Feasibility of a provincial voluntary reporting system for work-related asthma in Ontario.

Teresa To,Gary M Liss,D Linn Holness,Susan M Tarlo,M Diane Lougheed,Lisa Cicutto,Susan Mclimont,Ted Haines

doi:10.1155/2011/541680

Abstract

The Ontario Work-Related Asthma Surveillance System: Physician Reporting (OWRAS) Network was established in 2007 to estimate the prevalence of work-related asthma (WRA) in Ontario, and to test the feasibility of collecting data for cases of WRA from physicians voluntarily. More than 300 respirologists, occupational medicine physicians, allergists and primary care providers in Ontario were invited to participate in monthly reporting of WRA cases by telephone, postal service or e-mail. Since 2007, 49 physicians have registered with the OWRAS Network and, to date, have reported 34 cases of occupational asthma and 49 cases of work-exacerbated asthma. Highly reactive chemicals were the most frequently reported suspected causative agent of the 108 suspected exposures reported. Despite the challenge of enlisting a representative sample of physicians in Ontario willing to report, the OWRAS Network has shown that it is feasible to implement a voluntary reporting system for WRA; however, its long-term sustainability is currently unknown.

Highlights

ObJECTivE: The Ontario Work-Related Asthma Surveillance System: Physician Reporting (OWRAS) Network was established in 2007 to estimate the prevalence of work-related asthma (WRA) in Ontario, and to test the feasibility of collecting data for cases of WRA from physicians voluntarily
Several countries have developed surveillance programs for WRA, such as the Surveillance of Work-Related and Occupational Respiratory Disease (SWORD) in the United Kingdom, the Sentinel Event Notifications System for Occupational Risks (SENSOR) in the United States, and the Surveillance of Australian Workplace Based Respiratory Events (SABRE) in Australia, which provide estimates of the disease burden among the workforce, identify triggers and monitors trends over time using standard definitions that can be used across jurisdictions [5,6,7,8,9,10,11]
Because not all cases of WRA are submitted to the Workers Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), and not all claims result in compensation, this is probably not sufficiently comprehensive for surveillance purposes

Summary

Original article

Feasibility of a provincial voluntary reporting system for work-related asthma in Ontario. Several countries have developed surveillance programs for WRA, such as the Surveillance of Work-Related and Occupational Respiratory Disease (SWORD) in the United Kingdom, the Sentinel Event Notifications System for Occupational Risks (SENSOR) in the United States, and the Surveillance of Australian Workplace Based Respiratory Events (SABRE) in Australia, which provide estimates of the disease burden among the workforce, identify triggers and monitors trends over time using standard definitions that can be used across jurisdictions [5,6,7,8,9,10,11] While most of these programs report challenges to complete case ascertainment (eg, underreporting), analysis of the distribution of WRA across jurisdictions, industries, and occupational and sociodemographic groups can highlight potential risk factors or at-risk groups to target with further investigation and possible prevention programs. The Ontario Work-Related Asthma Surveillance System: Physician Reporting (OWRAS) Network was established in 2007 to estimate the prevalence of WRA in Ontario, test the feasibility of physicians voluntarily reporting WRA cases seen in their practice and raise awareness about WRA among providers

METHODS

Exposure Categories

Findings

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