Compliance of bathers to showering before swimming in a public pool in Toronto, Ontario

Bathers at public swimming pools should shower prior to entering the pool deck to remove organic material (e.g., sweat, lotions, fecal matter) that can increase the risk of recreational water illness and the formation of disinfection by-products. However, little research has been conducted to evaluate bathers’ pre-swimming showering practices. We conducted a cross-sectional study of bathers aged 18 years or older at a public swimming pool in Toronto, Ontario, to evaluate their showering habits. An in-person questionnaire was administered in October and November 2019. Bivariate associations were examined between selected variables and participants’ self-reported showering frequency prior to swimming (often or always vs. never, rarely, or sometimes). A total of 110 bathers agreed to participate. Most participants (63%) were aged 18–34, 56% identified as male, and 78.2% reported always or often showering before swimming. Of these individuals, only 34% reported using soap when showering. Participants that identified as male (vs. female) and an ethnicity other than white were more likely to report often or always showering, as were those that reported reading the pool rules and that observed other bathers taking a shower. Additional efforts are needed to educate bathers about the importance of showering prior to swimming in public pools.