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Table 1 Characteristics of OPS clients participating in study (N = 535)

From: Feeling safer: effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of continuous pulse oximetry for people who smoke opioids at overdose prevention services in British Columbia, Canada

Age (years; mean [SD])

38.5 (11.3)

Gender

 

 Cisgender male

390 (73)

 Cisgender female

132 (24)

 Transgender male, transgender female, non-binary, or two-spirit

4 (1)

 Prefer not to answer

9 (2)

Race/ethnicity

 

 White

360 (67)

 Indigenous or Metis

119 (22)

 Mixed

26 (5)

 African-American or Asian

9 (2)

 Prefer not to answer

21 (4)

Housing status

 

 House/apartment

34 (6)

 Supported housing*

169 (32)

 Single room occupancy (SRO) hotel

78 (15)

 Shelter

128 (24)

 On the street

72 (13)

 Other*

33 (6)

 Prefer not to answer

21 (4)

Employment status

 

 Full-time

22 (4)

 Part-time

72 (14)

 ***Paid volunteer

77 (14)

 Unemployed

309 (58)

 Prefer not to answer

55 (10)

Medical comorbidities

 

 None

239 (45)

 Mental health (e.g., anxiety, depression, bipolar, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)

154 (29)

 Pulmonary (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma)

65 (12)

 Cardiac (e.g., arrhythmia, heart murmur)

27 (5)

 Infectious disease (e.g., HIV, hepatitis C)

16 (3)

 Diabetes

11 (2)

 Other***

9 (2)

 Prefer not to answer

14 (2)

  1. *Supported housing is subsidized housing for adults, seniors, and people with disability with on-site staff supports
  2. *Other housing included hospital, tent, sailboat, couch-surfing, staying with friends or family, and a combination of accommodations
  3. ***“Paid volunteer” positions are not salaried employment but volunteer hours for which people receive remuneration, usually as an honorarium
  4. ***Other disorders included chronic pain, neuromuscular, renal, and rheumatologic disorders