Understanding the Impact of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions on SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children and Parents: A Patient-Oriented Research Approach

This research aims to understand how non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) like wearing masks, physical distancing, staying home, avoiding contact, limiting visitors, and handwashing impact the spread of SARS-CoV-2 among children and parents in the Greater Toronto Area. These preventive measures were extensively implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, often at significant social and economic cost. However, the extent to which NPIs were effective in preventing infection is still unclear. This study will leverage data from the TARGet Kids! COVID-19 Study, a longitudinal research project that follows families in Toronto, and link it with population-based health data from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES). By analyzing this comprehensive data set, the study seeks to provide clear evidence on the effectiveness of these interventions, thereby helping families make informed decisions on how best to protect themselves and their children during pandemics. The research takes a patient-oriented approach, meaning it actively involves parents and caregivers in the study's design and implementation to ensure the findings are relevant and useful to those most affected. By focusing on real-world adherence to these measures and their impact on infection risk, the study aims to fill critical knowledge gaps that exist due to the limited empirical studies on this topic, especially for children. This research is crucial for guiding public health policies and recommendations, both now and in preparation for future pandemics, ensuring that measures to control infections are balanced against the social, educational, and emotional needs of children and their families.