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Introduction Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a non-communicable disease representing one of the most serious public health challenges of the twenty-first century. Its incidence continues to rise in both developed and developing countries, causing the death of 1.5 million people every year. The use of technology (e.g. smartphone application—App) in the health field has progressively increased as it has been proved to be effective in helping individuals manage their long-term diseases. Therefore, it has the potential to reduce the use of health service and its related costs. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of using a digital platform called “TreC Diabete” embedded into a novel organisational asset targeting poorly controlled T2DM individuals in the Autonomous Province of Trento (PAT), Italy. Methods This trial was designed as a multi-centre, open-label, randomised, superiority study with two parallel groups and a 1:1 allocation ratio. Individuals regularly attending outpatient diabetes clinics, providing informed consent, are randomised to be prescribed TreC Diabete platform as part of their personalised care plan. Healthcare staff members will remotely assess the data shared by the participants through the App by using a dedicated online medical dashboard. The primary end-point is the evaluation of the Hb1Ac level at 12-month post-randomisation. Data will be analysed on an intention-to-treat (ITT) basis. Discussion This trial is the first conducted in the PAT area for the use of an App specifically designed for individuals with poorly controlled T2DM. If the effects of introducing this specific App within a new organisational asset are positive, the digital platform will represent a possible way for people diagnosed with T2DM to better manage their health in the future. Results will be disseminated through conferences and peer-reviewed journals once the study is completed. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05629221. Registered on November 29, 2022, prior start of inclusion.

Background: The Telemechron project addresses critical needs in telemedicine by evaluating technology assessment frameworks and key performance indicators (KPIs), among other objectives. Effective frameworks and KPIs are crucial for assessing telemedicine services, especially in terms of their impact on patient outcomes and service efficiency. Methods: This study adopted a dual approach to assess the contributions of the Telemechron project. Firstly, it applied a technology assessment framework to quantitatively evaluate telemedicine services, focusing on measurable improvements and systematic analysis. Secondly, it investigated a set of predefined KPIs using specific metrics and parameters to evaluate their applicability and limitations in telemedicine settings. Results and Discussion: The technology assessment framework demonstrated significant utility by providing structured, quantifiable improvements across key aspects of telemedicine services. It was effective in evaluating the alignment of services with strategic goals and their integration with existing healthcare systems. The predefined KPIs, although not developed within this study and not directly used by the different operational units (OUs)—which established their own context-specific KPIs—still provided valuable insights into telemedicine performance. However, the study revealed that these KPIs highlighted a need for further customization to enhance their relevance across various contexts. While the KPIs may offer useful performance indicators, their general applicability necessitated adjustments to better address the specific needs of telemedicine applications. The analysis model for the KPI set, in terms of metrics and parameters, is exportable and generalizable to other national and international telemedicine contexts. Conclusions: The study confirms the effectiveness of the framework in delivering measurable improvements in telemedicine services and underscores the importance of adapting KPIs for specific contexts. Future research should focus on further applying and expanding the framework and metrics, refining KPI models, integrating new technologies, and conducting cross-national comparisons to enhance the applicability and effectiveness of telemedicine evaluations.

Italy, home to one of the world’s oldest populations, has traditionally shown geographic differences in cancer incidence, with rates decreasing from north to south. The cancer registries that have been accredited by the Italian Cancer Registry Network (AIRTUM), during the last 20 years altogether cover the 90 % of the Italian population, aiming to improve data quality, standardize procedures, and promote research. This study presents the methodological approaches used for data collection, quality control, and analysis to describe current patterns of cancer incidence, mortality, and survival across Italy's three macro-areas (North, Central, South). Estimates of incidence rates and case numbers for 2025 were also produced. Data from 34 accredited cancer registries were analyzed, comprising over 4.6 million cases from 1981 to 2020, with a detailed focus on the 2008–2017 period, which includes over 3 million cases. Cancer incidence and mortality data were collected according to ICD-O-3 and ICD-10 classifications and processed for statistical analysis using tools such as SEERPrep, SEERStat, and the Joinpoint Regression Program. Age-standardized rates were calculated, and incidence and mortality trends from 2013 to 2017 were modeled. Five-year cumulative net survival was estimated using the Pohar-Perme method to adjust for competing risks. Survival trends were analyzed by geographic areas and cancer sites, revealing regional disparities in cancer outcomes. •Cancer registries provide affordable population-based statistics on cancer epidemiology.•Incidence, mortality and survival are the main indicators used for cancer surveillance.•Appropriate methodologic approaches make comparisons intelligible.•In Italy there are historical differences in cancer figures by macro-areas.•There is a need to provide cancer statistics updated to the pre-Covid-19 era in Italy.

Paediatric cancers are rare, yet, Italy has previously shown some of the highest incidence rates in Europe as a leading cause of death in children and adolescents. This study updates data from Italy for 2008–2017, analyses trends from 1998, and compares findings with other European regions. A population-based approach was used, leveraging data from the Italian Association of Cancer Registries (AIRTUM). Thirty-one cancer registries covering 77 % of the Italian paediatric population contributed data on tumour type, age, sex, residence, and diagnosis date. Cancers were classified using the International Classification of Childhood Cancer, Third Edition (ICCC-3). Age-specific (IR) and age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) were computed, while trends were analysed with Joinpoint regression to estimate annual (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC). From 2008–2017, 17,322 malignant paediatric cancer cases were reported in Italy. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) was 166.8 per million for ages 0–14 and 294.3 per million for adolescents 15–19. Over the study period, incidence rates were generally stable, but a significant increase was observed for bone tumours in children and thyroid and melanoma in adolescents. Central Italy showed higher incidence rates compared to other Italian regions. Italy still shows one of the highest incidence rates in Europe. While the study confirms overall stable incidence trends in Italy, it also highlights an increase in specific cancers such as melanoma and thyroid tumours in adolescents. Central Italy exhibited higher incidence rates, potentially due to environmental and/or diagnostic factors. Continuous monitoring and further research are needed to clarify regional variations and evaluate the impact of early diagnosis and environmental exposures. •17,322 paediatric cancer cases recorded in Italy (2008–2017).•ASR: 166.8/million in children; IR: 294.3/million in adolescents.•Central Italy had highest incidence, esp. melanoma and epithelial tumours.•Italy shows higher paediatric cancer rates than other European regions.•Stable trends; increased bone tumours (children), thyroid and melanoma (adolescents).

Background In Italy, cure indicators of cutaneous malignant melanoma according to Breslow tumour thickness have never been assessed. Objectives To evaluate the time trend in 1‐year net survival (NS), 5|1‐year conditional NS (CNS) and cure fraction (CF). Methods Data from 10 cancer registries and 13,377 patients aged 15–74 years were used. Five|1‐year CNS was defined as the probability of surviving 5 years given that the patient has survived 1 year. CF was defined as the proportion of patients with the same life expectancy as the general population. One‐year NS and 5|1‐year CNS were contrasted between 2013–2017 and 2003–2007, and CF between 2015 and 2005. Results For lesions up to 4 mm thick, 1‐year NS reached a level > 98.0%. In 2013–2017, 5|1‐year CNS was above 90% for men and women with lesions up to 2.0 mm thick and increased markedly for men with lesions > 2.0–4.0 mm thick (65.1% to 82.4%) and > 4.0 mm thick (57.6% to 69.4%). The CF of patients with a melanoma ≤ 1.0 mm thick was approximately 100% in both sexes, and nearly doubled from 2005 to 2015 (28% to 54%) for men aged 55–74 years with a melanoma > 4.0 mm thick. Conclusions Patients with a melanoma ≤ 1 mm thick have the same life expectancy as the general population. The increase in the CF of men with thick lesions supports the hypothesis that novel therapies, approved in Italy since 2013, offer the possibility of cure.