The National Epidemiological Bulletin (BEN) is a quarterly institutional publication of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) presenting original double-blind peer-reviewed papers.
The BEN is meant to provide researchers, healthcare workers and health professionals with a space for sharing information and exchanging views on topics spanning all areas of epidemiology.
The bulletin features original papers relating to:
- Epidemiological studies;
- Health prevention and promotion strategies;
- Experiences and good practices
- Citizen involvement in health choices;
- Clinical governance initiatives and activities.
Background
The BEN was first published in 1980 to help manage emergencies in the wake of the Irpinia earthquake, but its publication was discontinued in 1987. In 2001, the bulletin was re-launched as a monthly insert in the Notiziario dell’Istituto Superiore di Sanità (the ISS official newsletter) to address the need for exchanging and communicating information on epidemiological topics between the centre and the periphery. In 2012, the double-blind peer-review process was introduced. Since June 2018, a fully redesigned BEN has been released only online, and in 2020 the bulletin became a freestanding publication.