Perceived Adequacy of Infection Control Practices and Symptoms of Anxiety Among In-Person Elementary School Educators in Ontario. Issue 11 (6th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Smith, Peter M.; Oudyk, John; Cedillo, Leonor; Inouye, Kimiko; Potter, Guy; Mustard, Cameron
• Is Part Of: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 64:Issue 11(2022)
• Page Start: e763
• Page End: e768
• Publication Date: 2022-11-06
• Subjects: anxiety -- Canada -- infection control -- Ontario -- teaching -- workplace; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Occupational Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental health; Medicine, Industrial; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002693
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-2752

Abstract

Abstract : In this paper perceptions of inadequate infection control procedures were associated with elevated levels of anxiety symptoms. Educators, school administrators and policy makers should work collaboratively to design school environments that address perceptions of unmet infection control practices, focusing on physical distancing between educators and students and allowing greater compliance with student masking and cohorting. Abstract : Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the association between the perceived adequacy of infection control practices (ICPs) and symptoms of anxiety among educators in Ontario, Canada. Methods: Data from 4947 educators were collected in December 2020. Modified Poisson models assessed the association between adequacy of ICPs and moderate or severe anxiety symptoms, adjusting for a range of covariates. Results: Approximately 60% of respondents reported moderate or severe anxiety symptoms. Two-thirds (66.5%) of the sample had less than half of their ICP needs met. Respondents with less than half their ICP needs met were more than three times more likely to have moderate or severe anxiety, compared with respondents with their ICP needs met. Conclusion: Findings highlight the importance of adequate administrative and engineering controls in schools, not only to minimize risk of infection, but also for educator's mental health.