Assessing a safety climate tool adapted to address respiratory illnesses in Canadian hospitals.

Background: Studies have shown an association between workplace safety climate scores and patient outcomes. This study aimed to investigate (1) performance of the hospital safety climate scale that was adapted to assess acute respiratory illness safety climate, (2) factors associated with safety climate scores, and (3) whether the safety scores were associated with following recommended droplet and contact precautions.

Methods: A survey of Canadian healthcare personnel participating in a cohort study of influenza during the 2010/2011-2013/2014 winter seasons.

Nursing care protocol for critical users with tracheostomy under mechanical ventilation.

Objectives: to develop and assess a nursing care protocol for critically ill users with tracheostomy under mechanical ventilation.

Methods: a methodological study, developed through two phases, guided by the 5W2H management tool: I) target audience characterization and II) technology development.

Results: thirty-four nursing professionals participated in this study, who presented educational demands in relation to care for critical users with tracheostomy, with an emphasis on standardizing care through a protocol and carrying out continuing education.

Measuring waning protection from seasonal influenza vaccination during nine influenza seasons, Ontario, Canada, 2010/11 to 2018/19.

BackgroundWaning immunity from seasonal influenza vaccination can cause suboptimal protection during peak influenza activity. However, vaccine effectiveness studies assessing waning immunity using vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals are subject to biases.AimWe examined the association between time since vaccination and laboratory-confirmed influenza to assess the change in influenza vaccine protection over time.

Predictors of later COVID-19 test seeking.

Background: Delays in COVID-19 testing may increase the risk of secondary household and community transmission. Little is known about what patient characteristics and symptom profiles are associated with delays in test seeking.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all symptomatic patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and assessed in a COVID Expansion to Outpatients (COVIDEO) virtual care program between March 2020 and June 2021.

Integration of hospital with congregate care homes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the need to improve the safety of the environments where we care for older adults in Canada. After providing assistance during the first wave, many Ontario hospitals formally partnered with local congregate care homes in a "hub and spoke" model during second pandemic wave onward. The objective of this article is to describe the implementation and longitudinal outcomes of residents in one hub and spoke model composed of a hospital partnered with 18 congregate care homes including four long-term care and 14 retirement or other congregate care homes.