Filippa Bono

Evaluating the effect of organization and context on technical efficiency: a second-stage DEA analysis of Italian hospitals

Objective: the purpose of this study was to compare the technical efficiency of Italian hospitals at a regional level and to examine if differences could be explained by organisational and contextual factors. Technical efficiency was defined as the ability of the operating units evaluated to use optimal resource levels for their level of output. Methods: the effect of external factors was explored through a second stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Efficiency scores were calculated for each hospital using the DEA method (Stage I). Through Tobit regression analysis, the estimated efficiency scores were regressed against a set of organisational and contextual characteristics beyond managerial control, which reflected differences in the population demographics and regional health expenditure (Stage II). Stage I and Stage II efficiency scores were compared in order to indirectly assess managerial contribution in relation to hospital efficiency. Results: the highest efficiency (M±SD) was observed in hospitals in the North-West (75.7±15.1), followed by those in the North-East (75.5±15.1), Central Italy (73.9±16.4) and then Southern Italy (70.6±17.9). Hospital Trusts (HTs) were shown to be more technically efficient than Local Public Hospitals (LPHs). Organisational and contextual indicators were statistically significantly different at Tobit regression analysis for HTs and LPHs. Emilia Romagna and Lombardia were the regions whose management contributed to increased efficiency. Conclusions: in our study, the distribution of regions according to technical efficiency only partly reflected the North-South gradient shown by other studies regarding the gap of expenditure. The important role of organisation and environment in establishing efficiency differences among hospitals was demonstrated.

Socioeconomic inequality in non-communicable diseases in Europe between 2004 and 2015: evidence from the SHARE survey

Background The scope of this work was to investigate socioeconomic inequalities among European adults aged 50 or older in chronic diseases and behavioural risk factors for these diseases, namely, smoking habits, obesity and physical inactivity, between 2004 and 2015. Methods Data for this study were drawn from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement (SHARE) in Europe, which is a panel database of microdata on health, socioeconomic status and social and family networks of people aged 50 years or older, covering most of the European Union. The predicted number of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) was used to estimate the concentration index and to find the contributions of determinants to socioeconomic inequalities in chronic diseases. Results The inequality disfavoured the poor in both years, but the effect was stable from 2004 (C = -0.071) to 2015 (C = -0.081). Inequality was shown to be attributed mostly to physical inactivity and obesity and this contribution increased during the study period. Among socioeconomic status (SES) determinants, education and marital status were the most concentrated in both years, while physical inactivity and obesity were the most concentrated behavioural risk factors in both years. Conclusions To prevent chronic diseases, health policy should aim not only to improve individual health behaviours in the population, but also to reduce socioeconomic inequality. Our study suggests promoting a healthy lifestyle in the most disadvantaged socioeconomic classes as a strategy to improve the health conditions of the whole population.

Acceleration Assessment During Mechanical Harvest of Grapes Using a non Commercial Instrumented Sphere

Acceleration Assessment During Mechanical Harvest of Grapes Using a non Commercial Instrumented Sphere Mariangela Vallone, Maria Alleri, Filippa Bono, Pietro Catania* University of Palermo, Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Forestali, Viale delle Scienze ed. 4 90128 Palermo, Italy University of Palermo, Dipartimento Scienze Economiche, Aziendali e Statistiche, Viale delle Scienze ed. 13 90128 Palermo, Italy pietro.catania@unipa.it

L’accesso all’abitazione di residenza: un’analisi multilevel sulle famiglie italiane

La condizione di accessibilita abitativa (housing affordability) viene definita come la possibilita per una famiglia di acquistare, o prendere in affitto, un’abitazione adeguata alle proprie esigenze abitative impiegando una quota accettabile del proprio reddito. Obiettivo del presente lavoro e stabilire se esiste un effetto della regione e del grado di urbanizzazione sulla quota di reddito impiegata per soddisfare l’esigenza abitativa. Per stimare l’eventuale esistenza di tale effetto abbiamo effettuato un’analisi multilevel a tre livelli (individuo, famiglia, regione) attraverso l’utilizzo del data set IT-EUSILC2004 sulle famiglie italiane. I risultati mostrano un effetto della regione e del grado di urbanizzazione nella determinazione della quota di spesa sostenuta per la casa. Classificazione