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Perceived Adequacy of Infection Control Practices and Symptoms of Anxiety Among In-Person Elementary School Educators
Peter M Smith1, John Oudyk, Leonor Cedillo
1From the Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Dr Smith, Dr Mustard); Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Dr Smith, Dr Mustard); Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia (Dr Smith); Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (Dr Oudyk, Dr Cedillo); Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (Dr Oudyk); Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Ms Inouye); and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina (Dr Potter).
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.
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