Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39272049›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2024

Canadian beach cohort study: protocol of a prospective study to assess the burden of recreational water illness.

Ian Young, Binyam N Desta, J Johanna Sanchez, Shannon E Majowicz, Thomas A Edge, Sarah Elton, David L Pearl, Teresa Brooks, Andrea Nesbitt, Mahesh Patel and 6 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Ian YoungSchool of Occupational and Public Health, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada. iyoung@torontomu.ca.
Binyam N DestaSchool of Occupational and Public Health, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
J Johanna SanchezSchool of Occupational and Public Health, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Shannon E MajowiczSchool of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
Thomas A EdgeDepartment of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Sarah EltonDalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
David L PearlDepartment of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
Teresa BrooksWater and Air Quality Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Andrea NesbittCentre for Food-Borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, ON, Canada.
Mahesh PatelToronto Public Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Michael SchwandtVancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Dylan LyngWater Science and Watershed Management Branch, Manitoba Environment and Climate, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Brandon KrupaPublic Health Niagara Region, Thorold, ON, Canada.
Herb E SchellhornDepartment of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Elizabeth MontgomeryHalifax Regional Municipality, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Jordan TustinSchool of Occupational and Public Health, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRecreational water activities at beaches are popular among Canadians. However, these activities can increase the risk of recreational water illnesses (RWI) among beachgoers. Few studies have been conducted in Canada to determine the risk of these illnesses. This protocol describes the methodology for a study to determine the risk and burden of RWI due to exposure to fecal pollution at beaches in Canada.

methodsThis study will use a mixed-methods approach, consisting of a prospective cohort study of beachgoers with embedded qualitative research. The cohort study involves recruiting and enrolling participants at public beaches across Canada, ascertaining their water and sand contact exposure status, then following-up after seven days to determine the incidence of acute RWI outcomes. We will test beach water samples each recruitment day for culture-based E. coli, enterococci using rapid molecular methods, and microbial source tracking biomarkers. The study started in 2023 and will continue to 2025 at beaches in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Nova Scotia. The target enrollment is 5000 beachgoers. Multilevel logistic regression models will be fitted to examine the relationships between water and sand contact and RWI among beachgoers. We will also examine differences in risks by beachgoer age, gender, and beach location and the influence of fecal indicator bacteria and other water quality parameters on these relationships. Sensitivity analyses will be conducted to examine the impact of various alternative exposure and outcome definitions on these associations. The qualitative research phase will include focus groups with beachgoers and key informant interviews to provide additional contextual insights into the study findings. The study will use an integrated knowledge translation approach. DISCUSSION: Initial implementation of the study at two Toronto, Ontario, beaches in 2023 confirmed that recruitment is feasible and that a high completion rate (80%) can be achieved for the follow-up survey. While recall bias could be a concern for the self-reported RWI outcomes, we will examine the impact of this bias in a negative control analysis. Study findings will inform future recreational water quality guidelines, policies, and risk communication strategies in Canada.

Indexed as

Bathing BeachesAdolescentAdultCanadaFecesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesQualitative ResearchRecreationWaterborne DiseasesWater MicrobiologyYoung AdultBeach waterCohort studyEnvironmental healthEpidemiologyGastrointestinal illnessProtocolSwimming

Identifiers

PMID39272049
PMCPMC11401404

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.