Can gamblers beat randomness? : an experimental study on sport betting

Although skills are not considered relevant in chance governed activities, only few studies have assessed to which extent sport expert skills in wagering are a manifestation of the illusion of control. Thus, the present paper examines: (1) if expert hockey bettors can make better predictions than random selection, (2) if expert hockey bettors can achieve greater monetary gains than what can be expected from chance, and (3) what kind of information and strategies hockey gamblers rely on when betting. Accordingly, 30 participants were asked to report their state lottery hockey bets on 6 occasions. They also filled in a questionnaire on sports wagering. Despite a rate accuracy greater than chance, the monetary gains of expert hockey gamblers are not significantly higher than what can be expected by chance. It is suggested that the information used by bettors, along with near-misses (level of precision), reinforce their perception of expertise and their illusion of contro

Intégrer la cessation tabagique au traitement des dépendances : Obstacles, défis et solutions

La prévalence du tabagisme en milieu de traitement des dépendances est très élevée, dépassant généralement les trois quarts de la clientèle. Étant donné les effets particulièrement nuisibles pour la santé de l’association de l’alcool, des drogues et du tabac, il est possible, bénéfique et même nécessaire d’intégrer une intervention en cessation tabagique dans les centres de traitement des dépendances. Pourtant, ce type de service est pratiquement inexistant au Canada et au Québec. Cet article met en perspective les éléments qui contribuent à cette situation et propose différentes avenues de solution pour aménager un tel service. Des exemples provenant de l’implantation d’un programme de cessation tabagique dans un centre de traitement des dépendances au Québec sont présentés.The prevalence of tobacco use in addiction treatment environments is very high, generally exceeding three-quarters of the clientele. In view of the particularly harmful effects on health of associating alcohol, drugs and tobacco, it is possible, beneficial and even necessary to include a smoking cessation intervention in addiction treatment centres. However, this type of service is practically non-existent in Canada and Quebec. This article looks at the elements that contribute to this situation and proposes various solutions to establish such a service. Examples of implementing a smoking cessation program in an addiction treatment centre in Quebec are presented.La prevalencia del tabaquismo en el ambiente del tratamiento de las dependencias es muy elevada, ya que más de las tres cuartas partes de la clientela presenta una dependencia de la nicotina. Considerando los efectos particularmente dañinos que tiene para la salud la asociación del alcohol, las drogas y el tabaco, es posible, beneficioso e incluso necesario integrar una intervención destinada al cese tabáquico en los centros de tratamiento de las dependencias. Sin embargo, este tipo de servicio es prácticamente inexistente en Canadá y en Quebec. Este artículo pone en perspectiva los elementos que contribuyen a esta situación y propone diferentes vías de solución para organizar dicho servicio. Se presentan ejemplos provenientes de la implantación de un programa de cesación tabáquica en un centro de tratamiento de dependencias de Quebec

European hospitals' transition toward fully electronic-based systems: do information technology security and privacy practices follow?

Background: Traditionally, health information has been mainly kept in paper-based records. This has deeply changed throughout approximately the last three decades with the widespread use of multiple health information technologies. The digitization of health care systems contributes to improving health care delivery. However, it also exposes health records to security and privacy breaches inherently related to information technology (IT). Thus, health care organizations willing to leverage IT for improved health care delivery need to put in place IT security and privacy measures consistent with their use of IT resources. Objective: In this study, 2 main objectives are pursued: (1) to assess the state of the implementation of IT security and privacy practices in European hospitals and (2) to assess to what extent these hospitals enhance their IT security and privacy practices as they move from paper-based systems toward fully electronic-based systems. Methods: Drawing on data from the European Commission electronic health survey, we performed a cluster analysis based on IT security and privacy practices implemented in 1723 European hospitals. We also developed an IT security index, a compounded measure of implemented IT security and privacy practices, and compared it with the hospitals' level in their transition from a paper-based system toward a fully electronic-based system. Results: A total of 3 clearly distinct patterns of health IT-related security and privacy practices were unveiled. These patterns, as well as the IT security index, indicate that most of the sampled hospitals (70.2%) failed to implement basic security and privacy measures consistent with their digitization level. Conclusions: Even though, on average, the most electronically advanced hospitals display a higher IT security index than hospitals where the paper system still dominates, surprisingly, it appears that the enhancement of IT security and privacy practices as the health information digitization advances in European hospitals is neither systematic nor strong enough regarding the IT-security requirements. This study will contribute to raising awareness among hospitals' managers as to the importance of enhancing their IT security and privacy measures so that they can keep up with the security threats inherently related to the digitization of health care organizations. © 2019 Journal of Medical Internet Research. All rights reserved

Impact of residential schooling and of child abuse on substance use problem in Indigenous Peoples

Residential schools were the institutions, in operation from the 19th century to the late 20th century, which Indigenous children in Canada were forced to attend. The literature shows that many young people who attended these institutions were victims of neglect and abuse. Negative psychological effects resulting from child abuse have been amply documented. However, very few studies on this subject have been carried out among Canada's Indigenous peoples. The objective of this cross-sectional study is to evaluate, for an Indigenous population in Quebec (Canada), the impact of residential schooling as well as self-reported experiences of sexual and physical abuse during childhood on the development of alcohol and drug use problems in adulthood. A total of 358 Indigenous participants were interviewed (164 men [45.8%] and 194 women [54.2%]). Alcohol abuse was evaluated using the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST). Drug abuse was assessed with the Drug Abuse Screening Test-20 (DAST). Child abuse and residential schooling were assessed with dichotomous questions (yes/no). Among the participants, 28.5% (n = 102) had attended residential schools, 35.2% (n = 121) reported having experienced sexual abuse, and 34.1% (n = 117) reported having experienced physical abuse before adulthood. Results of the exact logistic regression analyses indicated that residential school attendance was linked to alcohol problems, while child abuse was related to drug use problems. The results of this study highlight the importance of considering the consequences of historical traumas related to residential schools to better understand the current situation of Indigenous peoples in Canada

La restriction de l’usage du tabac en prison au Québec : effets sur le climat carcéral

L’objectif principal de cet article est de mieux connaître les perceptions de personnes détenues en ce qui a trait aux effets sur le climat carcéral d’un règlement qui vise à restreindre l’usage du tabac dans les établissements de détention québécois. Une méthodologie mixte a été employée afin de recueillir des données auprès de 113 personnes détenues dans trois établissements de détention du Québec. Les données quantitatives ont été analysées de manière descriptive et comparative, alors que les données qualitatives ont fait l’objet d’une analyse thématique. Les résultats de l’étude démontrent que les personnes détenues, en désaccord pour la majorité avec l’implantation du nouveau règlement, ont perçu que son implantation a contribué à une hausse des tensions, du trafic de cigarettes et de leur valeur sur le marché noir. Selon leur position ou leur pouvoir, cette situation peut s’avérer profitable pour certains détenus alors qu’elle accroît la vulnérabilité d’autres détenus. L’hypothèse de départ voulant que l’entrée en vigueur d’un nouveau règlement sur le tabagisme entraîne des perturbations du climat carcéral est soutenue par les résultats obtenus.The aim of this paper is to gain perspective on the social climate found in Quebec’s provincial correctional facilities since the introduction of an indoor smoking ban. Data was collected from 113 inmates incarcerated in three provincial correctional facilities, using a mixed methods design. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistics, while qualitative data were the object of a thematic analysis. Results from the study show that inmates, for the most part in disagreement with the new regulation banning indoor smoking, believe its implementation has played a role in increasing social tensions and cigarette trafficking, as well as contributing to a rise in the price of cigarettes on the black market. Depending on their position and influence within the prison environment, this situation was perceived to be either profitable or detrimental to the inmates. The initial hypothesis that the implementation of a new regulation on tobacco use would disrupt the prison’s social climate is supported by the results obtained from this study

Sexual abuse, residential schooling and probable pathological gambling among Indigenous Peoples

Sexual abuse leads to short-term and long-lasting pervasive outcomes, including addictions. Among Indigenous Peoples, sexual abuse experienced in the context of residential schooling may have led to unresolved grief that is contributing to social problems, such as pathological (disordered) gambling. The aim of this study is to investigate the link between child sexual abuse, residential schooling and probable pathological gambling. The participants were 358 Indigenous persons (54.2% women) aged between 18 and 87 years, from two communities and two semi-urban centers in Quebec (Canada). Probable pathological gambling was evaluated using the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), and sexual abuse and residential schooling were assessed with dichotomous questions (yes/no). The results indicate an 8.7% past-year prevalence rate of pathological gambling problems among participants, which is high compared with the general Canadian population. Moreover, 35.4% were sexually abused, while 28.1% reported having been schooled in a residential setting. The results of a logistic regression also indicate that experiences of child sexual abuse and residential schooling are associated with probable pathological gambling among Indigenous Peoples. These findings underscore the importance of using an ecological approach when treating gambling, to address childhood traumas alongside current addiction problems

Attentes du personnel infirmier de la relève envers l’employeur pour favoriser l’engagement professionnel : un premier jalon pour la conception d’interventions organisationnelles au Québec (Canada)

Introduction : Les conditions de travail difficiles compromettent la qualité des emplois infirmiers, accentuent le roulement ainsi que l’attrition, et ce, particulièrement pour le personnel infirmier de la relève. La compréhension des perspectives du personnel infirmier sur l’engagement professionnel est essentielle pour élaborer des interventions organisationnelles innovantes et adaptées en ce sens. Objectifs : L’étude vise à 1- définir les attentes du personnel infirmier de la relève face à l’employeur pour favoriser l’engagement professionnel et 2- identifier les actions organisationnelles prioritaires pour favoriser l’engagement professionnel. Méthodes : Suivant un devis de recherche mixte selon une démarche de cartographie conceptuelle, des infirmières et infirmières auxiliaires de la relève (N=14) dans un centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux (CISSS) semi-urbain du Québec (Canada) ont été invitées à répondre à la question : « Que peut faire l’employeur pour favoriser l’engagement professionnel? ». Des analyses statistiques d’échelonnement multidimensionnel et en grappe ont permis d’organiser les 49 énoncés formulés par le personnel infirmier. Parallèlement, les participantes ont établi les actions prioritaires en cotant « l’importance » et « la probabilité de succès d’implantation » de chaque énoncé. Résultats : Les attentes du personnel infirmier envers leur employeur sont : des conditions de travail attractives, un leadership positif, des conditions de pratique sécuritaires, le soutien au développement professionnel et un cheminement personnalisé. Plus précisément, les actions prioritaires pour l’employeur consistent à : démontrer du respect, offrir un environnement sain et éviter les déplacements dans des départements non souhaités. Discussion et conclusion : Les résultats suggèrent plusieurs pistes d’actions pour favoriser l’engagement professionnel du personnel infirmier de la relève, en contexte semi-urbain au Québec, notamment : l’offre de ressources humaines et matérielles, l’implantation d’une culture organisationnelle positive et l’exercice d’un leadership bienveillant.