title: Toll-free telephone medical information on nocturnal enuresis: the first Italian experience over a two-year period.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study is to promote, through this toll-free number (TFN) service, a health communication program providing information on nocturnal enuresis (NE) and related problems by a subspecialty-trained physician and to collect the callers' characteristics too. All phone calls were scheduled to data collections.
  
  
  METHODS
  The telephone service operated as follows: the TFN was available from March 1 to May 31, 2000, and from April 1 to June 30, 2001. People called the free telephone line and received information needs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 12,806 calls were received by the help line during the two study periods (7,046 in 2000 and 5,760 in 2001). Of the calls, 61% came from subjects with NE without pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatment, 16% (2000) and 13% (2001) came from subjects >12 years old.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A TFN for NE can be both accessible and effective in order to provide information on NE and related problems. Finally, such a service should be included in a national program to improve health and well-being.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University, A Gemelli Hospital, Rome, Italy. pferrara@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Emmanuele
authors.forename: Maria Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chiozza
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aceto
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Del Gado
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caione