title: Public Health Genomics education in post-graduate schools of hygiene and preventive medicine: a cross-sectional survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relevance of Public Health Genomics (PHG) education among public health specialists has been recently acknowledged by the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region. The aim of this cross-sectional survey was to assess the prevalence of post-graduate public health schools for medical doctors which offer PHG training in Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The directors of the 33 Italian public health schools were interviewed for the presence of a PHG course in place. We stratified by geographical area (North, Centre and South) of the schools. We performed comparisons of categorical data using the chi-squared test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 73% (24/33 schools). Among respondents, 15 schools (63%) reported to have at least one dedicated course in place, while nine (38%) did not, with a significant geographic difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results showed a good implementation of courses in PHG discipline in Italian post-graduate public health schools. However further harmonization of the training programs of schools in public health at EU level is needed.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ianuale
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leoncini
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mazzucco
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marzuillo
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Villari
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ricciardi
authors.affiliation: Section of Hygiene, Institute of Public Health, Università Cattolica del SacroCuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy. sboccia@rm.unicatt.it.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boccia
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D040381:Education, Public Health Professional; D023281:Genomics / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene / Q000193:education*; D007558:Italy; D011315:Preventive Medicine / Q000193:education*