La vaccination contre l'influenza chez les médecins omnipatriciens du Québec

Méthode. La présente étude avait pour but de déterminer les pratiques personnelles et professionnelles des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec en ce qui a trait à la vaccination contre l'influenza. Celle-ci a été réalisée grâce à une étude transversale descriptive effectuée à l'aide d'une enquête postale auprès d'un échantillon représentatif de 1000 professionnels affiliés à la Fédération des Médecins Omnipraticiens du Québec (FMOQ) en automne 1997. Un seul rappel fut effectué. Conclusion. Cette étude est la première au Québec à documenter la couverture vaccinale antigrippale au sein du corps médical, plus spécifiquement chez les omnipraticiens. Comme nous avons pu le constater, une grande proportion des omnipraticiens québécois ne sont toujours pas vaccinés contre l'influenza, et cela, malgré le fait que ce groupe soit clairement visé par le programme de vaccination national contre l'influenza. Cette étude atteste donc des efforts à effectuer afin d'augmenter le nombre de vaccinés chez ces professionnels. En outre, ces efforts pourraient avoir des impacts importants sur la recommandation de cet acte auprès des patients et ainsi contribuer indirectement à l'augmentation des couvertures vaccinales chez la population âgée."--Résumé abrégé par UMI

Les impacts des changements climatiques sur la santé au Québec : l’exemple de l’Estrie

L’Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS) soutient que les changements climatiques représentent la plus grande menace pour la santé dans le monde au 21e siècle. Ceux-ci influencent négativement plusieurs déterminants sociaux et environnementaux de la santé comme l’accessibilité à la nourriture et la qualité de cette dernière, l’eau et l’air. Blessures, impacts psychosociaux, aggravation de maladies respiratoires, malnutrition, maladies infectieuses, décès : les conséquences sanitaires sont susceptibles d’affecter les populations sur tous les continents. Le Canada se réchauffe deux fois plus rapidement que la moyenne mondiale en raison de sa proximité au pôle Arctique, où le réchauffement est accéléré comparativement à l’équateur (Bush et Lemmen, 2019). Ainsi, le Québec n’est certainement pas à l’abri des changements climatiques. Dans le Sud de la province, les températures moyennes observées ont augmenté de plus d’un degré depuis 1970 et des répercussions se font déjà sentir dans notre environnement. Ce réchauffement, accompagné d’une plus grande variabilité du climat (augmentation du risque d’orages, de tempêtes et d’extrêmes hydrométéorologiques en général), représente un défi grandissant pour les professionnel.le.s de la santé. Dans la région de l’Estrie, les professionnel.le.s de santé publique ont effectué une analyse qui leur ont permis d’identifier quatre principaux problèmes environnementaux associés aux changements climatiques, soit : les vagues de chaleur; les inondations; les tiques à pattes noires; le pollen de l’herbe à poux. Ces problèmes ont des impacts importants sur la santé, c’est-à-dire potentiellement graves ou qui touchent un grand nombre de personnes. Le stress et les pertes (humaines et matérielles) engendrées par ces différents problèmes environnementaux peuvent aussi représenter une source majeure de problèmes psychologiques significatifs pouvant persister dans le temps. De plus, ces impacts sont variables selon les différents contextes sociaux des individus et des communautés, générant des inégalités sociales de santé

La vaccination contre l'influenza chez les médecins omnipatriciens du Québec

Méthode. La présente étude avait pour but de déterminer les pratiques personnelles et professionnelles des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec en ce qui a trait à la vaccination contre l'influenza. Celle-ci a été réalisée grâce à une étude transversale descriptive effectuée à l'aide d'une enquête postale auprès d'un échantillon représentatif de 1000 professionnels affiliés à la Fédération des Médecins Omnipraticiens du Québec (FMOQ) en automne 1997. Un seul rappel fut effectué. Conclusion. Cette étude est la première au Québec à documenter la couverture vaccinale antigrippale au sein du corps médical, plus spécifiquement chez les omnipraticiens. Comme nous avons pu le constater, une grande proportion des omnipraticiens québécois ne sont toujours pas vaccinés contre l'influenza, et cela, malgré le fait que ce groupe soit clairement visé par le programme de vaccination national contre l'influenza. Cette étude atteste donc des efforts à effectuer afin d'augmenter le nombre de vaccinés chez ces professionnels. En outre, ces efforts pourraient avoir des impacts importants sur la recommandation de cet acte auprès des patients et ainsi contribuer indirectement à l'augmentation des couvertures vaccinales chez la population âgée."--Résumé abrégé par UMI

Determinants of influenza vaccination among a large adult population in Quebec

Objectives: Very low uptake has been noted for influenza vaccination in the province of Quebec. This study aimed to identify the determinants of influenza vaccination among a large regional population. Methods: A telephone survey was administered to a random digit sample in the Eastern Townships region (Quebec, Canada). Respondents were asked questions on several health topics such as perceived knowledge and beliefs about influenza immunization, medical consultations, perceived health status and life habits. Significant variables in the univariate analysis were introduced into a multivariate logistic regression model to determine independent factors for having received the influenza vaccine (aOR and 95% CI) among adults aged ≥60 years and younger adults with ≥1 chronic condition. Results: A total of 4,620 interviews were analyzed. Among the target groups, 55.4% of adults aged ≥60 and 32.2% of adults aged 18–59 with at least one chronic disease had received the influenza vaccine during the 2013–2014 season. Several determinants were significantly associated with influenza vaccination in both groups such as having received a recommendation from a healthcare professional. Among adults aged ≥60, not having consulted a chiropractor over the last 12 months (aOR = 2.37; 1.09-5.19), non-smokers (aOR = 1.78; 1.22-2.59) and self-perceived poor health status (aOR = 1.45; 1.01-2.06) were significantly linked to flu vaccination. In the younger group, influenza vaccination was independently associated to low alcohol consumption (aOR = 2.14; 1.13-4.05) and being overweight (aOR = 1.63; 1.12-2.38). Conclusions: Many determinants influence the decision to get vaccinated against influenza. Specific messages should be tailored for high-risk groups to effectively increase influenza vaccine coverage

Determinants of vaccine hesitancy in Quebec: a large population-based survey

Objectives: Vaccine hesitancy is a global phenomenon that needs to be measured and addressed. This study aimed to identify the determinants of vaccine hesitancy among a large regional population. Methods: A structured telephone survey was administered to a random digit sample in Quebec’s Eastern Townships region. In addition to socioeconomic information, respondents were asked questions on several health topics such as knowledge and beliefs about immunization, medical consultations, health status, and life habits. Data were weighted according to age, sex, and territories. Statistically significant variables in the univariate analysis were introduced into a multivariate logistic regression model to determine independent factors for vaccine hesitancy (adjusted odds ratios [aOR] and 95% confidence intervals). Results: A total of 8,737 interviews were conducted (participation rate 48.3%). Among all respondents, 32.2% were vaccine-hesitant. Several beliefs were significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy: belief that children receive too many vaccines (aOR = 2.72; 2.32–3.18), belief that a healthy lifestyle can eliminate the need for vaccination (aOR = 2.48; 2.09–2.93), and belief that the use of alternative medicine practices can eliminate the need for vaccination (aOR = 1.39; 1.16–1.68). Other determinants associated with vaccine hesitancy were having consulted a massage therapist (aOR = 2.34; 1.46–3.75), not being vaccinated against influenza (aOR = 1.80; 1.49–2.16), having a low (<$30,000) (aOR = 1.58; 1.24–2.02) or moderate ($30,000–$79,000) (aOR = 1.37; 1.12–1.67) household income, distrust in public health authorities (aOR = 1.40; 1.21–1.63), perceived insufficient knowledge about immunization (aOR = 1.26; 1.04–1.51), and smoking (aOR = 1.22; 1.01–1.47). Conclusions: Many determinants are related to vaccine hesitancy. These determinants should be taken into account when health professionals engage with vaccine-hesitant individuals

Respiratory Diseases in University Students Associated with Exposure to Residential Dampness or Mold

University students are frequently exposed to residential dampness or mold (i.e., visible mold, mold odor, dampness, or water leaks), a well-known contributor to asthma, allergic rhinitis, and respiratory infections. This study aims to: (a) describe the prevalence of these respiratory diseases among university students; and (b) examine the independent contribution of residential dampness or mold to these diseases. An online survey was conducted in March 2014 among the 26,676 students registered at the Université de Sherbrooke (Quebec, Canada). Validated questions and scores were used to assess self-reported respiratory diseases (i.e., asthma-like symptoms, allergic rhinitis, and respiratory infections), residential dampness or mold, and covariates (e.g., student characteristics). Using logistic regressions, the crude and adjusted odd ratios between residential dampness or mold and self-reported respiratory diseases were examined. Results from the participating students (n = 2097; response rate: 8.1%) showed high prevalence of allergic rhinitis (32.6%; 95% CI: 30.6–34.7), asthma-like symptoms (24.0%; 95% CI: 22.1–25.8) and respiratory infections (19.4%; 95% CI: 17.7–21.2). After adjustment, exposure to residential dampness or mold was associated with allergic rhinitis (OR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.01–1.55) and asthma-like symptoms (OR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.37–2.11), but not with respiratory infections (OR: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.85–1.36). Among symptomatic students, this exposure was also associated with uncontrolled and burdensome respiratory symptoms (p &lt; 0.01). University students report a high prevalence of allergic rhinitis, asthma-like symptoms and respiratory infections. A common indoor hazard, residential dampness or mold, may play a role in increasing atopic respiratory diseases and their suboptimal control in young adults. These results emphasize the importance for public health organizations to tackle poor housing conditions, especially amongst university students who should be considered “at-risk”

Prevalence of Residential Dampness and Mold Exposure in a University Student Population

The impact of residential dampness or mold on respiratory health is well established but few studies have focused on university students. This study aims to: (a) describe the prevalence of exposure to residential dampness or mold in university students according to socio-geographic factors and (b) identify associated housing characteristics. A web survey was conducted in 2014 among the 26,676 students registered at the Université de Sherbrooke (QC, Canada). Residential dampness and mold being closely intertwined, they were considered as a single exposure and assessed using a validated questionnaire. Exposure was compared according to socio-geographic and housing characteristics using chi-square tests and logistic regressions. Among the 2097 participants included in the study (response rate: 8.1%), over 80% were tenants. Residential exposure to dampness or mold was frequent (36.0%, 95% CI: 33.9–38.1). Marked differences for this exposure were noted according to home ownership (39.7% vs. 25.5% among tenants and owners respectively; OR = 1.92%, 95% CI: 1.54–2.38). Campus affiliation, household composition and the number of residents per building were associated with exposure to dampness or mold (p &lt; 0.01), while sex and age were not. Exposure was also associated with older buildings, and buildings in need of renovations and lacking proper ventilation (p &lt; 0.001). This study highlights the potential risk of university students suffering from mold-related health effects given their frequent exposure to this agent. Further research is needed to fully evaluate the mold-related health impact in this at risk group