Does dog-ownership influence seasonal patterns of neighbourhood-based walking among adults? A longitudinal study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In general dog-owners are more physically active than non-owners, however; it is not known whether dog-ownership can influence seasonal fluctuations in physical activity. This study examines whether dog-ownership influences summer and winter patterns of neighbourhood-based walking among adults living in Calgary, Canada.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cohort of adults, randomly sampled from the Calgary metropolitan area, completed postal surveys in winter and summer 2008. Both winter and summer versions of the survey included questions on dog-ownership, walking for recreation, and walking for transportation in residential neighbourhoods. <b>Participation </b>in neighbourhood-based walking was compared, among dog-owners and non-owners, and in summer and winter, using general linear modeling. <b>Stability </b>of participation in neighbourhood-based walking across summer and winter among dog-owners and non-owners was also assessed, using logistic regression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 428 participants participated in the study, of whom 115 indicated owning dogs at the time of both surveys. Dog-owners reported more walking for recreation in their neighbourhoods than did non-owners, both in summer and in winter. Dog-owners were also more likely than non-owners to report participation in walking for recreation in their neighbourhoods, in summer as well as in winter. Dog-owners and non-owners did not differ in the amount of walking that they reported for transportation, either in summer or in winter.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>By acting as cues for physical activity, dogs may help their owners remain active across seasons. Policies and programs related to dog-ownership and dog-walking, such as dog-supportive housing and dog-supportive parks, may assist in enhancing population health by promoting physical activity.</p

Association entre la COVID-19 et les visites à l’urgence liées aux opioïdes en Alberta (Canada) : analyse de séries temporelles interrompues

IntroductionLes services d’urgence sont des points d’accès important aux soins de santé pour les personnes qui consomment des drogues, mais on ne sait pas véritablement si le début de la pandémie de COVID-19 a été associé à des changements dans les visites à l’urgence liées aux opioïdes. Nous avons cherché à savoir si 1) le début de la pandémie de COVID-19 a été associé à un changement quelconque des taux moyens de visites à l’urgence liées aux opioïdes en Alberta et 2) si ces taux moyens variaient selon les zones présentant des taux de cas de COVID-19 différents. MéthodologieNous avons mené des analyses de séries temporelles interrompues par maximum de vraisemblance afin de comparer les visites à l’urgence liées aux opioïdes pendant la « période prépandémique » (du 3 mars 2019 au 1er mars 2020) et pendant la « période pandémique » (du 2 mars 2020 au 14 mars 2021). RésultatsIl y a eu 8 883 visites à l’urgence liées aux opioïdes durant la période prépandémique et 11 657 durant la période pandémique. Le début de la pandémie de COVID-19 a été associé à une augmentation du nombre de visites à l’urgence liées aux opioïdes (Edmonton : rapport des taux d’incidence [RTI] = 1,37, intervalle de confiance [IC] à 95 % : 1,30 à 1,44, p $lt; 0,05; Calgary : RTI = 1,14, IC à 95$lt; 0,05; autres zones sanitaires : RTI = 1,14, IC à 95 % : 1,07 à 1,21, p $lt; 0,05). L’évolution du nombre de cas COVID-19 n’offre pas de correspondance en fonction des zones avec les variations dans les taux de visites à l’urgence liées aux opioïdes. ConclusionIl n’y a aucune association entre l’augmentation du nombre de visites à l’urgence liées aux opioïdes ayant eu lieu au début de la pandémie de COVID-19 et la prévalence des cas de COVID-19 en Alberta

The relationship between COVID-19 and opioid-related emergency department visits in Alberta, Canada: an interrupted time series analysis

IntroductionEmergency departments (EDs) are important health care access points for people who use drugs (PWUD), but little is known about whether the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with changes in opioid-related emergency presentations. We investigated whether (1) the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with any change in average rates of opioid-related ED visits in Alberta; and (2) this varied across regions with different COVID-19 case rates. MethodsWe conducted maximum-likelihood interrupted time series analyses to compare opioid-related ED visits during the “prepandemic period” (3 March 2019–1 March 2020) and the “pandemic period” (2 March 2020–14 March 2021). ResultsThere were 8883 and 11 657 opioid-related ED visits during the prepandemic and pandemic periods, respectively. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increase in opioid-related ED visits (Edmonton: IRR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.30– 1.44, p $lt; 0.05; Calgary: IRR = 1.14, 95$lt; 0.05; Other health zones: IRR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.07–1.21, p $lt; 0.05). Changing COVID-19 case counts did not correspond with changing rates of opioid-related ED visits across regions. ConclusionThe increase in opioid-related ED visits associated with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was unrelated to COVID-19 case prevalence in Alberta

Description of a Multi-faceted COVID-19 Pandemic Physician Workforce Plan at a Multi-site Academic Health System

Abstract Background The evolving COVID-19 pandemic has and continues to present a threat to health system capacity. Rapidly expanding an existing acute care physician workforce is critical to pandemic response planning in large urban academic health systems. Intervention The Medical Emergency-Pandemic Operations Command (MEOC)—a multi-specialty team of physicians, operational leaders, and support staff within an academic Department of Medicine in Calgary, Canada—partnered with its provincial health system to rapidly develop a comprehensive, scalable pandemic physician workforce plan for non-ventilated inpatients with COVID-19 across multiple hospitals. The MEOC Pandemic Plan comprised seven components, each with unique structure and processes. Methods In this manuscript, we describe MEOC’s Pandemic Plan that was designed and implemented from March to May 2020 and re-escalated in October 2020. We report on the plan’s structure and process, early implementation outcomes, and unforeseen challenges. Data sources included MEOC documents, health system, public health, and physician engagement implementation data. Key Results From March 5 to October 26, 2020, 427 patients were admitted to COVID-19 units in Calgary hospitals. In the initial implementation period (March–May 2020), MEOC communications reached over 2500 physicians, leading to 1446 physicians volunteering to provide care on COVID-19 units. Of these, 234 physicians signed up for hospital shifts, and 227 physicians received in-person personal protective equipment simulation training. Ninety-three physicians were deployed on COVID-19 units at four large acute care hospitals. The resurgence of cases in September 2020 has prompted re-escalation including re-activation of COVID-19 units. Conclusions MEOC leveraged an academic health system partnership to rapidly design, implement, and refine a comprehensive, scalable COVID-19 acute care physician workforce plan whose components are readily applicable across jurisdictions or healthcare crises. This description may guide other institutions responding to COVID-19 and future health emergencies. </jats:sec