Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42636273›Full record

ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2026

Development and validation of a national questionnaire assessing knowledge, attitudes, and practices on neglected tropical diseases among italian medical trainees.

Giacomo Guido, Benedetta Rossi, Anna Barbiero, Claudia Mangiapelo, Federica Perego, Eleonora Perugini, Salvatore Scarso, Spinello Antinori, Alessandro Bartoloni, Nicoletta Basilico and 46 more

Abstract readValidation Study
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Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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56 authors.

Giacomo GuidoDepartment of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.ORCID 0009-0004-8783-7221
Benedetta RossiDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Anna BarbieroDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Claudia MangiapeloDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Vector-Borne Diseases Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
Federica PeregoParVirLab, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Eleonora PeruginiDepartment of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Salvatore ScarsoDepartment of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, Verona, Italy.
Spinello AntinoriDepartment of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
Alessandro BartoloniDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Nicoletta BasilicoParVirLab, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Gioia BongiornoDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Vector-Borne Diseases Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
Fabrizio BruschiDepartment of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Susanna CaponeDepartment of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Antonio CascioDepartment of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine, and Medical Specialties "G D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Adriano CasulliEuropean Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites (EURL-P). European Union Reference Laboratory for Public Health on Helminths and Protozoa (EURL-PH-HP). Unit of Foodborne and Neglected Parasitic Diseases. Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
Serena CavalleroDepartment of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Agnese ComelliItalian Society of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Steering Committee, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, Italy.
Angela CorpolongoClinical and Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Marco Del RiccioDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Giuseppina De IacoDepartment of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
Marco Di LucaDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Vector-Borne Diseases Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
Trentina Di MuccioDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Vector-Borne Diseases Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
Giovanni DolciInfectious Disease Unit, AUSL-IRCCS Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Alessandra D'AbramoClinical and Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Stefano D'AmelioDepartment of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Sara EpisEntoPar Lab, Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Guido FaviaSchool of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
Luisa FrallonardoDepartment of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
Flavia RiccardoDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
Beatrice FormentiFondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Simona GabrielliItalian Society of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Steering Committee, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, Italy.
Samuele GaggioliDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Federico GobbiDepartment of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, Verona, Italy.
Roberta IattaInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
Sergio Lo CaputoUnit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
Valentina ManganoDepartment of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Francesca MariottiDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Rosalia MarroneNational Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP), Via di San Gallicano 25/a, Rome, Italy.
Alberto MatteelliDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Caterina MonariInfectious Diseases Unit, Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy.
Emanuele NicastriClinical and Research Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Roberta PapagniUSD Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, ASM Matera, Presidio Ospedaliero "Madonna delle Grazie", Matera, Italy.
Mariantonietta PisaturoInfectious Diseases Unit, Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy.
Marco Giuseppe PratoUSL Toscana centro, Ospedale "San Jacopo", Pistoia, Italy.
Marco PombiDepartment of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Laura RinaldiDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, CREMOPAR, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Ilenia Annunziata RitaccoDepartment of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
Emanuele RolloDepartment of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Jonica Area, Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.ORCID 0009-0009-5361-574X
Annalisa SaracinoDepartment of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
Chiara SepulcriDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy.
Francesca SerapideDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University, Catanzaro, Italy.
Michele SpinicciDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Natalia TibertiDepartment of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, Verona, Italy.
Carlo TortiDipartimento di Sicurezza e Bioetica - Sezione di Malattie Infettive, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
Lorenzo ZammarchiDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Francesco Di GennaroDepartment of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.

Funding

Italian Ministry of Health
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNeglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) affect nearly two billion people worldwide, yet preparedness to diagnose and manage them remains limited in high-income countries (HICs), where shifting epidemiology driven by climate changes, migration, mobility, international food and animal trade and global interconnection requires broader clinical competencies. Evidence on NTD-related knowledge among medical trainees in Europe is scarce. This study aimed to develop, validate, and field-test a comprehensive instrument assessing knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding NTDs among Italian medical students, recent graduates, and residents.

methodsA structured questionnaire was developed using a multi-step approach informed by World Health Organization (WHO) Neglected Tropical Diseases priorities and a targeted literature review. Content validity was assessed through a two-round Delphi process with a multidisciplinary national expert panel (Round 1: n = 36; Round 2: n = 34), followed by external expert evaluation (n = 17). Quantitative content validation included Item- and Scale-Level Content Validity Indices (I-CVI, S-CVI/Ave) and interquartile ranges (IQR) to assess expert consensus. Reliability and psychometric properties were evaluated in a national sample of Italian medical trainees (n = 96), including internal consistency (Cronbach's α; KR-20), test-retest reliability (ICC; Cohen's κ), and item performance analyses.

resultsAcross Delphi rounds, 91-98% of items reached consensus (IQR ≤ 1), and overall content validity was excellent (S-CVI/Ave 0.96-0.98). Reliability metrics confirmed strong internal consistency (α = 0.863; KR-20 = 0.82) and good temporal stability (ICC = 0.89; κ = 0.72-0.84). Known-groups validity was demonstrated by significantly higher knowledge scores among residents compared with medical students (p = 0.014).

conclusionsThis study provides the first Delphi-validated national instrument assessing NTD-related knowledge among Italian medical trainees. The tool can offer a foundation for evaluating curricula and informing educational reform, supporting the integration of NTD-related competencies in European medical education in response to evolving global health challenges.

Indexed as

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeNeglected DiseasesStudents, MedicalTropical MedicineAdultFemaleHumansItalyMaleReproducibility of ResultsSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID42636273
PMCPMC13524332

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Textmetadata
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Registered trials

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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.