Clinical Trial Details
— Status: Active, not recruiting
Administrative data
| NCT number |
NCT06413485 |
| Other study ID # |
TorontoMetropolitan |
| Secondary ID |
|
| Status |
Active, not recruiting |
| Phase |
|
| First received |
|
| Last updated |
|
| Start date |
June 16, 2023 |
| Est. completion date |
March 31, 2029 |
Study information
| Verified date |
June 2024 |
| Source |
Toronto Metropolitan University |
| Contact |
n/a |
| Is FDA regulated |
No |
| Health authority |
|
| Study type |
Observational
|
Clinical Trial Summary
Swimming and other water activities at public beaches are increasingly popular leisure
activities among Canadians. However, these activities can lead to increased risks of
acquiring acute gastrointestinal illness and respiratory, skin, ear, and eye infections among
beachgoers. These illnesses have a significant health and economic burden on society, with
young children having much higher rates of illness than other age groups. Currently, baseline
data are lacking on the risk of recreational water illness in Canada, and beachgoers may lack
awareness and understanding of these risks and how to prevent them. This study will identify
the burden of recreational water illness among Canadian beachgoers. The results will be used
to develop recommendations for improving recreational water quality guidelines for safe
swimming in Canada, as well as public health risk management and communication strategies
with beachgoers. The study will use a mixed-methods approach, consisting of a prospective
cohort study and a qualitative study of beachgoers. The investigators will determine the risk
of acquiring recreational water illness outcomes in beachgoers that engage in different
levels of water and sand contact. The investigators will examine differences in illness risks
by beachgoer gender, age, and location. The investigators will examine relationships between
fecal indicator bacteria (E. coli), environmental conditions, and host-specific biomarkers
with the risk of gastrointestinal illness among beachgoers. The investigators will also
evaluate beachgoer risk perceptions and behaviours toward recreational water quality. The
study will take place at five targeted beach sites in British Columbia, Manitoba, and
Ontario. The study will be coordinated by a multidisciplinary research team, with activities
guided by a stakeholder steering group consisting of key knowledge users. The long-term goal
is to reduce the burden of recreational water illness in Canada, contributing to improved
public health.
Description:
Swimming and other beach water activities are increasingly popular outdoor leisure activities
among Canadians. However, these activities increase the risk of acquiring acute
gastrointestinal illness (AGI) and other acute illnesses among beachgoers. Recreational water
illness (RWI) has a significant health burden, with young children having the highest rates
of illness. These illnesses result in substantial costs to society due to healthcare costs
and lost productivity. Data are lacking in Canada on the risk and burden of RWI, and
beachgoers may lack awareness and understanding of RWI risks and how to prevent them. There
is a critical need to conduct timely research on the burden of RWI in Canada to inform
recreational water quality guidelines and public health risk management.
The purpose of this study is to identify the burden of RWI among Canadian beachgoers and to
develop recommendations for improving recreational water quality risk management,
communication, and pollution source prevention. The objectives are to:
1. Measure the risk and burden of five different RWI outcomes (AGI, respiratory, eye, ear,
and skin infections) in beachgoers that engage in different levels of water and sand
contact;
2. Identify differences in RWI risks by beachgoer gender, age, and beach location;
3. Determine relationships between fecal indicator bacteria, environmental parameters,
host-specific biomarkers, and the risk of AGI among beachgoers; and
4. Understand beachgoer risk perceptions and behaviours related to recreational water
quality and socio-political issues that may impact RWI risks among beachgoers.
The study will use a mixed-methods approach, consisting of a prospective cohort study
(Objectives 1-3) with embedded qualitative research (Objective 4). The cohort study will
involve enrolling participants at public beaches, ascertaining their water and sand contact
exposure status, then following-up to determine the incidence of acute RWI outcomes. The
investigators will combine beachgoer exposure data with routinely collected secondary data on
environmental parameters and E. coli levels in beach water. The investigators will also test
for enterococci as another fecal indicator using rapid molecular methods and will conduct
microbial source tracking to determine the contribution of different sources of fecal
contamination (e.g., human, avian) to AGI. The study will take place at eight targeted
freshwater and marine beach sites in British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario. The qualitative
research will consist of focus groups to determine beachgoer risk perceptions and behaviours
toward recreational water quality and key informant interviews with stakeholders to provide
additional socio-political insights and context.
The long-term goal of this study is to reduce the burden of RWI in Canada, contributing to
improved public health. The study will be led by an experienced, diverse, and
multi-disciplinary research team, including engagement with public health and environmental
authorities. Activities will be guided by a stakeholder steering group consisting of key
knowledge-users (KUs). This integrated KT approach will help to ensure that the results are
relevant and useful to KUs, facilitating their direct uptake to influence recreational water
quality policies and practice.
