CMAJ openPub Date : 2022-04-01DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20210338
A. Pinto, A. Hapsari, Julia W Ho, C. Meaney, L. Avery, Nadha Hassen, A. Jetha, A. Lay, M. Rotondi, Dan Zuberi
{"title":"Precarious work among personal support workers in the Greater Toronto Area: a respondent-driven sampling study","authors":"A. Pinto, A. Hapsari, Julia W Ho, C. Meaney, L. Avery, Nadha Hassen, A. Jetha, A. Lay, M. Rotondi, Dan Zuberi","doi":"10.9778/cmajo.20210338","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9778/cmajo.20210338","url":null,"abstract":"Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the role of personal support workers (PSWs) in health care, as well as their work conditions. Our study aimed to understand the characteristics of the PSW workforce, their work conditions and their job security, as well as to explore the health of PSWs and the impact of precarious employment on their health. Methods: Our community-based participatory action research focused on PSWs in the Greater Toronto Area. We administered an online, cross-sectional survey between June and December 2020 using respondent-driven sampling. Data on sociodemographics, employment precarity, worker empowerment and health status were collected. We assessed the association between precarious employment and health using multivariable logistic regression models. Results: We contacted 739 PSWs, and 664 consented to participate. Overall, 658 (99.1%) completed at least part of the survey. Using data adjusted for our sampling approach, the participants were predominantly Black (76.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 68.2%–84.9%), women (90.1%, 95% CI 85.1%–95.1%) and born outside of Canada (97.4%, 95% CI 94.9%–99.9%). Most worked in home care (43.9%, 95% CI 35.2%–52.5%) or long-term care (34.5%, 95% CI 27.4%–42.0%). Although most participants had at least some postsecondary education (unadjusted proportion = 83.4%, n = 529), more than half were considered low income (55.1%, 95% CI 46.3%–63.9%). Most participants were precariously employed (86.5%, 95% CI 80.7%–92.4%) and lacked paid sick days (89.5%, 95% CI 85.8%–93.3%) or extended health benefits (74.1%, 95% CI 66.8%–81.4%). Nearly half of the participants described their health as less than very good (46.7%, 95% CI 37.9%–55.5%). Employment precarity was significantly associated with higher risk of depression (odds ratio 1.02, 95% CI 1.01–1.03). Interpretation: Despite being key members of health care teams, most PSWs were precariously employed with low wages that keep them in poverty; the poor work conditions they faced could be detrimental to their physical and mental health. Equitable strategies are needed to provide decent work conditions for PSWs and to improve their health.","PeriodicalId":93946,"journal":{"name":"CMAJ open","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47535625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CMAJ openPub Date : 2022-04-01DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20210049
A. Horton, P. Nugus, M. Fortin, D. Landsberg, M. Cantarovich, Shaifali Sandal
{"title":"Health system barriers and facilitators to living donor kidney transplantation: a qualitative case study in British Columbia","authors":"A. Horton, P. Nugus, M. Fortin, D. Landsberg, M. Cantarovich, Shaifali Sandal","doi":"10.9778/cmajo.20210049","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9778/cmajo.20210049","url":null,"abstract":"Background: In patients with kidney failure, living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) is the best treatment option; yet, LDKT rates have stagnated in Canada and vary widely across provinces. We aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to LDKT in a high-performing health system. Methods: This study was conducted using a qualitative exploratory case study of British Columbia. Data collection, conducted between October 2020 and January 2021, entailed document review and semistructured interviews with key stakeholders, including provincial leadership, care teams and patients. We recruited participants via purposive sampling and snowballing technique. We generated themes using thematic analysis. Results: After analysis of interviews conducted with 22 participants (5 representatives from provincial organizations, 7 health care providers at transplant centres, 8 health care providers from regional units and 2 patients) and document review, we identified the following 5 themes as facilitators to LDKT: a centralized infrastructure, a mandate for timely intervention, an equitable funding model, a commitment to collaboration and cultivating distributed expertise. The relationship between 2 provincial organizations (BC Transplant and BC Renal Agency) was identified as key to enabling the mandate and processes for LDKT. Five barriers were identified that arose from silos between provincial organizations and manifested as inconsistencies in coordinating LDKT along the spectrum of care. These were divided accountability structures, disconnected care processes, missed training opportunities, inequitable access by region and financial burden for donors and recipients. Interpretation: We found strong links between provincial infrastructure and the processes that facilitate or impede timely intervention and referral of patients for LDKT. Our findings have implications for policy-makers and provide opportunities for cross-jurisdictional comparative analyses.","PeriodicalId":93946,"journal":{"name":"CMAJ open","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43762113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CMAJ openPub Date : 2022-04-01DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20200242
P. Yuan, Juan Li, E. Aruffo, E. Gatov, Qi Li, Tingting Zheng, N. Ogden, B. Sander, Jane Heffernan, S. Collier, Y. Tan, Jun Li, Julien Arino, J. Bélair, James Watmough, J. Kong, I. Moyles, Huaiping Zhu
{"title":"Efficacy of a “stay-at-home” policy on SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Toronto, Canada: a mathematical modelling study","authors":"P. Yuan, Juan Li, E. Aruffo, E. Gatov, Qi Li, Tingting Zheng, N. Ogden, B. Sander, Jane Heffernan, S. Collier, Y. Tan, Jun Li, Julien Arino, J. Bélair, James Watmough, J. Kong, I. Moyles, Huaiping Zhu","doi":"10.9778/cmajo.20200242","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9778/cmajo.20200242","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Globally, nonpharmaceutical interventions for COVID-19, including stay-at-home policies, limitations on gatherings and closure of public spaces, are being lifted. We explored the effect of lifting a stay-at-home policy on virus resurgence under different conditions. Methods: Using confirmed case data from Toronto, Canada, between Feb. 24 and June 24, 2020, we ran a compartmental model with household structure to simulate the impact of the stay-at-home policy considering different levels of compliance. We estimated threshold values for the maximum number of contacts, probability of transmission and testing rates required for the safe reopening of the community. Results: After the implementation of the stay-at-home policy, the contact rate outside the household fell by 39% (from 11.58 daily contacts to 7.11). The effective reproductive number decreased from 3.56 (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.02–4.14) on Mar. 12 to 0.84 (95% CI 0.79–0.89) on May 6. Strong adherence to stay-at-home policies appeared to prevent SARS-CoV-2 resurgence, but extending the duration of stay-at-home policies beyond 2 months had little added effect on cumulative cases (25 958 for 65 days of a stay-at-home policy and 23 461 for 95 days, by July 2, 2020) and deaths (1404 for 65 days and 1353 for 95 days). To avoid a resurgence, the average number of contacts per person per day should be kept below 9, with strict nonpharmaceutical interventions in place. Interpretation: Our study demonstrates that the stay-at-home policy implemented in Toronto in March 2020 had a substantial impact on mitigating the spread of SARS-CoV-2. In the context of the early pandemic, before the emergence of variants of concern, reopening schools and workplaces was possible only with other nonpharmaceutical interventions in place.","PeriodicalId":93946,"journal":{"name":"CMAJ open","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43997255","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CMAJ openPub Date : 2022-04-01DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20210108
Jason A. McVicar, Jenny Hoang-Nguyen, J. O’Shea, C. Champion, Chelsey Sheffield, Jean Allen, D. Kimmaliardjuk, A. Poon, M. Bould, J. Nickerson, N. Caron, D. McIsaac
{"title":"Postoperative outcomes for Nunavut Inuit at a Canadian quaternary care centre: a retrospective cohort study","authors":"Jason A. McVicar, Jenny Hoang-Nguyen, J. O’Shea, C. Champion, Chelsey Sheffield, Jean Allen, D. Kimmaliardjuk, A. Poon, M. Bould, J. Nickerson, N. Caron, D. McIsaac","doi":"10.9778/cmajo.20210108","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9778/cmajo.20210108","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Structural aspects of health care systems, such as limited access to specialized surgical and perioperative care, can negatively affect the outcomes and resource use of patients undergoing elective and emergency surgical procedures. The aim of this study was to compare postoperative outcomes of Nunavut Inuit and non-Inuit patients at a Canadian quaternary care centre. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving adult (age ≥ 18 yr) patients undergoing inpatient surgery from 2011 to 2018 at The Ottawa Hospital, the quaternary referral hospital for the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut. The study was designed and conducted in collaboration with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. The primary outcome was a composite of in-hospital death or complications. Secondary outcomes included postoperative length of stay in hospital, adverse discharge disposition, readmissions within 30 days and total hospitalization costs. Results: A total of 98 701 episodes of inpatient surgical care occurred among patients aged 18 to 104 years; 928 (0.9%) of these involved Nunavut Inuit, and 97 773 involved non-Inuit patients. Death or postoperative complication occurred more often among Nunavut Inuit than non-Inuit patients (159 [17.2%] v. 15 691 [16.1%]), which was significantly different after adjustment for age, sex, surgical specialty, risk and urgency (odds ratio [OR] 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–1.51). This association was most pronounced in cases of cancer (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.03–2.58) and elective surgery (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.20–2.10). Adjusted rates of readmission, adverse discharge disposition, length of stay and total costs were significantly higher for Nunavut Inuit. Interpretation: Nunavut Inuit had a 25% relative increase in their odds of morbidity and death after surgery at a major quaternary care hospital in Canada compared with non-Inuit patients, while also having higher rates of other adverse outcomes and resource use. An examination of perioperative systems involving patients, Inuit leadership, health care providers and governments is required to address these differences in health outcomes.","PeriodicalId":93946,"journal":{"name":"CMAJ open","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44681051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CMAJ openPub Date : 2022-04-01DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20210068
Ya-Ping Jin, M. Canizares, Y. Buys
{"title":"Differences by sex in supply, payments and clinical activity of family physicians in Ontario: a retrospective population-based cohort study","authors":"Ya-Ping Jin, M. Canizares, Y. Buys","doi":"10.9778/cmajo.20210068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9778/cmajo.20210068","url":null,"abstract":"Background: The proportion of women entering medicine has increased in recent years, and understanding the different practice patterns of female and male family physicians (FPs) will provide important information for health workforce planning. We sought to evaluate differences by sex in the supply, payments and clinical activity among FPs in Ontario. Methods: We conducted a cohort study using claims data from the Ontario Health Insurance Plan. We included all Ontario FPs who submitted claims from 1992 to 2018. We analyzed data using regression analyses for our outcomes of yearly number of FPs, payments, patient visits and distinct patients. Results: The number of practising FPs increased from 10 370 in 1992 to 14 329 in 2018, with an annual increase of 155 female FPs and 13 male FPs. In 2018, male FPs outnumbered female FPs by 1159. Among male FPs, 32.7% worked less than 1 full-time equivalent (FTE) position, 18.1% worked 1 FTE and 49.2% worked more than 1 FTE, with little change over the 27-year study period. Among female FPs, the percentage of those who worked less than 1 FTE position decreased over time (58.6% in 1998 to 48.3% in 2015), those who worked 1 FTE was stable (22.2%–24.3%) and those who worked more than 1 FTE increased (18.7% in 1998 to 28.0% in 2017). Yearly payments were higher for male FPs than female FPs by 40%–60% overall and by 10%–20% in FPs who worked more than 1 FTE. For FPs who worked 1 FTE or less than 1 FTE, both sexes had similar payment amounts (from 2005–2018). For FPs who worked 1 FTE, female FPs were less likely to receive payments from fee-for-service after 2004, and had 550 fewer visits and 121 fewer patients annually than male FPs. Interpretation: In Ontario, there are differences by sex in FP supply, payments, percentages of FTE groups, number of patient visits and number of distinct patients. Health administrators should be mindful of these differences when considering FP workforce plans to ensure a stronger primary health care system, with adequate health care delivery for the population.","PeriodicalId":93946,"journal":{"name":"CMAJ open","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45252533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CMAJ openPub Date : 2022-04-01DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20220026
M. Bhatt, A. Plint, K. Tang, R. Malley, Anne Pham Huy, Candice McGahern, Jennifer Dawson, M. Pelchat, Lauren Dawson, T. Varshney, C. Arnold, Y. Galipeau, Michael Austin, N. Thampi, F. Alnaji, Marc-André Langlois, R. Zemek
{"title":"Household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from unvaccinated asymptomatic and symptomatic household members with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection: an antibody-surveillance study","authors":"M. Bhatt, A. Plint, K. Tang, R. Malley, Anne Pham Huy, Candice McGahern, Jennifer Dawson, M. Pelchat, Lauren Dawson, T. Varshney, C. Arnold, Y. Galipeau, Michael Austin, N. Thampi, F. Alnaji, Marc-André Langlois, R. Zemek","doi":"10.9778/cmajo.20220026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9778/cmajo.20220026","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Household transmission contributes to SARS-CoV-2 spread, but the role of children in transmission is unclear. We conducted a study that included symptomatic and asymptomatic children and adults exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in their households with the objective of determining how SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted within households. Methods: In this case-ascertained antibody-surveillance study, we enrolled households in Ottawa, Ontario, in which at least 1 household member had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction testing. The enrolment period was September 2020 to March 2021. Potentially eligible participants were identified if they had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 at an academic emergency department or affiliated testing centre; people who learned about the study through the media could also self-identify for participation. At least 2 participants were required for a household to be eligible for study participation, and at least 1 enrolled participant per household had to be a child (age < 18 yr). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to evaluate SARS-CoV-2-specific IgA, IgM and IgG against the spike-trimer and nucleocapsid protein. The primary outcome was household secondary attack rate, defined as the proportion of household contacts positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibody among the total number of household contacts participating in the study. We performed descriptive statistics at both the individual and household levels. To estimate and compare outcomes between patient subgroups, and to examine predictors of household transmission, we fitted a series of multivariable logistic regression with robust standard errors to account for clustering of individuals within households. Results: We enrolled 695 participants from 180 households: 180 index participants (74 children, 106 adults) and 515 of their household contacts (266 children, 249 adults). A total of 487 household contacts (94.6%) (246 children, 241 adults) had SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing, of whom 239 had a positive result (secondary attack rate 49.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 42.9%–55.3%). Eighty-eight (36.8%, 95% CI 29.3%–43.2%) of the 239 were asymptomatic; asymptomatic rates were similar for children (51/130 [39.2%, 95% CI 30.7%–48.5%]) and adults (37/115 [32.2%, 95% CI 24.2%–41.4%]) (odds ratio [OR] 1.3, 95% CI 0.8–2.1). Adults were more likely than children to transmit SARS-CoV-2 (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.3–3.6). The odds of transmission from asymptomatic (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.2–1.4) versus symptomatic (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.6–1.4) index participants to household contacts was uncertain. Predictors of household transmission included household density (number of people per bedroom), relationship to index participant and number of cases in the household. Interpretation: The rate of SARS-CoV-2 transmission within households was nearly 50% during the study period, and children were an important source of spread. The findings suggest that children are an impo","PeriodicalId":93946,"journal":{"name":"CMAJ open","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46626330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CMAJ openPub Date : 2022-04-01DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20210192
Nicki Bennett, Manolhas Karkada, M. Erdoğan, R. Green
{"title":"The effect of legislation on firearm-related deaths in Canada: a systematic review","authors":"Nicki Bennett, Manolhas Karkada, M. Erdoğan, R. Green","doi":"10.9778/cmajo.20210192","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9778/cmajo.20210192","url":null,"abstract":"Background Firearm misuse is common in cases of homicide, suicide and unintentional injury; this is a major public health issue, with societal and economic costs extending beyond the immediate injury or loss of life. We sought to review the evidence on the effectiveness of Canadian legislation in reducing deaths caused by firearms. Methods Five databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science and Scopus) were searched from inception to May 2021 for studies evaluating the effect of Canadian gun control laws Bill C-51 (1977), Bill C-17 (1991) and Bill C-68 (1995) on rates of firearm-related death. Two reviewers performed article screening independently and in duplicate. We synthesized data using descriptive statistics. The primary outcome of interest was firearm-related mortality rates. Because of study heterogeneity, a meta-analysis was not performed. Results Overall, 1479 articles were screened, and 18 studies were included. Ten studies examined the effect on homicides, of which 5 reported a reduction during the postlegislation period; 1 study reported evidence of substitution from firearms to other methods of homicide among people aged 15–24 years. Eleven studies evaluated the effect on suicides, with 9 finding a reduction in suicide rates. Eight of these studies reported evidence of substitution from firearms to other suicide methods. Two studies investigated accidental deaths; neither reported any benefit after legislation. Interpretation Evidence supporting the effectiveness of Canadian firearms legislation in the reduction of homicide and accidental death rates is inconclusive; a decrease in firearm-related suicide rates was observed by most studies, but evidence of method substitution was also identified. Re-evaluation of existing laws may be beneficial to build an improved and effective evidence-based national framework for prevention of gun violence. PROSPERO registration CRD42020192486","PeriodicalId":93946,"journal":{"name":"CMAJ open","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47703842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CMAJ openPub Date : 2022-04-01DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20210147
N. Scime, Erin Hetherington, A. Metcalfe, K. Chaput, S. Dumanski, C. Seow, E. Brennand
{"title":"Association between chronic conditions and urinary incontinence in females: a cross-sectional study using national survey data","authors":"N. Scime, Erin Hetherington, A. Metcalfe, K. Chaput, S. Dumanski, C. Seow, E. Brennand","doi":"10.9778/cmajo.20210147","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9778/cmajo.20210147","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Urinary incontinence affects up to half of women, yet few speak to their health care provider about or receive treatment for the condition. To aid with identifying subpopulations at risk for urinary incontinence, we examined the associations between 10 chronic health conditions and urinary incontinence among Canadian adult females. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of survey data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (2013–2014) involving female respondents aged 25 years or older living in a private dwelling. Presence of chronic conditions and urinary incontinence were measured by self-report. We used logistic regression modelling with sampling weights, controlling for age, income, ethnicity, body mass index and smoking. Multiple imputation and probabilistic bias analysis were used to address missing covariate data and unmeasured confounding from parity. Results: Our analysis included 60 186 respondents representing more than 12 million Canadian females, of whom 45.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 45.0%–46.6%) reported at least 1 chronic condition. Chronic conditions were associated with more than twice the odds of urinary incontinence (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.42, 95% CI 2.02–2.89). Associations were largest for bowel disorders (adjusted OR 2.92, 95% CI 2.44–3.49); modest for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (adjusted OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.63–2.45), asthma (adjusted OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.52–2.19), arthritis (adjusted OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.74–2.24) and heart disease (adjusted OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.48–2.02); and smallest for diabetes (adjusted OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.02–1.41) and high blood pressure (adjusted OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.12–1.44). Results slightly attenuated but did not substantively change after imputation and bias analysis. Interpretation: We found that chronic conditions are associated with significantly higher odds of comorbid urinary incontinence among Canadian adult females, which is consistent with previous research. Our findings support routine inquiry regarding urinary incontinence symptoms among women accessing health care for chronic conditions.","PeriodicalId":93946,"journal":{"name":"CMAJ open","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44644741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CMAJ openPub Date : 2022-04-01DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20210038
M. McNeely, S. Harris, Naomi D Dolgoy, Mona M. Al Onazi, Joanna F. Parkinson, Lori Radke, X. Kostaras, L. Dennett, Jean Ryan, M. Dalzell, Anna Kennedy, L. Capozzi, A. Towers, K. Campbell, J. Binkley, K. King, D. Keast
{"title":"Update to the Canadian clinical practice guideline for best-practice management of breast cancer–related lymphedema: study protocol","authors":"M. McNeely, S. Harris, Naomi D Dolgoy, Mona M. Al Onazi, Joanna F. Parkinson, Lori Radke, X. Kostaras, L. Dennett, Jean Ryan, M. Dalzell, Anna Kennedy, L. Capozzi, A. Towers, K. Campbell, J. Binkley, K. King, D. Keast","doi":"10.9778/cmajo.20210038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9778/cmajo.20210038","url":null,"abstract":"Background: One of the more frequent complications following treatment for breast cancer, lymphedema is a substantial swelling of the arm, breast and chest wall that occurs on the side where lymph nodes were removed. The aim of this work is to update recommendations on the prevention, diagnosis and management of lymphedema related to breast cancer. Methods: We present the protocol for an update of the 2001 clinical practice guideline on lymphedema from the Steering Committee for Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Care and Treatment of Breast Cancer. We will use a patient-oriented research approach with a focus on self-management and the positive health model to inform the updated guideline development. The methods proposed will be undertaken with consideration of the standards outlined in the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) instrument. The literature will be appraised by evaluating existing guidelines from other countries, the evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses and direct evidence from clinical studies. We will manage competing interests according to Guidelines International Network principles. Recommendations will be presented using an actionable statement format and will be linked to the level of evidence along with any relevant considerations used in formulation. A draft of the guideline will be produced by the steering committee then sent out to international experts and stakeholder groups for feedback. Interpretation: The primary benefit of this clinical guideline will be to improve the quality of care of women with breast cancer–related lymphedema. Findings will be disseminated at national and international conferences and through webinars and educational videos hosted on the websites of the supporting organizations.","PeriodicalId":93946,"journal":{"name":"CMAJ open","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45813905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CMAJ openPub Date : 2022-04-01DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20210214
M. Giruparajah, K. Everett, B. Shah, P. Austin, Shai Fuchs, Rayzel Shulman
{"title":"Introduction of publicly funded pharmacare and socioeconomic disparities in glycemic management in children and youth with type 1 diabetes in Ontario, Canada: a population-based trend analysis","authors":"M. Giruparajah, K. Everett, B. Shah, P. Austin, Shai Fuchs, Rayzel Shulman","doi":"10.9778/cmajo.20210214","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9778/cmajo.20210214","url":null,"abstract":"Background: We evaluated the impact of publicly funded pharmacare (Ontario Health Insurance Plan [OHIP]+), which was introduced in Ontario on Jan. 1, 2018, for youth less than 25 years of age, on temporal trends in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c, a measure of glycemic management) and the differential effect on the change in temporal trends in HbA1c according to socioeconomic status (SES). Methods: We conducted a trend analysis using administrative data sets. We included youth aged 21 years, 9 months or younger, residing in Ontario on Jan. 1, 2016, with diabetes diagnosed before age 15 years and before Jan. 1, 2015. We used claims for insulin to measure pharmacare use. We evaluated the change in HbA1c (%) per 90 days before (Jan. 1, 2016, to Dec. 31, 2017) the introduction of and during (Apr. 1, 2018, to Mar. 31, 2019) OHIP+ coverage, and the difference in the change in HbA1c according to SES, using segmented regression analysis. Results: Of 9641 patients, 7041 (73.0%) made an insulin claim. We found a negligible difference in the temporal change in HbA1c during compared with before OHIP+ coverage that was not statistically significant (β estimate −0.0002, 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.0004 to 0.0000). The size of the effect was slightly greater in those individuals with the lowest SES than in those with the highest SES (β estimate −0.0008, 95% CI −0.0015 to −0.0001). Interpretation: We found that the effect of OHIP+ on the change in HbA1c was slightly greater for youth in the lowest SES than for those in the highest SES. Our findings suggest that publicly funded pharmacare may be an effective policy tool to combat worsening socioeconomic disparities in diabetes care and outcomes.","PeriodicalId":93946,"journal":{"name":"CMAJ open","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46448412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}