Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40128786›Full record

ArticleItalian journal of pediatrics2025

Landscape of paediatric endocrine clinical practice in Italy: results from a survey of the Italian Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology (ISPED).

Maria Elisabeth Street, Anna Di Sessa, Andrea Esposito, Anastasia Ibba, Giorgia Pepe, Riccardo Bonfanti, Felice Citriniti, Giuseppe D'Annunzio, Maria Rosaria Licenziati, Malgorzata Wasniewska and 2 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Italian journal of pediatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Maria Elisabeth StreetDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, Parma, 43126, Italy. mariaelisabeth.street@unipr.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8427-8971
Anna Di SessaDepartment of Woman, Child, and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.
Andrea EspositoDepartment of Emergency, Santobono-Pausilipon Children's Hospital, Naples, Italy.
Anastasia IbbaPediatric Endocrinology Unit and Newborn Screening Center, Pediatric Microcitemic Hospital, ASL Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Giorgia PepeDepartment of Human Pathology of adulthood and childhood, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Riccardo BonfantiPediatric Diabetology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
Felice CitrinitiDepartment of Pediatrics -Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria "R. Dulbecco", Catanzaro, Italy.
Giuseppe D'AnnunzioPediatric Clinic and Endocrinology, Regional Center for Pediatric Diabetes, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Maria Rosaria LicenziatiNeuro-endocrine Diseases and Obesity Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Santobono-Pausilipon Children's Hospital, Naples, Italy.
Malgorzata WasniewskaDepartment of Human Pathology of adulthood and childhood, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Valentino CherubiniDepartment of Women's and Children's Health, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria delle Marche, Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona, "G. Salesi Hospital", Ancona, Italy.
Mariacarolina SalernoDepartment of Translational Medical Sciences, Paediatric Endocrinology Unit, University "Federico II", Naples, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPediatric endocrinology has developed enormously over the last 30 years. Many conditions followed-up are rare and/or chronic complex diseases requiring a high level of expertise. Therefore, defining pediatric endocrinology workforce has become crucial. We aimed to provide an overview of the landscape of the Italian Pediatric Endocrinology centers.

methodsA national electronic survey on clinical endocrine practice among the Italian Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (ISPED) centers was carried out. The full time equivalent (FTE) was used to assess the time dedicated by healthcare providers (HCPs) to pediatric endocrinology and calculate the needs.

resultsNinety-one centers completed the electronic survey. Forty-four/91 centers had incorporated a pediatric diabetology service, while the remaining had an independent center. Among HCPs, 271 were pediatric endocrinologists (94 with a temporary, and 265 with a permanent contract). In 14/91 centers, adult endocrinologists were part of the medical staff. In 45/91 centers clinical activity was carried out five days a week. A mean FTE of 0.56 for medical doctors, 0.49 for nurses, 0.31 for dietitians, and 0.13 for psychologists was reported. An average of 110 patients with rare diseases was followed per centre per year. Based on the ISPAD international criteria for the FTE required for the care of diabetic youths we considered rare diseases as a reference instead of diabetes, without considering any other consultations, and this showed a shortage of 80% of required pediatric endocrinologists, 89% of needed nurses, 93% of required dietitians, and 94% of required psychologists. Moreover, approximately 20 pediatric endocrinologists were expected to retire within the following two years. Overall, a mean of 1148 consultations/year per centre was reported for each medical FTE (a mean of 367 first consultations, and 786 follow-ups). Education and training for growth hormone and other specific treatments were provided by a variety of HCPs, mainly by medical doctors (22/91 centers).

conclusionsAt present pediatric endocrinology shows a significant burden of activity with a severe shortage of personnel. This should be addressed by policy makers in order to develop strategic programs to ensure optimal care. Recognizing pediatric endocrinology as a subspecialty and offering appropriate training programs would represent a significant step further.

Indexed as

Endocrine System DiseasesEndocrinologyPediatricsPractice Patterns, Physicians'ChildEndocrinologistsFemaleHumansItalyMaleSocieties, MedicalSurveys and QuestionnairesClinical practiceEndocrinologyISPEDPediatric endocrinologyPediatricsShortageSubspecialtySurvey

Identifiers

PMID40128786
PMCPMC11934765

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.