Abstract
Objectives
During the first wave of COVID-19 in Québec, healthcare workers (HCWs) represented 25% of the cases in Montréal. A study was conducted to describe SARS-CoV-2-infected HCWs in Montréal, and certain workplace and household characteristics. Secondary objectives included estimating the associations between having had access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and training, and following self-isolation recommendations, and certain sociodemographic and workplace characteristics.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted, based on a stratified random sample, among Montréal HCWs who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 between March and July 2020. A total of 370 participants answered a telephone-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were conducted, followed by log binomial regressions to estimate the associations.
Results
Study participants were mostly female (74%), born outside of Canada (65%), and identified as Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC; 63%). In terms of healthcare positions, most were orderlies (40%) or registered nurses (20%). Half (52%) of the participants reported having had insufficient access to PPE and 30% reported having received no training related to SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention, with large proportions being BIPOC women. Working evening or night shifts decreased chances of having had sufficient access to PPE (OR 0.50; 0.30–0.83).
Conclusion
This study describes the profile of the HCWs who were infected during the first wave of the pandemic in Montréal. Recommendations include collecting comprehensive sociodemographic data on SARS-CoV-2 infections and ensuring equitable access to infection prevention and control training and PPE during health crises, particularly those at highest risk of exposure.
Résumé
Objectifs
Lors de la première vague de la COVID-19 au Québec, les travailleurs de la santé (TS) représentaient 25 % des cas à Montréal. Une étude a été menée pour décrire les TS infectés par le SRAS-CoV-2 à Montréal, ainsi que certaines caractéristiques liées au travail et au ménage. Les objectifs secondaires visaient à estimer les associations entre le fait d’avoir eu accès à un équipement de protection individuelle (EPI) et à une formation, ainsi que la capacité de suivre les recommandations d’auto-isolement et différentes caractéristiques sociodémographiques et du lieu de travail.
Méthodologie
Une étude transversale a été menée, sur la base d’un échantillon aléatoire stratifié, parmi les TS de Montréal qui ont été testés positifs pour le SRAS-CoV-2 entre mars et juillet 2020. Un total de 370 participants a répondu à un questionnaire administré par téléphone. Des statistiques descriptives ont été réalisées, suivies de régressions log binomiales pour estimer les associations.
Résultats
Les participants étaient en majorité des femmes (74 %), nés à l’extérieur du Canada (65 %) et s’identifiaient comme des personnes Noires, des Autochtones et des personnes de couleur (BIPOC; 63 %). En termes d’emploi dans le système de santé, 40 % étaient des préposés aux bénéficiaires et 20 % des infirmières cliniciennes. La moitié (52 %) des participants ont déclaré ne pas avoir eu un accès suffisant à l’EPI et 30 % ont déclaré n’avoir reçu aucune formation liée à la prévention des infections SRAS-CoV-2, une grande partie d’entre eux étant des femmes BIPOC. Le fait de travailler le soir ou la nuit diminuait les chances d’avoir un accès suffisant aux EPI (OR 0,50; 0,30–0,83).
Conclusion
Cette étude décrit le profil des travailleurs de santé qui ont été infectés lors de la première vague de la pandémie à Montréal. Les recommandations comprennent la collecte de données sociodémographiques complètes et de s’assurer de fournir de l’EPI et des formations en prévention et contrôle des infections pendant les crises sanitaires, en particulier pour les personnes les plus à risque d’exposition.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the contribution of Dr. Suzanne De Blois and the PRIME (Personnes racisées, immigrantes et minorités ethnoculturelles) team of the Montréal Public Health Department. Their contribution was essential to the development of the questionnaire, certain ethnic, cultural, and migration considerations, and interviewer training for this study.
Funding
This study was funded by the Centre de recherche en santé publique (CReSP) with funds available for projects conducted in collaboration with Montréal Public Health Department (Direction régionale de santé publique de Montréal).
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Fortin, Munoz-Bertrand, and Zinszer contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation was performed by Fortin, Narasiah, Munoz-Bertrand, and Zinszer. Data collection and analysis were performed by Fortin, Saucier, Yuan, Ante, and Zinszer. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Fortin and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Science and Health Research Ethics Committee (CERSES) of the University of Montréal (CERSES-20–105-D) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
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Fortin, G., Saucier, A., Munoz-Bertrand, M. et al. Portrait of Montréal healthcare workers infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the first wave of the pandemic: a cross-sectional study. Can J Public Health 114, 534–546 (2023). https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-023-00789-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-023-00789-y