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Background To evaluate the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) in perioperative nurses and to explore their association with personal characteristics. Methods Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Joanna Briggs Institute Database were systematically searched. A meta-analysis calculating event rates, and relative 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) was performed for each musculoskeletal body region. The contribution of perioperative nurses’ sex, age, and BMI was assessed through a meta-regression. Results Twenty-two studies, considering 3590 perioperative nurses, were included in the systematic review. The highest prevalence of WRMSDs was found for the lower-back (62%; 95% CI 0.54–0.70), followed by knee (47%; 95% CI 0.36–0.59), shoulder (44%; 95% CI 0.37–0.51), waist (42%; 95% CI 0.31–0.53), neck (39%; 95% CI 0.29–0.51), ankle-feet (35%; 95% CI 0.22–0.51), upper-back (34%; 95% CI 0.25–0.44), hand-wrist (29%; 95% CI 0.20–0.40), and elbow (18%; 95% CI 0.12–0.26). Meta-regression showed that sex, age, and BMI were not significant predictors of low-back disorders ( p  = 0.69; R 2  = 0). Conclusions WRMSDs represent a high prevalence issue among perioperative nurses. Perioperative nurses, in general, are steadily exposed to both physical and temporal risk factors. Further studies should be addressed to identify specific interventions aimed at reducing the burden of WRMSDs including ergonomic education and physical rehabilitation. Our data could be used in future studies as a reference to assess the risk of WRMSDs in other health-care professionals’ population.

Background Liver transplantation (LT) is a life-saving treatment for end-stage liver disease, and psychosocial factors significantly influence eligibility, adherence, and outcomes. The Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplantation (SIPAT) was developed to standardize psychosocial evaluation across four domains: treatment readiness, social support, psychopathology, and substance use. Despite its growing global adoption, evidence regarding its validity, predictive value, and applicability, specifically in LT, remains fragmented and heterogeneous. This scoping review maps and summarizes the available empirical evidence on SIPAT use in adult LT candidates. It focuses on (1) score distributions (2), psychosocial differences by disease etiology, and (3) associations with listing decisions, post-transplant outcomes, relapse risk, and quality of life. Main body A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and PsycInfo (January 2012–May 2025) identified ten eligible empirical studies, primarily observational in design, with sample sizes ranging from 22 to 2,825 participants. Across studies, a substantial proportion of LT candidates were classified as having moderate-to-high psychosocial risk, frequently exceeding a SIPAT threshold of ≥ 21, although cutoff values varied across studies. Evidence from a limited number of investigations suggests that domains related to treatment readiness and lifestyle/substance use may be particularly affected in LT populations. Studies examining etiological subgroups reported higher SIPAT scores among candidates with alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) or acute alcoholic hepatitis compared with non-ALD candidates, although findings were not uniform across all studies. Higher total SIPAT scores were associated in several cohorts with lower likelihood of listing and with adverse post-transplant outcomes, including nonadherence and acute rejection. In ALD samples, elevated SIPAT scores were associated with increased risk of harmful alcohol relapse, independent of abstinence duration. Notably, none of the included studies evaluated associations between SIPAT scores and post-transplant quality-of-life outcomes. Conclusion Current evidence suggests that the SIPAT is a useful framework for structuring psychosocial assessment in liver transplantation and for identifying potentially modifiable vulnerabilities relevant to listing decisions and selected post-transplant outcomes. However, substantial methodological heterogeneity, inconsistent cutoff thresholds, and limited evidence across some outcome domains, particularly quality of life, constrain comparability and clinical generalizability. Future multicenter, prospective studies are needed to harmonize cutoff values, examine sensitivity to change, and clarify the role of SIPAT in predicting long-term patient-centered outcomes.

Limited information is available on carcinogenicity of asbestos on non-respiratory organs. We aimed at conducted an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies on occupational exposure to asbestos and risk of kidney cancer. We searched through three databases, PubMed, Embase and Scopus for article published after 2000, and after eliminating duplicates and non-relevant studies, we identified 13 studies. We combined their results with those of 31 non-overlapping studies included in a previous review up to 2000. We conducted a meta-analysis based on random-effects models. The pooled relative risk of kidney cancer for asbestos exposure was 0.94 (95% confidence interval, 0.84–1.04), with no differences according to type of asbestos fiber, geographic region, period of exposure, or estimated quality of the study. Our results showed a lack of association between occupational asbestos exposure and risk of kidney cancer.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2, yet limited information is available on risk factors of infection. We pooled data on occupational surveillance of 10,654 HCW who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection in six Italian centers. Information was available on demographics, job title, department of employment, source of exposure, use of personal protective equipment (PPEs), and COVID-19-related symptoms. We fitted multivariable logistic regression models to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of infection. The prevalence of infection ranged from 3.0 to 22.0%, and was correlated with that of the respective areas. Women were at lower risk of infection compared to men. Fever, cough, dyspnea and malaise were the symptoms most strongly associated with infection, together with anosmia and ageusia. No differences in the risk of infection were detected according to job title, or working in a COVID-19 designated department. Reported contact with a patient inside or outside the workplace was a risk factor. Use of a mask was strongly protective against risk of infection as was use of gloves. The use of a mask by the source of exposure (patient or colleague) had an independent effect in reducing infection risk.

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.

To date, there are heterogeneous studies related to childhood cancer survivors’ (CCS) employment rates. Given the importance of this topic, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the prevalence of employment among CCS and to examine its association with socio-demographic and clinical factors. We followed the PRISMA guidelines to search for pertinent articles in relevant electronic databases. Eighty-nine articles comprising 93 cohorts were included. The overall prevalence of employment was 66% (CI: 95% 0.63–0.69). Subgroup meta-analyses showed that lower rates were found for central nervous system tumor survivors (51%, CI: 95% 0.43–0.59), and for CCS treated with cranial-radiotherapy (53%, CI: 95% 0.42–0.64) or haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (56%, CI: 95% 0.46–0.65). The studies conducted in Asia highlighted employment rates of 47% (CI: 95%, 0.34–0.60). Univariate meta-regressions identified the following socio-demographic factors associated with higher rates of employment: a female gender (p = 0.046), a higher mean age at the time of investigation (p = 0.00), a longer time since diagnosis (p = 0.00), a higher educational level (p = 0.03), and a married status (p = 0.00). In conclusion, this systematic review and meta-analysis provides evidence that two-thirds of CCS are employed worldwide. Identifying vulnerable groups of CCS may allow for the design of multidisciplinary support strategies and interventions to promote employment in this population.

Background Effective primary cancer prevention in occupational health care settings requires strategies tailored to workforce needs and individual risk profiles. Cultural, perceptual, and behavioural factors influence implementation success. Occupational healthcare professionals (OHCPs), with their expertise and regulatory responsibilities, are critical for advancing workplace cancer prevention. This study evaluates the feasibility of primary cancer prevention programs within the Cancer Prevention at Work (CPW) project across Europe from OHCP perspective. Methods CPW is a Horizon Europe funded cross-sectional pilot study (2023–2026) conducted in Italy, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain. It focuses on HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) and Hp (Helicobacter pylori) screening and HPV (Human Papillomavirus) counselling among workers. OHCPs involved in program implementation completed a survey assessing their perceptions of the programs, contextual factors, and their professional role in delivery. Responses were recorded on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree), with higher scores indicating more positive assessments, supportive contexts, and greater OHCP engagement. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and exploratory analyses. Results Fifty-five OHCPs completed the survey. Findings suggest that integrating primary cancer prevention into occupational health is feasible. All three programs received positive evaluations (Mean Scores: 4.18–4.23; SD: 0.35–0.38), and organizational conditions, such as resources and leadership support, were rated favorably (Mean Scores: 4.24–4.73; SD: 0.42–0.61). OHCP involvement was moderately high (Mean Scores: 3.69–3.79; SD: 0.34–0.41), indicating meaningful engagement while highlighting opportunities for improvement. Assessments varied by setting and worker group, with more positive evaluations in hospitals and among healthcare or financial workers compared to metal workers. Contextual factors differed across groups, reflecting variability in perceived feasibility and ease of implementation. Conclusion Conditions for the successful implementation of primary prevention programs targeting HCV, Hp, and HPV related cancers in occupational health services seem present. Particularly, if supported by favourable contextual factors and facilitated by employee participation. These findings offer preliminary evidence for the scalability of workplace-based cancer prevention strategies across diverse European health systems.

Participation in cancer prevention programs is suboptimal. Socioeconomic backgrounds play a role in cancer awareness and prevention programs. We conducted a narrative review, summarizing the evidence on the integration of cancer prevention extended to non-occupational risk factors at the workplace. Cancer prevention programs include screenings (colonoscopy, mammography, Pap-test), vaccinations (anti-HPV, anti-HBV), and interventions focused on lifestyle changes. Such strategies may face several barriers related to individual or environmental factors. The workplace is potentially an ideal setting for implementing extended cancer prevention strategies because (i) occupational health surveillance (OHS) targets adults, including hard-to-reach subgroups; (ii) it is structured, with health records and exams for risk assessment; (iii) it offers a key chance to promote cancer awareness and prevention through direct worker–physician interaction. Such an innovative approach requires a coordinated effort to build professional networks and manage high-risk workers. Its successful implementation depends on financial support and the active involvement of physicians, employers, and workers. Occupational-based cancer prevention represents a novel and promising strategy, though its feasibility and cost-effectiveness need to be assessed through large-scale studies.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are erroneously considered as singular material entities. Instead, they should be regarded as a heterogeneous class of materials bearing different properties eliciting particular biological outcomes both in vitro and in vivo. Given the pace at which the industrial production of CNTs/CNFs is increasing, it is becoming of utmost importance to acquire comprehensive knowledge regarding their biological activity and their hazardous effects in humans. Animal studies carried out by inhalation showed that some CNTs/CNFs species can cause deleterious effects such as inflammation and lung tissue remodeling. Their physico-chemical properties, biological behavior and biopersistence make them similar to asbestos fibers. Human studies suggest some mild effects in workers handling CNTs/CNFs. However, owing to their cross-sectional design, researchers have been as yet unable to firmly demonstrate a causal relationship between such an exposure and the observed effects. Estimation of acceptable exposure levels should warrant a proper risk management. The aim of this review is to challenge the conception of CNTs/CNFs as a single, unified material entity and prompt the establishment of standardized hazard and exposure assessment methodologies able to properly feed risk assessment and management frameworks.

There is contrasting data on the association between talc exposure and lung and pleural cancer. Given the potential importance of this aspect, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the association between working in the talc extractive industry and mortality from malignant and non-malignant respiratory diseases. We followed PRISMA guidelines to systematically search for pertinent articles in three relevant electronic databases: Pubmed, Scopus, and WebOfScience, from their inception to 30 November 2021. The methodological quality of included articles was evaluated using the US National Institutes of Health tool. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for malignant and non-malignant respiratory diseases as well as respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted or calculated for each included cohort. Six articles comprising 7 cohorts were included in the metanalysis. There was increased mortality for pneumoconiosis, especially in the miner’s group (SMR = 7.90, CI 95% 2.77–22.58) and especially in those exposed to higher quartz concentration and for non-malignant respiratory diseases in the overall analysis (SMR = 1.81, CI 95% 1.15–2.82). The risk for lung cancer mortality was slightly increased in the overall analysis (SMR = 1.42, CI 95% 1.07–1.89). The risk for malignant mesothelioma could not be calculated due to an insufficient number of studies assessing this outcome. This systematic review and meta-analysis provides evidence that men working in the talc mining industry have increased mortality for non-malignant respiratory diseases including pneumoconiosis. The small excess in lung cancer mortality may be, in part, explained by the high prevalence of the smokers in some of the analyzed cohorts or by the exposure to other carcinogens like radon decay products and diesel engine exhaust.