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Funding Agency: Change Foundation
Collaborators: Vancouver Coastal Health, BC Centre for Disease Control
Completed: March 2004

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In the Canadian outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, 51% of the cases -- and 3 deaths -- were healthcare workers. This focused attention on the adequacy of facial protection in preventing airborne and droplet-spread transmission of infectious agents. In a step towards protecting healthcare workers from future SARS-like outbreaks, this project was undertaken to identify priorities to ensure the safety of healthcare workers and how best to implement necessary changes. Primary among these is further research into the organizational factors that facilitate safe work environments for healthcare workers. The priorities were identified through a systematic literature review and focus group consultations with healthcare workers who had direct experience with SARS in Toronto and Vancouver.

Related Resources
Final Report:	Protecting the Faces of Healthcare Workers (424 kb, 118 pgs)	Download
Press Release:	Protecting Healthcare Workers – Interdisciplinary team releases report on effective protection for healthcare workers (19 kb, 1 pg)	Download
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1. Moore, D. M., Gilbert, M., et al. (2005). Occupational health and infection control practices related to severe acute respiratory syndrome: health care worker perceptions. AAOHN Journal, 53(6), 257-66. [ABSTRACT]


2. Moore, D., Gamage, B., et al. (2005). Protecting health care workers from SARS and other respiratory pathogens: organizational and individual factors that affect adherence to infection control guidelines. American Journal of Infection Control, 33(2), 88-96. [ABSTRACT]


3. Gamage, B., Moore, D., Copes, R., Yassi, A., Bryce, E. (2005) Protecting health care workers from SARS and other respiratory pathogens: A review of the infection control literature. American Journal of Infection Control, 33(2), 114-121. [ABSTRACT]


4. Yassi, A., Moore, D., et al. (2005). Research gaps in protecting healthcare workers from SARS and other respiratory pathogens: an interdisciplinary, multi-stakeholder, evidence-based approach. Journal Occupational Environmental Medicine, 47(1), 41-50. [ABSTRACT]


5. Yassi A., Moore D., Fitzgerald J.M., Bigelow P., Hon C.Y., Bryce E.; The BC Interdisciplinary Respiratory Protection Study Group. (2005). Research gaps in protecting healthcare workers from SARS and other respiratory pathogens: an interdisciplinary, multi-stakeholder, evidence-based approach. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 47(1), 41-50. [ABSTRACT]