title: Feasibility of a provincial voluntary reporting system for work-related asthma in Ontario.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. teresa.to@sickkids.ca
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: To
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Tarlo
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McLimont
authors.forename: Ted
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haines
authors.forename: D Linn
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Holness
authors.forename: M Diane
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lougheed
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Liss
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cicutto
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D016730:Program Development; D012042:Registries