruolo fondamentale per lo sviluppo socioeconomico delle moderne economie: l’istruzione è in grado di diminuire le diseguaglianze e favorire la crescita economica. Le politiche comunitarie degli ultimi vent’anni sono state rivolte alla progettazione di modelli scolastici efficaci, che potessero avere delle ri...

When performing health economic evaluations all costs and expected benefits (in terms of clinical effectiveness, utility, monetary benefits) should be taken into account. Costs are direct and indirect: concerning the latter, two main methods have been developed. The Human Capital Approach (HCA) considers the gross salary in the days of absence from...

The EU Disability Strategy 2010–2020 has been developed with the aim of realizing a barrier-free Europe, empowering people with disabilities to participate fully in society. As far as tourism is concerned, attention could be directed at investigating if it is possible for disabled people to visit museums, archeological areas, etc., without hindranc...

When performing health economic evaluations all costs and expected benefits (in terms of clinical effectiveness, utility, monetary benefits) should be taken into account. Costs are direct and indirect: concerning the latter, two main methods have been developed. The Human Capital Approach (HCA) considers the gross salary in the days of absence from...

Research Article Using data from a sample of 250 people attending a University of the Third Age in a Southern Italian town, this research examines the impact of ICTs on psychological well-being, estimated through the administration of the WHOQOL BREF questionnaire. Discrete choice and multivariate regression models are applied; Psychological and So...

This paper uses the information on elderly visitors, drawn from a survey carried out by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) in 2018, to identify the factors that facilitate or hinder senior tourists’ visits to museums. The resulting evidence captures how the accessibility of museums impacts the share of elderly visitors who have ac...

The goal of this paper is to identify some factors that facilitate elderly visits to cultural institutions in the island Italian regions, Sicily and Sardinia. The sample (ISTAT data) refer to 2018 and considers 550 observations. We test three hypotheses: i. Do the intensity of public transport services and the extent of the connection network facil...

The ambition of this contribution is to outline how the European perspective – that of economists and social science scholars who have observed and studied Covid-19 in the last 16 months, has been represented in the more popular journals worldwide dealing with Agriculture, Education, Health and Tourism. The first two sectors, Health and Education,...

Objectives: To measure and explain financial toxicity (FT) of cancer in Italy, where a public healthcare system exists and patients with cancer are not expected (or only marginally) to pay out-of-pocket for healthcare. Setting: Ten clinical oncological centres, distributed across Italian macroregions (North, Centre, South and Islands), including...

Purpose This paper illustrates a conceptual model for a new patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) aimed at measuring financial toxicity (FT) in oncological setting in Italy, where citizens are provided universal healthcare coverage. Methods Focus groups with overall 34 patients/caregivers in three different Italian centers (from Northern, Centre...

This report addresses the extent to which there may be scope for preventive programmes for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), and, if so, what economic benefits may accrue from the implementation of such programmes. We consider the economic case for prevention programmes, whether there is scope for preventive programmes fo...

Abstract: The analysis, carried out on a sample of people attending ICTs classes at an University of the Third Age in Southern Italy, is aimed at examining the determinants of the frequent use of digital tools and the ability to employ more devices. Some items of the WHOQoL Bref questionnaire have been used to assess quality of life, together with...

Background and Objectives: We have conducted a survey of academic and clinical experts who are participants in the European ME/CFS Research Network (EUROMENE) to elicit perceptions of general practitioner (GP) knowledge and understanding of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and suggestions as to how this could be improved....

The present contribution is aimed at offering evidence of the impact of antiCOVID government actions on trade. Using monthly Eurostat data, it investigates the relationship between the turnover of sales and the adoption of governmental measures. Explanatory variables encompass three indexes measuring the government response, namely, a stringency, a...

The EU Disability Strategy 2010-2020 has been developed with the aim to realize a barrier-free Europe in order to empower people with disabilities to participate fully in society, including the possibility to travel. In this light, the 2015 European Accessibility Act sets accessibility requirements for products and services and the Regulations on t...

L'analisi dell'impatto economico esercitato dalle istituzioni culturali ha costituito l'oggetto di numerosi lavori, volti ad investigare, in generale, la domanda di cultura. Pur osservando un'evidenza rilevata tra il 1999 e il 2000, il presente studio è tuttora di interesse per l'approccio metodologico adottato. Infatti, la regione italiana osserva...

The COronaVIrus Disease 19 (COVID-19) outbreak has resulted in a major worldwide economic depression. Governmental reactions to face the COVID-19 pandemic threat are varied and characterised by diverse intensity. Restrictive measure have been taken to control the pandemic, although the same actions have determined economic fallouts that need to be...

I policlinici universitari sono una tipologia di azienda ospedaliera e comprendono in un unico modello integrato le funzioni di assistenza, ricerca e didattica. In questo scenario, il medico universitario è chiamato a svolgere contemporaneamente più ruoli, relativi a impegni accademici, responsabilità dirigenziali, assistenza per i pazienti. Il pr...

Background and Objectives: The socioeconomic working group of the European myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) Research Network (EUROMENE) has conducted a review of the literature pertaining to GPs’ knowledge and understanding of ME/CFS; Materials and Methods: A MEDLINE search was carried out. The papers identified were revi...

Background and Objectives: The socioeconomics working group of the European ME/CFS Research Network (EUROMENE) has conducted a review of the literature pertaining to GPs' knowledge and understanding of ME/CFS; Materials and Methods: A MEDLINE search was carried out. The papers identified were reviewed following the Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (...

Patient satisfaction constitutes an objective to achieve in the provision of qualitatively adequate health services; it relies on patient involvement, that is obtained through surveys aimed at letting patient to express their opinion on the health care received. Patients may provide the best source of accurate information, primarily on issues such...

Patient satisfaction constitutes an objective to achieve in the provision of qualitatively adequate health services; it relies on patient involvement, that is obtained through surveys aimed at letting patient to express their opinion on the health care received. Patients may provide the best source of accurate information, primarily on issues such...

Riassunto. I policlinici universitari sono una tipologia di azienda ospedaliera e comprendono in un unico modello integrato le funzioni di assistenza, ricerca e didattica. In questo scenario, il medico universitario è chiamato a svolgere contemporaneamente più ruoli, relativi a impegni accademici, re-sponsabilità dirigenziali, assistenza per i pazi...

The principle of inseparability of teaching, academic research and assistance to patients, to which university physicians are subject in carrying out their work, invites reflection, aimed at identifying a combination of the three activities characterised, at the same time, by efficiency and effectiveness. The present paper illustrates a paradigm ba...

Background. La produttività del personale medico all’interno di un policlinico risulta difficile da valutare a causa delle diverse attività che lo stesso è chiamato a svolgere contemporaneamente: assistenza sanitaria rivolta ai pazienti, attività accademiche, responsabilità dirigenziali. Questa molteplicità di compiti ci porta a definire i professi...

We have developed a Europe-wide approach to investigating the economic impact of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), facilitating acquisition of information on the economic burden of ME/CFS, and international comparisons of economic costs between countries. The economic burden of ME/CFS in Europe appears large, with product...

We have developed a Europe-wide approach to investigating the economic impact of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), facilitating acquisition of information on the economic burden of ME/CFS, and international comparisons of economic costs between countries. The economic burden of ME/CFS in Europe appears large, with product...

Objectives: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of the public colorectal cancer screening program in the Abruzzo region, Italy. Methods: Cost-effectiveness was analysed using a two-armed Markov model comparing: (1) Abruzzo screening program based on biennial faecal immunochemical occult blood testing, with colonoscopy as second level test for ind...

Previous chapters in this section have described the multiple aspects of headache-attributed burden and methods by which many of these may be quantified. This chapter addresses financial costs as an important component of headache-attributed burden. It explains some principal aspects of the methodology of health economic studies on headache and pre...

Background Financial toxicity in cancer patients has been initially reported in the United States and subsequently in other countries, including Italy, despite a health care system grounded on universal coverage. Considering that the way healthcare and welfare systems are shaped does impact on financial problems faced by cancer patients, we are dev...

91 Background: Financial toxicity in cancer patients has been initially reported in the United States and subsequently in other countries, including Italy, despite its health care system is grounded on universal coverage. Considering that the way healthcare and welfare systems are shaped does impact on financial problems faced by cancer patients, w...

Introduction Financial toxicity (FT) is a well-recognised problem in oncology. US-based studies have shown that: (a) cancer patients have a 2.7 times risk of bankruptcy; (b) patients who declare bankruptcy have a 79% greater hazard of death; (c) financial burden significantly impairs quality of life (QoL) and (d) reduces compliance and adherence to...

This study, aimed at assessing oncology patient satisfaction, was carried out at four operating units of the ARNAS Garibaldi of Catania. The analysis involved 300 cancer patients.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Recently, the economic impact of multiple sclerosis (MS), which includes both direct and indirect costs, has been increasing. While direct costs comprise health-care costs, such as the cost of pharmaceuticals, additional treatments such as physiotherapy, and medical aids, indirect costs are triggered by the productivity loss...

The quality of local institutions and the governmental measures sustaining Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) are some of the traditional determinants of multinational agglomerations. One institution which has so far been under-investigated is the health system. Yet several empirical contributions have shown that health is a constituent part of human...

Background Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common causes of neurological disability in young and middle-aged adults. Patients with MS face many challenges, both physical and emotional, and see an overall reduction in their autonomy. There is no definitive treatment for MS, though Disease Modifying Drugs (DMDs) have proved effective in re...

Background: The relevance of studies focusing on patient satisfaction becomes imperative for patients with cancer, who often face major changes in their lifestyles. Their perceived uncertainty in illness and their personal experiences with the services received are crucial factors for a qualitatively adequate assistance. Objectives: To assess th...

This is the presentation at the AIES National Conference of the empirical work on Chronic Fatigue syndrome written jointly with Lara Gitto

ABSTRACT More than 700,000 people suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS) in Europe. This implies that more than 1 million people are affected by this disease through their role as caregivers and family members. Given its relevant impact, MS deserves consideration by epidemiologists, clinicians, psychologists, social scientists and other scholars. Such...

This is the presentation of the empirical work on Crohnic Fatigue Syndrome done together with Lara Gitto. The analysis, performed on more than 100 patients, calculates the impact of epidemiological and social factors on patients’ quality of life

Background: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) describes a condition of chronic weakness that cannot be alleviated by rest and which is associated with lower quality of life and higher healthcare utilization. In Western countries, its prevalence ranges from 0.2% to 1%. Despite the many efforts carried out during recent deca...

Introduction 15 years after clinical onset, about 50% of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis convert to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). Notwithstanding the importance of this transition, knowledge of the experiences and needs of patients and carers is fragmentary, and targeted interventions are not available. Manag...

There is a general consensus, in Europe, in considering LTC public financing as a proxy of the resources committed to elderly care by each Government; the preciseness of this approximation depends on the extent to which LTC is representative of elderly care. We investigate this issue by estimating the resources spent on elderly LTC in Lombardy, an...

Since 1992 the Italian local health units (LHU) gained financial independence and became responsible to provide and deliver health care at the local level. Management and financial accounting represent the tool utilized to monitor their net income and the working capital every year. From 2001 on, LHU budget data have being summarized by means of th...

The investigation of the determinants of public health expenditure is the focus of a vivid debate among health economists whereas the actual crisis of the welfare systems calls for the adoption of innovative tools to inform rational decisions, in the light of stringent budget constraints. The purpose of this paper is to show the potentialities of A...

The ageing of European population has been rapidly increasing during the last decades, and the problem of elderly care financing has become an issue for policy-makers. Long-term care (LTC) financing is considered a suitable proxy of the resources committed to elderly care by each government, but the preciseness of this approximation depends on the...

The ageing of European population has been rapidly increasing during the last decades, and the problem of elderly care financing has become an issue for policy-makers. Long-term care (LTC) financing is considered a suitable proxy of the resources committed to elderly care by each government, but the preciseness of this approximation depends on the...

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease with a substantial medical and economic burden. In Italy, it affects approximately 280,000 people, therefore representing the musculoskeletal disease with the highest economic impact in terms of costs for the National Health Service and the social security system. Objective: The aim...

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and progressive illness, representing one of the most common causes of neurological disability in young adults. In Italy, MS patients are about 63,000, and 1,800 new patients are diagnosed every year. The MS onset often regards people aged between 20 and 30 years, and the prevalence is higher for women. Disease...

According to an OCSE study, corruption in healthcare costs about €56 billion yearly, corresponding to €160 million daily (European Commission, Accompanying document on the draft Commission Decision on Establishing an EU Anti-corruption Reporting Mechanism (“EU Anti-Corruption Report”), 2011). In Italy the situation is even more alarming. A recent s...

The investigation of the determinants of public health expenditure is the focus of a vivid debate among health economists whereas the actual crisis of the welfare systems calls for the adoption of innovative tools to inform rational decisions, in the light of stringent budget constraints. The purpose of this paper is to show the potentialities of A...

Background: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) describes a condition of chronic weakness that cannot be alleviated by rest and which is associated with lower quality of life and higher healthcare utilization. In Western countries, its prevalence ranges from 0.2% to 1%. Despite the many efforts carried out during recent deca...

Background: Disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) have shown to be effective in reducing the frequency and severity of disease relapses in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). Patient decisions to commence pharmacological treatment, to continue it or cease it may be influenced by several factors such as patients' emotional states and symptoms of...

The pharmaceutical sector is characterized by the level of investments required in response to the growing challenges in terms of demand for health. In most European countries the pharmaceutical industry, through production, research, intermediate goods and wages, contributes to GDP for a value of about 1%. The impact of the pharmaceutical industry...

Objectives Being hospitalized often causes psychological distress and compromises patients’ psychological well-being, thereby augmenting the burden of illness. The aim of this paper is to investigate two possible determinants of anxiety and depression among hospitalized cardiac patients, namely uncertainty in illness, and coping strategies, control...

Renal diseases are distressing and it is, especially, the aspect of uncertainty that exerts an influence on patients’ emotional adjustment to illness. The present study investigates the relationship between uncertainty and trait emotional intelligence (EI), and the role of EI as mediator in the relationship between uncertainty, anxiety, and depress...

The phenomenon of burnout is constantly increasing and the healthcare professionals are more exposed to burnout than other workers, given their close and continuous relationship with disadvantaged customers. An analysis of this phenomenon aimed at identifying the variables that are correlated with a higher probability to develop burnout may allow...

Hospital financing, in Italy, is governed through Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs) reimbursement system. National legislation allows Regions to set autonomously their own tariffs; Regions can also decide other aspects of the hospital care, such as the public-private mix, the relationship among health policy authorities and providers, etc. All these...

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) represents one of the most common causes of neurological disability and the unpredictability and severity of its manifestations determine uncertainty in illness. While MS patients’ Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) has been frequently assessed, the impact of uncertainty on HRQoL has not been adequately consi...

High student dropout rates are a long-standing issue in Italian universities. University dropouts may be explained by supply side characteristics of universities as well as by students’ individual characteristics, but studies of dropouts in Italy have focused on the latter group of characteristics. Our econometric analysis focuses on single univers...