Identification of homelessness using health administrative data in Ontario, Canada following a national coding mandate: a validation study.

OBJECTIVE: Conducting longitudinal health research about people experiencing homelessness poses unique challenges. Identification through administrative data permits large, cost-effective studies; however, case validity in Ontario is unknown after a 2018 Canada-wide policy change mandating homelessness coding in hospital databases. We validated case definitions for identifying homelessness using Ontario health administrative databases after introduction of this coding mandate. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We assessed 42 case definitions in a representative sample of people experiencing homelessness in Toronto (n=640) from whom longitudinal housing history (ranging from 2018 to 2022) was obtained; and a randomly selected sample of presumably housed people (n=128,000) in Toronto. We evaluated sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and positive likelihood ratios to select an optimal definition, and compared the resulting true positives against false positives and false negatives to identify potential causes of misclassification. RESULTS: The optimal case definition included any homelessness indicator during a hospital-based encounter within 180 days of a period of homelessness (sensitivity=52.9%; specificity=99.5%). For periods of homelessness with ≥ 1 hospital-based healthcare encounter, the optimal case definition had greatly improved sensitivity (75.1%) while retaining excellent specificity (98.5%). Review of false positives suggested that homeless status is sometimes erroneously carried forward in healthcare databases after an individual transitioned out of homelessness. CONCLUSIONS: Case definitions to identify homelessness using Ontario health administrative data exhibit moderate to good sensitivity and excellent specificity. Sensitivity has more than doubled since the implementation of a national coding mandate. Mandatory collection and reporting of homelessness information within administrative data present invaluable opportunities for advancing research on the health and healthcare needs of people experiencing homelessness.

High prevalence of iron deficiency and socioeconomic disparities in laboratory screening of non-pregnant females of reproductive age: A retrospective cohort study.

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and non-anemic iron deficiency (NAID) are highly prevalent among non-pregnant females of reproductive age. Canada has no national screening guidelines for this population. Screening, when performed, is often with a complete blood count alone without ferritin or iron indices. The primary objective was to determine the prevalence of screening for NAID and IDA over a 3-year period in non-pregnant females of reproductive age who had tests performed at outpatient laboratories in Ontario, Canada. Retrospective cohort study of non-pregnant females ages 15-54 in Ontario, from 2017 to 2019. NAID was defined as ferritin <30 µg/L, anemia as hemoglobin <120 g/L, and IDA as ferritin <30 µg/L and hemoglobin <120 g/L. Annual household income was estimated using patient postal codes. A total of 784 132 non-pregnant females were included. The 82.1% were screened for iron deficiency, 38.3% had NAID and 13.1% had IDA; 55.6% with IDA had normal mean corpuscular volumes. The median household income was $89454.80 compared with a provincial median of $65285.00. Patients in the lowest income quintile had the highest odds of being anemic, and the lowest odds of having a ferritin checked. A large proportion of non-pregnant females of reproductive age in this cohort were screened for iron deficiency. In this relatively privileged cohort, NAID affected nearly 40%, and IDA 13%. Most patients with IDA did not have microcytosis. Low household income was associated with the greatest odds of anemia and the lowest odds of being screened, highlighting inequitable access to screening for IDA in Ontario, Canada.

Healthcare visits for new neurodevelopmental problems before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare delivery. We hypothesized that children with neurodevelopmental problems would have reduced healthcare utilization during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic. METHODS: We conducted a population-based study of healthcare visits for new neurodevelopmental problems among children ages 0-6 years in Ontario, Canada. Our outcome measure was rate per 1000 children-months for healthcare visits for new neurodevelopmental problems. We compared changes in monthly rates before and during the pandemic using interrupted time series analysis (ITSA). RESULTS: The rate of new neurodevelopmental problems before the pandemic was 6.31 per 1000 children-months and during the pandemic was 6.58 per 1000 children-months. However, using ITSA, there were no differences in monthly rates of healthcare visits for new neurodevelopmental problems before and during the pandemic. The observed rate during the first 30 days of the pandemic dropped to 3.40 per 1000 children-months. CONCLUSION: We found no significant difference in rates of healthcare visits for new neurodevelopmental problems before and during the pandemic. There was a decrease in the number of visits during the first 30 days of the pandemic compared to all months prior. IMPACT: This study found no significant difference in rates of healthcare visits for new neurodevelopmental problems before and during the pandemic. There was a decrease in the number of visits during the first 30 days of the pandemic compared to all months prior. This study adds information on healthcare access for children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid deployment of virtual healthcare delivery in Ontario, Canada may explain the fast recovery of healthcare utilization for children with neurodevelopmental problems.

Field trauma triage criteria associated with need for dedicated trauma center care: a single-center retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Direct transport from the scene of injury to a trauma centre reduces saves lives. In Ontario, paramedics use the field trauma triage standard (FTTS) to determine if a patient meets trauma bypass criteria. Recent studies have questioned the efficacy of the FTTS in identifying severely injured patients. The objective of this study was to determine the predictive performance of the FTTS on the need for trauma center care in patients who were transported to a trauma center. METHODS: This was a single-center health records study of patients transported by ambulance directly to a level 1 trauma center. Hospital based trauma center need and injury severity score-based need were defined. Bivariate associations with one or more FTTS criteria were tested using the Wilcoxon two-sample test for continuous variables, and the Chi-square or Fisher's exact test for categorical indicators. The sensitivity and specificity of each category of the FTTS were calculated. RESULTS: There were 1427 patients included in the study, with 76% men, mean age of 40, and 76% had a blunt mechanism. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the FTTS was 90.9% and 20.8% for hospital-based need and 91.6% and 20.3 for injury severity need. The most sensitive variable for hospital-based need was physiologic criteria (53.7). Mechanism of injury was the most sensitive criteria for injury severity need (54.8). Physiological criteria had the highest association with hospital-based and injury severity need (adjusted odds ratios 7.5 [95% CI 5.8-9.8] and 5.1 [95% CI 3.9-6.7]). CONCLUSIONS: The FTTS has fair performance in identifying the need for hospital-based and injury severity need. Systolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg, Glasgow Coma Scale (motor) less than 6, and falls greater than 6 m were most predictive of trauma center need. Improving prehospital trauma triage is critical to ensure timely transport to a trauma centre.

RéSUMé: INTRODUCTION: Le transport direct de la scène de la blessure à un centre de traumatologie permet de sauver des vies. En Ontario, les ambulanciers paramédicaux utilisent la norme de triage des traumatismes sur le terrain (FTTS) pour déterminer si un patient répond aux critères de pontage traumatique. Des études récentes ont remis en question l'efficacité du FTTS dans l'identification des patients gravement blessés. L'objectif de cette étude était de déterminer la performance prédictive du FTTS sur le besoin de soins en centre de traumatologie chez les patients qui ont été transportés dans un centre de traumatologie. MéTHODES: Il s'agissait d'une étude des dossiers médicaux d'un seul centre portant sur des patients transportés par ambulance directement à un centre de traumatologie de niveau 1. Les besoins des centres de traumatologie hospitaliers et les besoins basés sur le score de gravité des blessures ont été définis. Les associations bivariées avec un ou plusieurs critères FTTS ont été testées à l'aide du test à deux échantillons de Wilcoxon pour les variables continues et du test de Fisher pour les indicateurs catégoriels. La sensibilité et la spécificité de chaque catégorie du FTTS ont été calculées. RéSULTATS: Il y avait 1427 patients inclus dans l'étude, avec 76% d'hommes, âge moyen de 40, et 76% avaient un mécanisme émoussé. La sensibilité et la spécificité globales du FTTS étaient de 90,9 % et de 20,8 % pour les besoins hospitaliers et de 91,6 % et de 20,3 % pour les besoins de gravité des blessures. La variable la plus sensible pour les besoins hospitaliers était les critères physiologiques (53,7). Le mécanisme de blessure était le critère le plus sensible pour le besoin de gravité de la blessure (54,8). Les critères physiologiques étaient les plus associés aux besoins hospitaliers et aux besoins en matière de gravité des blessures (rapports de cotes ajustés de 7,5 [IC à 95 % 5,8-9,8] et 5,1 [IC à 95 % 3,9-6,7]). CONCLUSION: Le FTTS a un rendement équitable pour ce qui est de déterminer le besoin de soins hospitaliers et de gravité des blessures. La pression artérielle systolique inférieure à 90mmHg, l'échelle de coma de Glasgow (moteur) inférieure à 6 et les chutes supérieures à 6m étaient les plus prédictives des besoins du centre de traumatologie. L'amélioration du triage des traumatismes avant l'hospitalisation est essentielle pour assurer un transport rapide vers un centre de traumatologie.

Enhancing detection of SARS-CoV-2 re-infections using longitudinal sero-monitoring: demonstration of a methodology in a cohort of people experiencing homelessness in Toronto, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Accurate estimation of SARS-CoV-2 re-infection is crucial to understanding the connection between infection burden and adverse outcomes. However, relying solely on PCR testing results in underreporting. We present a novel approach that includes longitudinal serologic data, and compared it against testing alone among people experiencing homelessness. METHODS: We recruited 736 individuals experiencing homelessness in Toronto, Canada, between June and September 2021. Participants completed surveys and provided saliva and blood serology samples every three months over 12 months of follow-up. Re-infections were defined as: positive PCR or rapid antigen test (RAT) results > 90 days after initial infection; new serologic evidence of infection among individuals with previous infection who sero-reverted; or increases in anti-nucleocapsid in seropositive individuals whose levels had begun to decrease. RESULTS: Among 381 participants at risk, we detected 37 re-infections through PCR/RAT and 98 re-infections through longitudinal serology. The comprehensive method identified 37.4 re-infection events per 100 person-years, more than four-fold more than the rate detected through PCR/RAT alone (9.0 events/100 person-years). Almost all test-confirmed re-infections (85%) were also detectable by longitudinal serology. CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal serology significantly enhances the detection of SARS-CoV-2 re-infections. Our findings underscore the importance and value of combining data sources for effective research and public health surveillance.

A Brief Tool to Screen Patients for Precarious Employment: A Validation Study.

PURPOSE: Precarious employment, defined by temporary contracts, unstable employment, or job insecurity, is increasingly common and is associated with inconsistent access to benefits, lower income, and greater exposure to physical and psycholosocial hazards. Clinicians can benefit from a simple approach to screen for precarious employment to improve their understanding of a patient's social context, help with diagnoses, and inform treatment plans and intersectional interventions. Our objective was to validate a screening tool for precarious employment. METHODS: We used a 3-item screening tool that covered key aspects of precarious employment: non-standard employment, variable income, and violations of occupational health and safety rights and protections. Answers were compared with classification using the Poverty and Employment Precarity in Southern Ontario Employment Index. Participants were aged 18 years and older, fluent in English, and employed. They were recruited in 7 primary care clinic waiting rooms in Toronto, Canada over 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 204 people aged 18-72 years (mean 38 [SD 11.3]) participated, of which 93 (45.6%) identified as men and 119 (58.3%) self-reported as White. Participants who reported 2 or more of the 3 items as positive were almost 4 times more likely to be precariously employed (positive likelihood ratio = 3.84 [95% CI, 2.15-6.80]). CONCLUSIONS: A 3-item screening tool can help identify precarious employment. Our tool is useful for starting a conversation about employment precarity and work conditions in clinical settings. Implementation of this screening tool in health settings could enable better targeting of resources for managing care and connecting patients to legal and employment support services.

Technical Challenges for Laryngeal Electromyography.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) is a useful diagnostic test in the evaluation of vocal fold paralysis (VFP). This study investigates factors that can make LEMG challenging to perform. METHODS: Patients with subacute unilateral VFP presented for LEMG were prospectively enrolled. Demographic data including BMI, previous neck surgery, and anatomic factors were collected. Patient-reported pain related to the procedure was recorded on a visual analogue scale (VAS). Electromyographer and otolaryngologist recorded a consensus rating of the perceived difficulty in performing the test and confidence in using the results for clinical decision-making. RESULTS: A total of 111 patients (56.8% female) were enrolled between August 2015 and August 2018. The mean age was 55 ± 14 years, and the average body mass index (BMI) was 28.5 ± 6.4. The mean patient-reported VAS score for pain was 35 ± 24. Notably, 31.2% of the tests were considered "very easy," 32.1% were considered "mildly challenging" and 23.9% and 12.8% were considered "moderately challenging" and "extremely challenging," respectively, by the clinicians. Common factors affecting LEMG difficulty included poorly palpable surface anatomy (50.5%) and patient intolerance (15.6%). Clinicians felt confident in 76.1% of the test findings. Bivariate analyses showed that prior neck surgery is associated with elevated VAS (p = 0.02), but clinician-perceived difficulty of performing the test is not associated with elevated VAS scores (p = 0.55). CONCLUSIONS: Majority of LEMG tests are well tolerated by patients. Physicians reported more confidence using LEMG for clinical decision-making when the test was easier to perform. Difficult surface anatomy and patient intolerance affects clinician confidence in integrating the test results with clinical care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:831-834, 2024.

The Impact of Out-of-Hospital Time and Prehospital Intubation on Return of Spontaneous Circulation following Resuscitative Thoracotomy in Traumatic Cardiac Arrest.

INTRODUCTION: Resuscitative thoracotomy (RT) is a critical procedure performed in certain trauma patients in extremis, with extremely low survival rates. Currently, there is a paucity of data pertaining to prehospital variables and their predictive role in survival outcomes in traumatic cardiac arrest (TCA) patients requiring RT. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of prehospital intubation and out-of-hospital time (OOHT) on return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survival in TCA requiring RT. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of trauma patients presenting to two level-1 trauma centers, St. Michael's Hospital and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, in Toronto, Canada (January 1, 2005-December 31, 2020). Our exposures of interest were any prehospital intubation attempt and OOHT. Primary and secondary outcome measures were ROSC post-RT and survival to hospital discharge, respectively, and data analysis was performed using univariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 195 patients were included, of which 86% were male, and the mean age was 33 years. ROSC and survival to hospital discharge were achieved in 30% and 5% of patients, respectively. Of those who survived to discharge, 89% sustained penetrating trauma. There was no association between OOHT and ROSC (OR = 1.00, 95% CI 0.97-1.03) or survival (OR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.94-1.05). The odds of ROSC were lower in penetrating trauma in the presence of any prehospital intubation attempt (OR = 0.39, 95% CI 0.19-0.82, p = 0.01). ROSC was less likely among all patients with no prehospital signs of life (SOL) compared to those who had prehospital SOL (OR = 0.30, 95% CI 0.13-0.69, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant association between prehospital intubation and lower likelihoods of ROSC in the penetrating TCA population requiring RT, as well as with the absence of prehospital SOL in all patients. OOHT did not appear to significantly impact ROSC or survival.

A Canadian case control study investigating demographic and environmental factors associated with MOGAD.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about demographic and environmental factors associated with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). OBJECTIVE: To investigate factors associated with MOGAD using a case-control design and validated questionnaire from the Environmental Risk Factors in Multiple Sclerosis Study (EnvIMS). METHODS: We enrolled patients with positive MOG antibody serology and diagnosis of MOGAD at six Canadian centres. MOGAD participants completed the EnvIMS questionnaire, and were compared to unaffected controls from the Canadian arm of EnvIMS. We calculated crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) using logistic regression models and Firth's procedure for rare events. RESULTS: We enrolled 39 MOGAD participants with mean (SD) age 45.0 (14.4) years, 28 (71.8 %) women, 25 (64.1 %) White, 26 (66.7 %) residents of Ontario, and mean BMI 28.6 (7.1). They were compared to 956 controls. Using multivariable logistic regression, larger body size at age 10 years (OR: 3.57, 95 % CI:1.23 - 10.33) and non-White ethnicity (OR:3.81, 95 % CI:1.93-7.54) were associated with higher odds of MOGAD. Among Ontario residents, current BMI ≥30 was associated with higher odds of MOGAD (OR:2.79, 95 % CI:1.03-7.53). CONCLUSION: Our findings are hypothesis-generating due to the sample size, but suggest that obesity and ethnicity should be explored as potential risk factors for MOGAD in other settings.

Predictors of Functional Communication Outcomes in Children With Idiopathic Motor Speech Disorders.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate child- and intervention-level factors that predict improvements in functional communication outcomes in children with motor-based speech sound disorders. METHOD: Eighty-five preschool-age children with childhood apraxia of speech (n = 37) and speech motor delay (n = 48) participated. Multivariable logistic regression models estimated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between minimal clinically important difference in the Focus on the Outcomes of Communication Under Six scores and multiple child-level (e.g., age, sex, speech intelligibility, Kaufman Speech Praxis Test diagnostic rating scale) and intervention-level predictors (dose frequency and home practice duration). RESULTS: Overall, 65% of participants demonstrated minimal clinically important difference changes in the functional communication outcomes. Kaufman Speech Praxis Test rating scale was significantly associated with higher odds of noticeable change in functional communication outcomes in children. There is some evidence that delivering the intervention for 2 times per week for 10 weeks provides benefit. CONCLUSION: A rating scale based on task complexity has the potential for serving as a screening tool to triage children for intervention from waitlist and/or determining service delivery for this population.

Formation and Assessment of a Laryngology Pathology Video Atlas for Resident Education.

OBJECTIVE: Conventional reference images of laryngeal pathologies may provide educational value for Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery (OHNS) residents, but observing dynamic vocal fold function is critical for diagnosis. Our aim was to develop and validate a video atlas of laryngeal pathologies for resident education in OHNS. DESIGN: A multi-institution, prospective case-control study. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Ten videos showing 10 representative laryngeal pathologies were verified by two laryngologists. Six videos per category with kappa>0.8 were included in the video database. A collection of the videos was shown to a group of OHNS residents in a quiz fashion to determine if senior trainees would score higher than junior trainees. Another group of residents in OHNS was recruited and randomized to control or intervention. The control group was shown a quiz of 10 laryngeal videos at baseline and 24 weeks later. The intervention group was shown quizzes at baseline and every 6 weeks, ending at 24 weeks. Free-text diagnoses were scored for accuracy. Descriptive statistics, two-tailed tests, and analysis of covariance were performed. RESULTS: Twenty-nine residents participated, with 14 (48.3%) randomized to control, and 15 (51.7%) to the intervention. The postgraduate year (PGY) level had a significant impact on diagnostic performance. PGY1 and 2 had a significantly lower score than PGY5 (P = 0.017 and P = 0.035, respectively). PGY3 and PGY4 scores were not statistically different from PGY5 scores. The mean score difference between groups decreases as the PGY level increases (mean difference between groups = 0.87, P = 0.153), but this was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The current study has created a validated collection of videos that are representative of common laryngeal pathologies and can be easily incorporated into resident video-based learning. Future directions include larger multi-site studies to further elucidate whether repeated viewing of this video atlas can improve OHNS resident laryngology knowledge.

Evaluation of the association of factor XIII at hospital arrival and outcomes in a cohort of severely injured patients.

BACKGROUND: Severe traumatic bleeding depletes coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) and fibrinogen. However, the role of FXIII level in bleeding-related outcomes is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between FXIII levels at hospital arrival and critical administration threshold (≥3 red blood cell units in 1 hour within the first 24 hours), bleeding-related outcomes, death, and baseline characteristics. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in severely injured adult patients (Injury Severity Score of ≥22 or ≥2 red blood cell units transfused in 24 hours) admitted to a level 1 trauma center. Clinical and laboratory data were collected. Baseline FXIII antigen levels were measured in banked patient plasma. Multivariable logistic and linear regression models were used to estimate the association between FXIII levels, outcomes, and baseline characteristics. RESULTS: Three hundred sixty-four of 1730 subjects admitted during a 2-year period were analyzed. Median age was 44 years (IQR, 27-62 years), and median Injury Severity Score was 29 (IQR, 22-34). FXIII levels were not associated with critical administration threshold (odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% CI, 0.97-1.17) or death (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.90-1.07). FXIII was associated with major bleeding (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.02-1.2) and massive transfusion (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.08-1.44). Lower baseline FXIII levels were associated with arrival from a referring hospital (FXIII level, -0.07 U/mL; 95% CI, -0.11 to -0.03), hemoglobin (FXIII level, -0.05 U/mL; 95% CI, -0.07 to -0.03), fibrinogen level (FXIII level, -0.05 U/mL; 95% CI, -0.08 to -0.02), and platelet count (FXIII level, -0.02 U/mL; 95% CI, -0.04 to -0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Baseline FXIII levels in severely injured patients were inconsistently associated with bleeding-related outcomes and mortality. However, their association with major bleeding warrants further investigation of the role of FXIII in massively transfused patients with trauma.

"When I think about my future, I just see darkness": How youth exiting homelessness navigate the hazy, liminal space between socioeconomic exclusion and inclusion.

OBJECTIVES: The overarching objective of this mixed methods longitudinal study was to understand whether and how rent subsidies and mentorship influenced socioeconomic inclusion outcomes for youth exiting homelessness. The focus of this paper is on the qualitative objectives, which evolved from a primary focus on exploring how study mentorship was working as a facilitator of socioeconomic inclusion to focusing on how participants navigated the hazy, liminal space between socioeconomic exclusion and inclusion. METHODS: This was a convergent mixed methods study scaffolded by community-based participatory action axiology. The quantitative component is reported elsewhere and involved a 2-year pilot randomized controlled trial where 24 participants received rent subsidies and 13 were randomly assigned a study mentor; proxy indicators of socioeconomic inclusion were measured every 6 months for 2.5 years. Qualitative objectives were explored using a qualitative descriptive design and theoretically framed using critical social theory. The lead author interviewed 12 participants every 6 months for 2.5 years. Qualitative interviews were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis with an emphasis on critical interpretation. RESULTS: Navigating the liminal space between socioeconomic exclusion and inclusion was complex and non-linear, and the way youth navigated that journey was more strongly associated with factors like informal mentorship (naturally occurring "coach-like" mentorship) and identity capital (sense of purpose, control, self-efficacy, and self-esteem), rather than whether or not they were assigned a formal study mentor. CONCLUSION: A holistic approach integrating coaching and attention to identity capital alongside economic supports may be key to helping youth exiting homelessness achieve socioeconomic inclusion.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIFS: L'objectif primordial de cette étude longitudinale à méthodes mixtes était de comprendre si et comment les suppléments au loyer et le mentorat influencent les résultats sur le plan de l'inclusion socioéconomique pour les jeunes qui sortent du sans-abrisme. Notre article porte sur des objectifs qualitatifs; à l'origine, il visait principalement à explorer l'efficacité du mentorat des études comme moyen de faciliter l'inclusion socioéconomique, puis il a évolué en s'attachant à la manière dont les participantes et les participants trouvaient leurs repères dans l'espace liminaire flou entre l'exclusion et l'inclusion socioéconomique. MéTHODE: Cette étude à méthodes mixtes convergentes est échafaudée sur l'axiologie de l'action participative communautaire. L'élément quantitatif, qui fait l'objet d'un autre article, a impliqué un essai pilote comparatif randomisé de deux ans où 24 participantes et participants ont reçu des suppléments au loyer, et 13 ont été jumelés de façon aléatoire à un tuteur ou une tutrice scolaire; des indicateurs approximatifs de l'inclusion socioéconomique ont été mesurés tous les six mois pendant deux ans et demi. Les objectifs qualitatifs ont été explorés à l'aide d'un protocole descriptif qualitatif et encadrés théoriquement par la théorie sociale critique. L'autrice principale a interviewé 12 participantes et participants tous les six mois pendant deux ans et demi. Les entretiens qualitatifs ont été analysés en employant l'analyse thématique réflexive et en mettant l'accent sur l'interprétation critique. RéSULTATS: L'exploration de l'espace liminaire entre l'exclusion et l'inclusion socioéconomique était complexe et non linéaire, et le parcours des jeunes était davantage associé à des facteurs comme le mentorat informel (le mentorat naturel semblable à celui d'un entraîneur ou d'une entraîneuse) et le capital identitaire (le sentiment d'avoir un but, le contrôle, l'auto-efficacité et l'estime de soi) qu'au fait d'avoir ou non été jumelés à un tuteur ou une tutrice dans leurs études. CONCLUSION: Une démarche holistique intégrant l'encadrement et l'attention au capital identitaire, en plus des mesures de soutien économique, pourrait être essentielle pour aider les jeunes qui sortent du sans-abrisme à s'intégrer sur le plan socioéconomique.

Evaluating a pilot, structured, face-to-face, antimicrobial stewardship, prospective audit-and-feedback program in emergency general surgery service in a community hospital.

Background: Prospective audit and feedback (PAF) is an established practice in critical care settings but not in surgical populations. We pilot-tested a structured face-to-face PAF program for our acute-care surgery (ACS) service. Methods: This was a mixed-methods study. For the quantitative analysis, the structured PAF period was from August 1, 2017, to April 30, 2019. The ad hoc PAF period was from May 1, 2019, to January 31, 2021. Interrupted time-series segmented negative binomial regression analysis was used to evaluate change in antimicrobial usage measured in days of therapy per 1,000 patient days for all systemic and targeted antimicrobials. Secondary outcomes included C. difficile infections, length of stay and readmission within 30 days. Each secondary outcome was analyzed using a logistic regression or negative binomial regression model. For the qualitative analyses, all ACS surgeons and trainees from November 23, 2015, to April 30, 2019, were invited to participate in an email-based anonymous survey developed using implementation science principles. Responses were measured using counts. Results: In total, 776 ACS patients were included in the structured PAF period and 783 patients were included in the in ad hoc PAF period. No significant changes in level or trend for antimicrobial usage were detected for all and targeted antimicrobials. Similarly, no significant differences were detected for secondary outcomes. The survey response rate was 25% (n = 10). Moreover, 50% agreed that PAF provided them with skills to use antimicrobials more judiciously, and 80% agreed that PAF improved the quality of antimicrobial treatment for their patients. Conclusion: Structured PAF showed clinical outcomes similar to ad hoc PAF. Structured PAF was well received and was perceived as beneficial by surgical staff.

Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among People Experiencing Homelessness in Toronto, Canada.

Importance: People experiencing homelessness are at high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Incident infection rates have yet to be established in these communities and are needed to inform infection prevention guidance and related interventions. Objective: To quantify the SARS-CoV-2 incident infection rate among people experiencing homelessness in Toronto, Canada, in 2021 and 2022 and to assess factors associated with incident infection. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective cohort study was conducted among individuals aged 16 years and older who were randomly selected between June and September 2021 from 61 homeless shelters, temporary distancing hotels, and encampments in Toronto, Canada. Exposures: Self-reported housing characteristics, such as number sharing living space. Main Outcomes and Measures: Prevalence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection in summer 2021, defined as self-reported or polymerase chain reaction (PCR)- or serology-confirmed evidence of infection at or before the baseline interview, and SARS-CoV-2 incident infection, defined as self-reported or PCR- or serology-confirmed infection among participants without history of infection at baseline. Factors associated with infection were assessed using modified Poisson regression with generalized estimating equations. Results: The 736 participants (415 of whom did not have SARS-CoV-2 infection at baseline and were included in the primary analysis) had a mean (SD) age of 46.1 (14.6) years; 486 (66.0%) self-identified as male. Of these, 224 (30.4% [95% CI, 27.4%-34.0%]) had a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection by summer 2021. Of the remaining 415 participants with follow-up, 124 experienced infection within 6 months, representing an incident infection rate of 29.9% (95% CI, 25.7%-34.4%), or 5.8% (95% CI, 4.8%-6.8%) per person-month. Report after onset of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant was associated with incident infection, with an adjusted rate ratio (aRR) of 6.28 (95% CI, 3.94-9.99). Other factors associated with incident infection included recent immigration to Canada (aRR, 2.74 [95% CI, 1.64-4.58]) and alcohol consumption over the past interval (aRR, 1.67 [95% CI, 1.12-2.48]). Self-reported housing characteristics were not significantly associated with incident infection. Conclusions and Relevance: In this longitudinal study of people experiencing homelessness in Toronto, SARS-CoV-2 incident infection rates were high in 2021 and 2022, particularly once the Omicron variant became dominant in the region. Increased focus on homelessness prevention is needed to more effectively and equitably protect these communities.

A national case-control study investigating demographic and environmental factors associated with NMOSD.

BACKGROUND: Risk factors for aquaporin-4 (AQP4+) antibody neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) are not well-established. OBJECTIVE: To investigate demographic and environmental factors associated with NMOSD using a validated questionnaire and case-control design. METHODS: We enrolled patients with AQP4 + NMOSD through six Canadian Multiple Sclerosis Clinics. Participants completed the validated Environmental Risk Factors in Multiple Sclerosis Study (EnvIMS) questionnaire. Their responses were compared to those of 956 unaffected controls from the Canadian arm of EnvIMS. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) for the association between each variable and NMOSD using logistic regression and Firth's procedure for rare events. RESULTS: In 122 participants (87.7% female) with NMOSD, odds of NMOSD in East Asian and Black participants were ⩾8 times that observed in White participants. Birthplace outside Canada was associated with an increased risk of NMOSD (OR = 5.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.6-8.3) as were concomitant autoimmune diseases (OR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.4-5.0). No association was observed with reproductive history or age at menarche. CONCLUSION: In this case-control study, risk of NMOSD in East Asian and Black versus White individuals was greater than that observed in many previous studies. Despite the preponderance of affected women, we did not observe any association with hormonal factors such as reproductive history or age at menarche.

Women experiencing homelessness and mental illness in a Housing First multi-site trial: Looking beyond housing to social outcomes and well-being.

OBJECTIVE: There is scant research on the effectiveness of permanent supportive housing for homeless women with mental illness. This study examines the effectiveness of Housing First with an unprecedentedly large sample of homeless women from five Canadian cities, and explore baseline risk factors that predict social, health and well-being outcomes over a 24 month-period. METHODS: The At Home/Chez Soi multi-site randomized controlled Housing First trial recruited over 600 women between October 2009 and July 2011. This is a post-hoc subgroup exploratory analysis of self-identified women with at least one follow-up interview who were randomized to Housing First (HF) (n = 374) or treatment-as-usual (TAU) (n = 279) and had at least one follow-up interview. Linear mixed models and generalized estimating equations were used after multiple imputation was applied to address missing data. RESULTS: At the end of follow-up, the mean percentage of days spent stably housed was higher for women in the intervention 74.8% (95%CI = 71.7%-77.8%) compared with women in the treatment-as-usual group, 37.9% (95%CI = 34.4%-41.3%), p<0.001. With few exceptions, social and mental health outcomes were similar for both groups at 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-months post-enrollment. Suicidality was a consistent predictor of increased mental health symptoms (beta = 2.85, 95% CI 1.59-4.11, p<0.001), decreased quality of life (beta = -3.99, 95% CI -6.49 to -1.49, p<0.001), decreased community functioning (beta = -1.16, 95% CI -2.10 to -0.22, p = 0.015) and more emergency department visits (rate ratio = 1.44, 95% CI 1.10-1.87, p<0.001) over the study period. Lower education was a predictor of lower community functioning (beta = -1.32, 95% CI -2.27 to -0.37, p = 0.006) and higher substance use problems (rate ratio = 1.27, 95% CI 1.06-1.52, p = 0.009) during the study. CONCLUSIONS: Housing First interventions ensured that women experiencing homelessness are quickly and consistently stably housed. However, they did not differentially impact health and social measures compared to treatment as usual. Ensuring positive health and social outcomes may require greater supports at enrolment for subgroups such as those with low educational attainment, and additional attention to severity of baseline mental health challenges, such as suicidality. TRIAL REGISTRATION: International Standard Randomized Control Trial Number Register Identifier: ISRCTN42520374.

Self-reported Human Papillomavirus Vaccination and Vaccine Effectiveness Among Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Quantitative Bias Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Self-report of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination has ~80-90% sensitivity and ~75-85% specificity. We measured the effect of nondifferential exposure misclassification associated with self-reported vaccination on vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates. METHODS: Between 2017-2019, we recruited sexually active gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men aged 16-30 years in Canada. VE was derived as 1-prevalence ratio × 100% for prevalent anal HPV infection comparing vaccinated (≥1 dose) to unvaccinated men using a multivariable modified Poisson regression. We conducted a multidimensional and probabilistic quantitative bias analysis to correct VE estimates. RESULTS: Bias-corrected VE estimates were relatively stable across sensitivity values but differed from the uncorrected estimate at lower values of specificity. The median adjusted VE was 27% (2.5-97.5th simulation interval = -5-49%) in the uncorrected analysis, increasing to 39% (2.5-97.5th simulation interval = 2-65%) in the bias-corrected analysis. CONCLUSION: A large proportion of participants erroneously reporting HPV vaccination would be required to meaningfully change VE estimates.

A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial of Financial Incentives in Case Management for Homeless Adults With Mental Illness.

OBJECTIVE: Financial incentives can facilitate behavior change and service engagement in health care settings, but research on their use with adults experiencing homelessness is limited. This study examined the effectiveness of financial incentives in improving service engagement and health outcomes among homeless adults with mental illness in Toronto. METHODS: The authors of this randomized controlled trial recruited 176 participants receiving brief multidisciplinary case management services for homeless adults with mental illness after hospital discharge. In a 1:1 randomization design, 87 participants received a financial incentive of CAN$20 for every week they remained engaged with the service for up to 6 months. The remaining 89 participants received treatment as usual. The primary outcome was service contact rates for up to 6 months of follow-up. Secondary outcomes included self-reported health status, mental health symptoms, substance use, quality of life, housing stability, acute health service use, and working alliance. Negative binomial regression models, analyses of covariance, generalized estimating equations models, and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to examine differences between the financial incentive and treatment-as-usual groups across outcomes of interest. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the financial incentive and treatment-as-usual groups in service contact rates or any of the secondary outcomes examined over the 6-month period. CONCLUSIONS: In low-barrier, brief case management programs tailored to the needs of adults experiencing homelessness, financial incentives may not affect service engagement or health outcomes. Further research is needed to identify the effect of financial incentives on engagement in other services, including housing-based interventions.

Vaccine Effectiveness Against 12-Month Incident and Persistent Anal Human Papillomavirus Infection Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men.

BACKGROUND: Real-world evidence of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine effectiveness (VE) against longitudinal outcomes is lacking among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM). We compared 12-month incidence and persistence of anal HPV infection between vaccinated and unvaccinated GBM. METHODS: We recruited GBM aged 16-30 years in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver, Canada, from 2017 to 2019. Participants were followed over a median of 12 months (interquartile range, 12-13 months). Participants self-reported HPV vaccination and self-collected anal specimens for HPV DNA testing. We calculated prevalence ratios (PR) for 12-month cumulative incidence and persistence with ≥1 quadrivalent vaccine type (HPV 6/11/16/18) between vaccinated (≥1 dose at baseline) and unvaccinated participants using a propensity score-weighted, modified Poisson regression. RESULTS: Among 248 participants, 109 (44.0%) were vaccinated at baseline, of whom 62.6% received 3 doses. PRs for HPV 6/11/16/18 were 0.56 (95% confidence interval [CI], .24-1.31) for cumulative incidence and 0.53 (95% CI, .25-1.14) for persistence. PRs were 0.23 (95% CI, .05-1.03) and 0.08 (95% CI, .01-.59) for incidence and persistence, respectively, among participants who received their first dose at age ≤23 years and 0.15 (95% CI, .03-.68) and 0.12 (95% CI, .03-.54) among participants who were sexually active for ≤5 years before vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support national recommendations for HPV vaccination at younger ages or soon after sexual debut.