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Article History

Received: 20 October 2025

Accepted: 13 April 2026

First Online: 17 April 2026

Declarations

:

: According to the provisions of the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA), as outlined in Determine Pres. n. 425/2024, this study was classified as a non-interventional observational study involving an anonymous survey, and therefore did not require prior ethical committee approval. This classification was formally confirmed by the Ethics Committee of Bari, which stated in a communication dated March 25, 2025, that no ethical opinion was needed for the study to be conducted. All participants received comprehensive information about the study’s objectives, procedures, and data management protocols. Participation was entirely voluntary and based on the provision of written informed consent. The questionnaire was fully anonymous, and to safeguard privacy, completed questionnaires were sealed in envelopes by participants and deposited into a designated collection box. Personal identifiers were stored separately from survey data, ensuring complete anonymity. All procedures concerning data collection, handling, and storage were carried out in accordance with national legal requirements and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (European Parliament & Council of the European Union, 2018). All data were stored on a secure, password-protected platform accessible exclusively to the principal investigator. A trained research nurse was responsible for the individual recruitment of participants and for verifying the fulfillment of the inclusion criteria. Participants who agreed to take part in the study were provided with comprehensive information regarding the study’s objectives and procedures, and informed that participation was entirely voluntary and anonymous.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare no competing interests.