title: [The planning of prevention in Italy: the perspective of the university].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases of Sapienza University of Rome conducted a critical appraisal of Regional Prevention Plans (RPPs) 2010-2012 aimed at exploring different quality elements of the RPPs, including the coherence with the epidemiological context and with regional health planning, the degree of attention to specific public health issues, the adherence to the principles of Project Cycle Management (PCM) and Evidence-Based Prevention (EBP), as well as at analyzing possible determinants of the quality of RPPs, such as the influence of Recovery Plans.
  
  
  METHODS
  A grid analysis evidence-based was use to conduct, for the two RPPs areas (i.e. strategic and operative planning): 1. the descriptive analysis of RPPs; 2. the analysis of the projects included in RPPs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis showed some strengths and weaknesses in the prevention planning process, including a low adherence to the principles of EBP and a low degree of attention towards the reduction of health inequalities. Furthermore, projects developed by Regions with recovery plans showed a lower quality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The role of the University in the ongoing evaluation of the planning process, but also in monitoring the health status of the population, with particular attention to regional differences, can be crucial to support regional capacity building in prevention planning.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di sanità pubblica e malattie infettive, Sapienza Università di Roma. paolo.villari@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Villari
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosso
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Vito
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marzuillo
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D007558:Italy; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011634:Public Health; D012040:Regional Health Planning; D012380:Role; D014495:Universities