This cross-sectional survey study evaluates the influence of international observerships organised by the coalition of healthcare professionals from academic institutions—the Ukrainian Alliance for Medical Exchange and Development (UA-MED)—on the professional development, knowledge transfer and clinical practice improvement of Ukrainian healthcare professionals during the war.

A total of 263 international observerships were facilitated for 204 Ukrainian medical professionals across the institutions in the USA, Canada, Europe and Australia during 2022–2024. To assess the impact of these observerships, a survey was administered focusing on overall satisfaction, procedural knowledge gained and challenges faced when implementing new techniques on return. The primary outcome was the success score, defined as a composite score of implementing new procedures, initiating quality improvement projects and knowledge dissemination efforts.

A total of 128 medical professionals from 45 Ukrainian institutions who completed 138 observerships in 27 institutions abroad participated in the survey (response rate of 62.7%). Observers varied by profession: surgeons (32.8%), radiation oncologists (14.8%), medical oncologists (11.7%), anaesthesiologists (11.7%) and others. Observerships lasted a median of 4 weeks; 74.1% included conference attendance. The average success and satisfaction scores were 6.5/10 and 9.3/10, respectively.

The majority (92.7%) reported a shift in perception of how to practise medicine and 75.5% implemented new procedures on returning to Ukraine. Encouraged to disseminate knowledge, participants provided informal training to colleagues (67.3%), prepared presentations for their institutions (65.5%) and national conferences (32.7%), incorporated learnt materials into educational lectures (39.1%) and engaged in all the activities above (15.5%).

The international observerships played an important role in enhancing the reported skills and knowledge of Ukrainian healthcare professionals during the war. Improvements were reported in clinical practice, medical education and the implementation of new procedures. The success of these observerships underscores the potential for similar programmes in other low-income and middle-income countries/upper-middle-income countries.

Adolescence is a transitional period marked by psychosocial changes that can impact well-being. Mental disorders before university are linked to dropout and lower employment rates, affecting long-term outcomes. This study examines the psychological well-being of Italian students aged 18–25, exploring factors related to distress.

Cross-sectional survey.

High schools and university in Verona, northern Italy.

A total of 1766 students (88.96% university students and 11.04% high school students in their final year) were recruited. Inclusion criteria were being enrolled in high school or university in Verona, aged 18–25, with adequate Italian language proficiency and informed consent. No exclusion criteria were applied.

Primary outcomes were levels of psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-10-item - Kessler-10), anxiety and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety and Depression Scale - PHQ-ADS) and well-being (WHO-Five Well-Being Index - WHO-5). Secondary analyses examined the association of these outcomes with sociodemographic and educational variables.

Most participants (88.6%) reported psychological distress (mean K-10=22.95, SD=6.64). Mild symptoms of anxiety and depression were reported by 47.1% and 43.3% of participants, respectively. Only 16.5% reported high psychological well-being. Female and non-binary students had worse mental health outcomes than males (p value

Psychological distress, anxiety and depression are widespread among Italian students. Gender, academic stage and living situation significantly impact mental health outcomes. The findings emphasise the need for targeted mental health interventions, particularly for non-binary and female students, as well as those in advanced academic years.