Will COVID-19 result in a giant step backwards for women in academic science?

COVID-19 has disproportionately placed women in academic science on the frontlines of domestic and clinical care compared to men. As a result, women in science are publishing less and potentially acquiring less funding during COVID-19 than compared to before. This widens the pre-existing gap between men and women in prevailing, publication-based measures of productivity used to determine academic career progression.

Experiences of everyday racism in Toronto's health care system: a concept mapping study.

Background: In Canada, there is longstanding evidence of health inequities for racialized groups. The purpose of this study is to understand the effect of current health care policies and practices on racial/ethnic groups and in particular racialized groups at the level of the individual in Toronto's health care system.

Methods: This study used a semi-qualitative study design: concept mapping.

Context matters when implementing patient centred rehabilitation models for persons with cognitive impairment: a case study.

Background: There is a growing number of older adults with cognitive impairment (CI) that require inpatient rehabilitation, and as such patient centred rehabilitation models have been developed. However, implementing evidence-based models without attending to the fit of the model to the new context could lead to an unsuccessful outcome. Researchers collaborated with administrators and staff in one rural site to adapt a patient centred rehabilitation model of care in the Canadian province of Ontario.

Using a distribution-based approach and systematic review methods to derive minimum clinically important differences.

Background: Clinical interpretation of changes measured on a scale is dependent on knowing the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) for that scale: the threshold above which clinicians, patients, and researchers perceive an outcome difference. Until now, approaches to determining MCIDs were based upon individual studies or surveys of experts. However, the comparison of meta-analytic treatment effects to a MCID derived from a distribution of standard deviations (SDs) associated with all trial-specific outcomes in a meta-analysis could improve our clinical understanding of meta-analytic treatment effects.

Unpacking the intention to action gap: a qualitative study understanding how physicians engage with audit and feedback.

Background: Audit and feedback (A&F) often successfully enhances health professionals' intentions to improve quality of care but does not consistently lead to practice changes. Recipients often cite data credibility and limited resources as barriers impeding their ability to act upon A&F, suggesting the intention-to-action gap manifests while recipients are interacting with their data. While attention has been paid to the role feedback and contextual variables play in contributing to (or impeding) success, we lack a nuanced understanding of how healthcare professionals interact with and process clinical performance data.

Comparative efficacy of pharmacological treatments on measures of self-rated functional outcomes using the Sheehan Disability Scale in patients with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Objective: More than 50% patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have severe functional impairment. The restoration of patient functioning is a critical therapeutic goal among patients with MDD. We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of pharmacological treatments on self-rated functional outcomes using the Sheehan Disability Scale in adults with MDD in randomized clinical trials.

Estimation of the generation interval using pairwise relative transmission probabilities.

The generation interval (the time between infection of primary and secondary cases) and its often used proxy, the serial interval (the time between symptom onset of primary and secondary cases) are critical parameters in understanding infectious disease dynamics. Because it is difficult to determine who infected whom, these important outbreak characteristics are not well understood for many diseases. We present a novel method for estimating transmission intervals using surveillance or outbreak investigation data that, unlike existing methods, does not require a contact tracing data or pathogen whole genome sequence data on all cases.

Effectiveness of Non-Nicotinic E-Cigarettes to Reduce Cue- and Abstinence-Induced Cigarette Craving in Non-Treatment Seeking Daily Dependent Smokers.

Rationale: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are potential tools for smoking cessation because they deliver nicotine and simulate smoking behaviors. The contribution of sensorimotor versus pharmacological substitution is unknown.

Objectives: To evaluate whether non-nicotinic e-cigarettes, used alone or with nicotine lozenges, can attenuate cigarette craving following visual cue presentation or acute (3 h post ad-lib use) abstinence in dependent daily smokers.

Computerized cognitive training in post-treatment hematological cancer survivors: a feasibility study.

Background: Computerized cognitive training (CCT) programs have shown some effectiveness in alleviating cognitive symptoms in long-term cancer survivors. For patients presenting with cognitive symptoms in the early post-treatment phase, the benefit of CCT is unclear. To assess the possibility of testing the effectiveness of CCT in the early post-treatment period, our aim was to investigate the feasibility of an 8-week home-based, online CCT intervention among patients who have recently completed treatment for hematological malignancy.

A qualitative study of barriers to employment experienced by people living with HIV in Toronto and Ottawa.

Background: Effective treatment has extended the life expectancy and reduced disability in people living with HIV (PLWH). However, previous research has found 45-65% of working-age PLWH were unemployed compared to 5-10% in the general public of North America and Europe. We examined the barriers to gaining employment among PLWH.

Effect of socio-demographic and health factors on the association between multimorbidity and acute care service use: population-based survey linked to health administrative data.

Background: This study explores how socio-demographic and health factors shape the relationship between multimorbidity and one-year acute care service use (i.e., hospital, emergency department visits) in older adults in Ontario, Canada.

Statistical power in COVID-19 case-control host genomic study design.

The identification of genetic variation that directly impacts infection susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 and disease severity of COVID-19 is an important step towards risk stratification, personalized treatment plans, therapeutic, and vaccine development and deployment. Given the importance of study design in infectious disease genetic epidemiology, we use simulation and draw on current estimates of exposure, infectivity, and test accuracy of COVID-19 to demonstrate the feasibility of detecting host genetic factors associated with susceptibility and severity in published COVID-19 study designs. We demonstrate that limited phenotypic data and exposure/infection information in the early stages of the pandemic significantly impact the ability to detect most genetic variants with moderate effect sizes, especially when studying susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Food Addiction and Tobacco Use Disorder: Common Liability and Shared Mechanisms.

As food addiction is being more commonly recognized within the scientific community, parallels can be drawn between it and other addictive substance use disorders, including tobacco use disorder. Given that both unhealthy diets and smoking are leading risk factors for disability and death, a greater understanding of how food addiction and tobacco use disorder overlap with one another is necessary. This narrative review aimed to highlight literature that investigated prevalence, biology, psychology, and treatment options of food addiction and tobacco use disorder.

A study protocol for a predictive algorithm to assess population-based premature mortality risk: Premature Mortality Population Risk Tool (PreMPoRT).

Background: Premature mortality is an important population health indicator used to assess health system functioning and to identify areas in need of health system intervention. Predicting the future incidence of premature mortality in the population can facilitate initiatives that promote equitable health policies and effective delivery of public health services. This study protocol proposes the development and validation of the Premature Mortality Risk Prediction Tool (PreMPoRT) that will predict the incidence of premature mortality using large population-based community health surveys and multivariable modeling approaches.

Building health system resilience in the context of primary health care revitalization for attainment of UHC: proceedings from the Fifth Health Sector Directors' Policy and Planning Meeting for the WHO African Region.

Background: The recent 2018 Declaration of Astana recognized primary health care (PHC) as a means to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Following this declaration, country progress on operationalization of the PHC agenda and attainment of UHC has been stalled by the new challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has also disrupted the continuity of essential health service provision and tested the resilience of the region's health systems.

Meeting Indigenous youth where they are at: knowing and doing with 2SLGBTTQQIA and gender non-conforming Indigenous youth: a qualitative case study.

Background: Research carried out in partnership with Indigenous youth at The Native Youth Sexual Health Network (NYSHN) demonstrates that Indigenous youth can (and do) develop and implement public health interventions amongst their peers and within their communities, when supported by non-youth allies and mentors.

Methods: Together, NYSHN and Well Living House researchers co-designed a qualitative case study to demonstrate and document how Indigenous youth can and do practice their own form of public health implementation research (PHIR) in the realm of mental health promotion for 2SLGBTTQQIA and Gender Non-Conforming Indigenous youth. Academic and Indigenous youth researchers were: participant observers; conducted a focus group; and designed and implemented an online survey with Indigenous youth project participants.

Alcohol consumption, substance use, and depression in relation to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) nonadherence among gay, bisexual, and other men-who-have-sex-with-men.

Background: Although HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) substantially diminishes the likelihood of HIV acquisition, poor adherence can decrease the HIV-protective benefits of PrEP. The present investigation sought to identify the extent to which alcohol consumption, substance use, and depression were linked to PrEP nonadherence among gay, bisexual, and other men-who-have-sex-with-men (gbMSM).

Methods: gbMSM (age ≥ 18, prescribed PrEP for ≥3 months) were recruited from two clinics in Toronto, Canada for an e-survey assessing demographics; PrEP nonadherence (4-day PrEP-focused ACTG assessment); hazardous and harmful alcohol use (AUDIT scores of 8-15 and 16+, respectively); moderate/high risk substance use (NIDA M-ASSIST scores > 4); depression (CESD-10 scores ≥10); and other PrEP-relevant factors.

Rules and Eligibility Criteria for Supervised Consumption Services Feasibility Studies - A Scoping Review.

Introduction: Supervised consumption services (SCS) reduce HIV risks and overdose for people who use drugs (PWUD) and are known to have wide-ranging public health benefits. Feasibility studies are often conducted as part of program/implementation development. We conducted a scoping review of SCS feasibility/pre-implementation studies to answer: what is known about stakeholders' opinions of SCS rules and eligibility criteria?

Methods: Using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we searched Medline, PsychINFO, Embase, CINAHL, and SCOPUS databases for: (a) empirical research, (b) reported in English, (c) focused on SCS, (d) pre-implementation feasibility studies (research conducted prior to implementation of SCS in a given context), (e) examining SCS operational rules and eligibility criteria.

Stop ringing the alarm; it is time to get out of the building!

The volume of calls for governments and public health officials to take concerted action on climate change has become almost deafening. Public health researchers and practitioners need to look beyond what we know about the health impacts of climate change, to what we are doing as our part in contributing to holding global temperature rise to under 1.5°C.

Review of sexualized drug use associated with sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to quantify associations between sexualized drug use (SDU) and sexually-transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) diagnoses in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) with defined temporal proximity between SDU exposure and STBBI diagnoses.

Methods: In May 2018 and June 2019, we searched the literature for primary studies that quantified the association between STBBI and SDU among GBMSM. A random-effects model was used to meta-analyze the data and estimate the association between SDU and STBBIs.

Material deprivation and rates of all-terrain vehicle- and snowmobile-related injuries in Ontario from 2003 to 2018: a population-based study.

Objectives: Socio-economic status (SES) is a well-established predictor of health outcomes; however, there is a dearth of evidence on the relationship between SES and off-road vehicle (ORV) injuries. In Ontario, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and snowmobiles present a serious risk for preventable injury. This study assessed the association between area-level material deprivation and the risk of ATV- and snowmobile-related injuries in Ontario, as well as the impact of sex and age.

Acyl-Carnitine plasma levels and their association with metabolic syndrome in individuals with schizophrenia.

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) affects individuals with schizophrenia at a higher rate when compared to individuals in the general population. Accumulating evidence indicated that subjects with MetS generally manifest elevated levels of acyl-carnitines, which are important carriers for transporting fatty acyl group. Abnormalities of acyl-carnitines in individuals with schizophrenia with or without MetS had not been sufficiently characterized.