Asthma Among Manitoba Workers: Results from the Manitoba Occupational Disease Surveillance System.

Background: This study characterized the risk of new-onset asthma among workers in Manitoba, Canada.

Methods: Accepted time loss claims from the Workers' Compensation Board of Manitoba from 2006 to 2019, containing workers' occupations and industries, were linked with administrative health data from 1996 to 2020. After restricting the cohort to the first claim per person in an occupation and applying age and coverage exclusions, the cohort comprised 142,588 person-occupation combinations.

Missed opportunities to provide sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections testing in British Columbia: An interpretive description of users' experiences of Get Checked Online's design and implementation.

Background: Digital testing services for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs), such as GetCheckedOnline, experience significant user drop-offs. For example, 32% of GetCheckedOnline users needing testing at account creation do not test, constituting missed opportunities. We explored the influence of users' expectations and experiences of GetCheckedOnline's web design and implementation on missed opportunities.

Gender and sex differences in occupation-specific infectious diseases: a systematic review.

Occupational infectious disease risks between men and women have often been attributed to the gendered distribution of the labour force, with limited comparative research on occupation-specific infectious disease risks. The objective of this study was to compare infectious disease risks within the same occupations by gender. A systematic review of peer-reviewed studies published between 2016 and 2021 was undertaken.

The impact of regulatory workplace safety inspections on workers' compensation claim rates.

Background: Studies on the impact of workplace safety inspections on work injuries have found mixed effectiveness. Most studies are from the United States, examining Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) regulatory inspections in manufacturing firms with more than 10 employees. This study examines whether regulatory inspections in Alberta, Canada, result in reductions in workers' compensation claims rates for inspected firms relative to comparable non-inspected firms.

Adherence to direct or vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation: a long-term observational study.

Our objectives were to measure long-term adherence to oral anticoagulants (OACs) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and to identify patient factors associated with adherence. Using linked, population-based administrative data from British Columbia, Canada, an incident cohort of adults prescribed OACs for AF was identified. We calculated the proportion of days covered (PDC) as a time-dependent covariate for each 90-day window from OAC initiation until the end of follow-up.

Did implementation of no-fault auto-insurance in British Columbia, Canada, impact return to work following road trauma? Protocol for a before-after survival analysis.

Introduction: Road trauma (RT) is a major public health problem that often results in prolonged absenteeism from work. Limited evidence suggests that recovery after RT is associated with automobile insurance compensation schemes. In May 2021, British Columbia, Canada switched from fault-based to no-fault auto-insurance coverage.

Differential uptake and effects of digital sexually transmitted and bloodborne infection testing interventions among equity-seeking groups: a scoping review.

Background: Digital sexually transmitted and bloodborne infection (STBBI) testing interventions have gained popularity. However, evidence of their health equity effects remains sparse. We conducted a review of the health equity effects of these interventions on uptake of STBBI testing and explored design and implementation factors contributing to reported effects.

Do regional labor market conditions matter for temporary work disability duration? A multilevel analysis of workers' compensation claims in five Canadian provinces.

Background: Research has shown how regionally varying labor market conditions are associated with differences in work disability duration. However, the majority of these studies have not used multilevel models to appropriately account for the hierarchical clustering of individuals nested within contextual units (e.g.

Evaluating the Impact of the COVID-19-Related Public Health Restrictions on Access to Digital Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infection Testing in British Columbia, Canada: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis.

Background: Evidence of long-term impacts of COVID-19-related public health restrictions on digital sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) testing utilization is limited. We assessed these impacts on GetCheckedOnline (a digital testing resource for STBBIs) relative to all STBBI tests in British Columbia (BC).

Methods: Interrupted time series analyses were conducted using GetCheckedOnline program data comparing monthly test episodes (STBBI tests per requisition) among BC residents, stratified by BC region, and testers' sociodemographic and sexual risk profiles, for the prepandemic (March 2018-February 2020) and pandemic periods (March 2020-October 2021).

Differences in Modified-Return-to-Work by Immigration Characteristics Among a Cohort of Workers in British Columbia, Canada.

Introduction To investigate differences in modified-return-to work (MRTW) within the first 30 days of a work-related, short-term disability injury by immigration characteristics. This question was part of a program of research investigating differences in work and health experiences among immigrant workers and explanations for longer work disability durations. Methods Workers' compensation claims, immigration records and medical registry data were linked to identify a sample of workers in British Columbia, Canada with a short-term disability claim for a work-related back strain, concussion, limb fracture or connective tissue injury occurring between 2009 and 2015.

Pre-existing anxiety and depression disorders and return to work after musculoskeletal strain or sprain: a phased-based approach.

Purpose: To examine the impact of pre-existing anxiety and depression disorders on return to work (RTW) using a phase-based approach.

Methods: Accepted lost-time workers' compensation claims for upper limb or spine strain or sprain from 2009 to 2013 were extracted for workers in the Canadian province of British Columbia (n = 78,186). Pre-existing anxiety and depression disorders were identified using health claims data.

Differences between men and women in their risk of work injury and disability: A systematic review.

Background: Health responses associated with occupational exposures can vary between men and women.

Aims: This study reviewed the work injury and disability risks associated with similar types of occupational exposures for men and women within and across occupations.

Materials & Methods: A systematic review was undertaken of observational studies published between 2009 and 2019.

The influence of early-life residential exposure to different vegetation types and paved surfaces on early childhood development: A population-based birth cohort study.

Background: Growing evidence suggests that exposure to green space is associated with improved childhood health and development, but the influence of different green space types remains relatively unexplored. In the present study, we investigated the association between early-life residential exposure to vegetation and early childhood development and evaluated whether associations differed according to land cover types, including paved land.

Methods: Early childhood development was assessed via kindergarten teacher-ratings on the Early Development Instrument (EDI) in a large population-based birth cohort (n = 27,539) in Metro Vancouver, Canada.

The Random Effects Warfarin Days' Supply (REWarDS) Model: Development and Validation of a Novel Method for Estimating Exposure to Warfarin Using Administrative Data.

Warfarin's complex dosing is a significant barrier to measurement of its exposure in observational studies using population databases. Using population-based administrative data (1996-2019) from British Columbia, Canada, we developed a method based on statistical modeling (Random Effects Warfarin Days' Supply (REWarDS)) that involves fitting a random-effects linear regression model to patients' cumulative dosage over time for estimation of warfarin exposure. Model parameters included a minimal universally available set of variables from prescription records for estimation of patients' individualized average daily doses of warfarin.

Evaluating effectiveness of an integrated return-to-work and vocational rehabilitation program on work disability duration in the construction sector.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether an integrated return-to-work (RTW) and vocational rehabilitation (VR) program - the Work Reintegration (WR) program - was associated with reduced work disability duration in the construction sector in Ontario, Canada.

Methods: Workers' compensation data from the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board were extracted for lost-time construction worker claims following work-related injuries between 2009 and 2015. Claims receiving referrals to RTW and VR specialists (treatments) were matched with claims receiving no referrals (controls) during the periods before and after the WR program introduction.

Longitudinal Oral Anticoagulant Adherence Trajectories in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Conventional adherence summary measures do not capture the dynamic nature of adherence.

Objectives: This study aims to characterize distinct long-term oral anticoagulant adherence trajectories and the factors associated with them in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Methods: Adults with incident atrial fibrillation were identified using linked population-based administrative health data in British Columbia, Canada (1996-2019).

Immigrant status, gender and work disability duration: findings from a linked, retrospective cohort of workers' compensation and immigration data from British Columbia, Canada.

Objectives: To compare differences in work disability durations of immigrant men and women injured at work to comparable Canadian-born injured workers in British Columbia, Canada.

Methods: Data on accepted workers compensation claims and immigration status from 1995 and 2012 were used to compare the number of work disability days paid at the 25%, 50% and 75% for immigrant and Canadian-born injured workers stratified by gender and recency of immigration.

Results: Immigrant workers comprised 8.

Sex and Gender Differences in Occupational Hazard Exposures: a Scoping Review of the Recent Literature.

Purpose Of Review: Comparative research on sex and/or gender differences in occupational hazard exposures is necessary for effective work injury and illness prevention strategies. This scoping review summarizes the peer-reviewed literature from 2009 to 2019 on exposure differences to occupational hazards between men and women, across occupations, and within the same occupation.

Recent Findings: Fifty-eight studies retrieved from eight databases met our inclusion criteria.

Differences in Work Disability Duration for Immigrants and Canadian-Born Workers in British Columbia, Canada.

This study aimed to investigate differences in work disability duration among immigrants (categorized as economic, family member or refugee/other classification upon arrival to Canada) compared to Canadian-born workers with a work-related injury in British Columbia. Immigrants and Canadian-born workers were identified from linked immigration records with workers' compensation claims for work-related back strain, connective tissue, concussion and fracture injuries requiring at least one paid day of work disability benefits between 2009 to 2015. Quantile regression investigated the relationship between immigration classification and predicted work disability days (defined from injury date to end of compensation claim, up to 365 days) and modeled at the 25th, 50th and 75th percentile of the distribution of the disability days.

Assessing the association between lifetime exposure to greenspace and early childhood development and the mediation effects of air pollution and noise in Canada: a population-based birth cohort study.

Background: Exposure to greenspace is associated with improved childhood development, but the pathways behind this relationship are insufficiently understood. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between lifetime residential exposure to greenspace and early childhood development and evaluate the extent to which this association is mediated by reductions in traffic-related air pollution and noise.

Methods: This population-based birth cohort study comprised singleton births in Metro Vancouver, BC, Canada, between April 1, 2000, and Dec 31, 2005.

Barriers and facilitators for the safe handling of antineoplastic drugs.

Introduction: Antineoplastic drugs are widely used in the treatment of cancer. However, some are known carcinogens and reproductive toxins, and incidental low-level exposure to workers is a health concern. CAREX Canada estimated that approximately 75,000 Canadians are exposed to antineoplastic drugs in workplace settings.

An Umbrella Review of the Work and Health Impacts of Working in an Epidemic/Pandemic Environment.

This umbrella review of reviews examined the evidence on the work and health impacts of working in an epidemic/pandemic environment, factors associated with these impacts, and risk mitigation or intervention strategies that address these factors. We examined review articles published in MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Embase between 2000 and 2020. Data extracted from the included reviews were analyzed using a narrative synthesis.

Estimating walking and bicycling in Canada and their road collision fatality risks: The need for a national household travel survey.

Canada does not conduct a national household travel survey, resulting in a data gap on walking and bicycling. These data are key to surveillance of physical activity and health, as well as in epidemiological injury risk calculations. This study explored the use of available national data sources, the Canadian census and the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), to tally walking and bicycling and examine trends in fatality risk.

Development of a computable phenotype to identify a transgender sample for health research purposes: a feasibility study in a large linked provincial healthcare administrative cohort in British Columbia, Canada.

Objectives: Innovative methods are needed for identification of transgender people in administrative records for health research purposes. This study investigated the feasibility of using transgender-specific healthcare utilisation in a Canadian population-based health records database to develop a computable phenotype (CP) and identify the proportion of transgender people within the HIV-positive population as a public health priority.

Design: The Comparative Outcomes and Service Utilization Trends (COAST) Study cohort comprises a data linkage between two provincial data sources: The British Columbia (BC) Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Drug Treatment Program, which coordinates HIV treatment dispensation across BC and Population Data BC, a provincial data repository holding individual, longitudinal data for all BC residents (1996-2013).