British Columbia's COVID-19 surveys on population experiences, action, and knowledge (SPEAK): methods and key findings from two large cross-sectional online surveys.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the methodology and key findings of British Columbia's (BC) COVID-19 SPEAK surveys, developed to understand the experiences, knowledge, and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on British Columbians. METHODS: Two province-wide, cross-sectional, web-based population health surveys were conducted one year apart (May 2020 and April/May 2021). Questions were drawn from validated sources grounded within the social determinants of health to assess COVID-19 testing and prevention; mental and physical health; risk and protective factors; and healthcare, social, and economic impacts during the pandemic. Quota-based non-probability sampling by geography was applied to recruit a representative sample aged 18 years and older. Recruitment included strategic outreach and longitudinal follow-up of a subgroup of respondents from round one to round two. Post-collection weighting using Census data by age, sex, education, ethnicity, and geography was conducted. RESULTS: Participants included 394,382 and 188,561 British Columbians for the first and second surveys, respectively, including a longitudinal subgroup of 141,728. Key findings showed that societal impacts, both early in the pandemic and one year later, were inequitably distributed. Families with children, young adults, and people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds have been most impacted. Significant negative impacts on mental health and stress and a deterioration in protective resiliency factors were found. CONCLUSION: These population health surveys consisting of two large cross-sectional samples provided valuable insight into the impacts and experiences of British Columbians early in the pandemic and one year later. Timely, actionable data informed several high-priority public health areas during BC's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIFS: Décrire la méthode et les principaux constats des enquêtes SPEAK de la Colombie-Britannique sur la COVID-19, élaborées pour comprendre l'expérience des Britanno-Colombiens durant la pandémie, ainsi que leurs connaissances de la pandémie et les effets qu'elle a eus sur eux. MéTHODE: Deux enquêtes en ligne transversales sur la santé de la population ont été menées dans toute la province à un an d'intervalle (en mai 2020 et en avril-mai 2021). Les questions, qui provenaient de sources validées ancrées dans les déterminants sociaux de la santé, ont servi à évaluer le dépistage et la prévention de la COVID-19; la santé mentale et physique; les facteurs de risque et de protection; et les effets sociaux, économiques et sur les soins de santé ressentis durant la pandémie. Un échantillonnage contingentaire non probabiliste par lieu géographique a été appliqué pour recruter un échantillon représentatif de personnes de 18 ans et plus. Le recrutement a inclus une prise de contact stratégique et un suivi longitudinal auprès d'un sous-groupe de répondants entre les cycles un et deux. Après la collecte, les données ont été pondérées selon l'âge, le sexe, le niveau d'instruction, l'ethnicité et le lieu géographique à l'aide des données du Recensement. RéSULTATS: Les participants étaient 394 382 Britanno-Colombiens au cours du premier cycle de l'enquête et 188 561 au deuxième cycle, dont un sous-groupe longitudinal de 141 728 personnes. Selon les principaux constats, la répartition des effets sociétaux, tant au début de la pandémie qu'un an plus tard, a été inéquitable. Les familles avec enfants, les jeunes adultes et les personnes de statut socioéconomique plus faible ont été les plus touchés. D'importants effets nuisibles sur la santé mentale et le stress ont été constatés, ainsi qu'une détérioration des facteurs de résilience protecteurs. CONCLUSION: Ces enquêtes sur la santé de la population comprenant deux grands échantillons transversaux ont jeté un éclairage précieux sur les effets subis et les expériences vécues par les Britanno-Colombiens au début de la pandémie et un an plus tard. Ces données opportunes et exploitables ont éclairé plusieurs domaines hautement prioritaires de la santé publique durant la riposte de la Colombie-Britannique à la pandémie de COVID-19.

Radon in Schools: A Review of Radon Testing Efforts in Canadian Schools.

Radon, a known carcinogen, becomes a health risk when it accumulates inside buildings. Exposure is of particular concern for children, as their longer life expectancy increases their lifetime risk of developing cancer. In 2016, 5.5 million students were enrolled in Canadian elementary and secondary schools. With no national policy on radon testing in schools, children may be at risk from radon exposure while attending school and school-based programs. This study explored radon testing efforts in publicly funded Canadian schools and summarizes where testing programs have occurred. Radon testing in schools was identified through a systematic qualitative enquiry, surveying members from different levels of government (health and education) and other stakeholders (school boards, research experts, among others). Overall, this research found that approaches to radon testing varied considerably by province and region. Responsibility for radon testing in schools was often deferred between government, school boards, building managers and construction parties. Transparency around radon testing, including which schools had been tested and whether radon levels had been mitigated, also emerged as an issue. Radon testing of schools across Canada, including mitigation and clear communication strategies, needs to improve to ensure a healthy indoor environment for staff and students.

Improving access to refugee-focused health services for people from refugee-like backgrounds in south-eastern Melbourne through the education sector.

People from refugee-like backgrounds living in Australia face substantial health challenges that benefit from access to health and social services. Many people from refugee-like backgrounds have frequent contact with education sector staff, who have the potential to act as conduits to health and social services. The aim of this project was to improve access to refugee-focused health services for people from refugee-like backgrounds in south-eastern Melbourne by codesigning and delivering a 1-day education forum to education sector staff. Evaluation of the forum used mixed-methods analysis of data from pre-post and follow-up surveys (n=11; administered before, immediately after and 1 month after the forum respectively), post-forum interviews (n=4) and one school's referral records. The forum improved attendees' refugee-focused health service referral knowledge, confidence and behaviour. This was supported by the qualitative findings of high staff motivation, high forum satisfaction and evidence of outcome sustainability. Education staff are an important complement to an integrated model of health care for recently resettled people from refugee-like backgrounds. These results show that a straightforward local intervention can improve the ability of education staff to act as conduits to health services, increasing access to health services for people from refugee-like backgrounds.