Aggredin väkivaltatyö ja rikosuran päättyminen : kriminologinen prosessiarviointi

Tämä maisterintutkielma on prosessiarviointi Aggredi-ohjelmasta. Aggredi on vuodesta 2006 toiminut hanke, joka tarjoaa hoidollista työtä kodin ulkopuoliseen väkivaltaan syyllistyneille henkilöille. Prosessiarvioinnin tavoitteena on kuvata asiakastyön prosessi mahdollisimman tarkasti ja selvittää, miten hankkeen suunniteltu muoto vertautuu käytännön läpivientiin ja miten työntekijöiden kertomus työmuodosta vertautuu asiakkaiden kertomuksiin. Tämän lisäksi tutkielmassa pyritään tunnistamaan sellaisia rikoksista irtautumisen mekanismeja, joiden kautta Aggredin työmuoto on vaikuttanut asiakkaiden desistanssiin. Tutkielman aineisto kerättiin yhden työntekijöille suunnatun ryhmähaastattelun sekä kuuden pitkäaikaisen Aggredin asiakkaan haastattelun kautta. Haastattelut olivat teemahaastatteluja ja ne litteroitiin ja analysoitiin tietokoneavusteisesti. Analyysissa käytettiin faktanäkökulmaa sekä yleistä temaattista analyysimenetelmää. Hankkeen suunnitellun muodon kuvaus pohjautuu pääasiallisesti ohjelman työmuodosta tehtyyn julkaisuun. Työntekijähaastattelussa käy ilmi, että osa julkaisussa esitellyistä menetelmistä ja työtavoista ei ole työntekijöiden mukaan enää käytössä. Aineiston perusteella voidaan todeta, että hankkeen ideaalimuoto verrattuna reaaliseen toteutukseen ei kaikilta osin kohtaa, mutta perustavanlaatuiset periaatteet työskentelyssä ovat kuitenkin samat. Työmuoto toimii hyvin vapaamuotoisesti, ilman kirjattua struktuuria, mikä tekee ideaalin ja käytännön vertailun haastavaksi. Työntekijöiden ja asiakkaiden kuvailut prosessista ja työtavasta puolestaan ovat erittäin samankaltaiset, eikä mitään ristiriitaisuuksia ole havaittavissa. Molemmat ryhmät painottavat samoja tekijöitä tärkeinä työskentelyssä. Aineistosta nousee esiin neljä desistanssin mekanismia, joilla on yhteys sosiologisen kriminologian teoriaan. Keskeinen havainto tutkielmassa on, että mekanismien taustalla toimii asiakkaiden vahva henkilökohtainen motivaatio, mikä kertoo siitä, että sosiaalisen kontrollin piiriin tulemisen ehtona on heidän sisäinen muutoksensa. Aggredi ilmenee sosiaalisen kontrollin ilmentymänä, jonka sisällä toimii sosiaalisen konstruktionismin, kognitiivisten muutosten ja oppimisen mekanismit. Sosiaalinen konstruktionismi näkyy asiakkaiden uusissa narratiiveissa, joita he luovat keskusteluissa työntekijöiden kanssa ja joiden kautta he muodostavat uusia ajattelutapoja ja uudenlaista identiteettiä. Kognitiivisia muutoksia ilmentää asiakkaiden itseymmärryksen lisääntyminen, jonka kautta he alkavat muodostaa uusia ajatusratoja ja käyttäytymistapoja. Työskentelyn aikana Aggredin työntekijät opettivat asiakkaille vaihtoehtoisia keinoja aggressiivisuuden ja impulsiivisuuden hallintaan, ja oppimisen mekanismi tulee esiin näiden ratkaisumallien omaksumisen kautta. Haastatellut asiakkaat osoittavat vahvaa subjektiivista tyytyväisyyttä työmuotoon sekä vahvaa hoitositoutumista. Tutkielman havainnot tukevat kriminologista teoriaa ja tutkimusta siitä, että rikoksista irtautumisen kohdalla sisäinen muutos tapahtuu ennen rakenteellisia muutoksia sekä sitä, että sosiaaliseen kontrolliin ei integroiduta vain ulkoisesti vaan myös kognitiivisesti. Aggredin työmuoto ilmentää myös sellaisia toimintapoja, jotka on havaittu toimiviksi aiemmassa tutkimuksessa tehokkaista menetelmistä rikoksentorjuntaohjelmissa. Asiakkaiden ja työntekijöiden hyvin samankaltaiset kertomukset työmuodosta osoittavat, että hankkeen olisi mahdollista kirjata ylös jonkinlaista struktuuria työskentelymallista. Struktuurin kirjaaminen olisi hyödyllistä Aggrediin kohdistuvalle jatkotutkimukselle sekä työmuodon siirrettävyydelle

The impact of short periods of match congestion on injury risk and patterns in an elite football club

Background: The effect of fixture congestion on injury rates and patterns has received scarce attention in elite football and existing investigations have not accounted for player rotation or examined the temporal distribution and potential cause of injuries. Aim: To prospectively investigate the epidemiology of injury during short periods of fixture congestion in a professional football club. Methods: Over a 6-season period, exposure time and injury data were compared in the same players (n=25 [14 individuals]) when participating in two frequently occurring short congested fixture cycles in comparison to match-play outside these cycles. 1) two successive matches separated by an interval totalling ≤3days calculated immediately from the end of play in match 1 to the beginning of play in match 2; 2) three successive matches separated by ≤4-day intervals commencing the day immediately after each match. Results: In 2-match congestion cycles, incidence rate ratios (IRR) showed there was a higher risk of injury in the final 15-minutes of play in the second match in comparison to match-play outside the cycles (IRR: 3.1 [95% CI 1.1 to 9.3], p=0.0400). A greater risk of injury overall (IRR: 2.0 [95% CI 1.1 to 3.8], p=0.0345) and in the 1st-half of play (2.6 [1.1 to 6,5], p=0.0386), and risk of ankle sprains (10.4 [95% CI 1.9 to 57.9], p=0.0068) and non-contact injuries due to a ‘change in direction’ (IRR: 7.8 [1.3 to 46.8], p=0.0243) was observed in the final match of 3-match congestion cycles in comparison to match-play outside the cycles. Conclusion: Injury rates and patterns were affected in the same elite football players when competing in short congested fixture cycles in comparison to match-play outside the cycles

Can off-field ‘brains’ provide a competitive advantage in professional football?

‘Working-fast and working-slow’ in sport describes the concept that practice and research can be integrated to improve high-performance outcomes and enhance professional practice.1 ‘Working-fast’ is the task of the fast-thinking, intuitive practitioner operating on ‘the ground’ at a frenetic pace, interacting with coaches and athletes, and delivering the daily preparation programme. ‘Working-slow’ is key for the team's deliberate, focused researcher acting as the resident sceptic, operating behind the scenes on tasks that the ‘fast-practitioner’ may not have time and/or skills to undertake. Such hidden, but important, tasks include determining measurement noise/error in performance tests, establishing proof of concept for new ideas and ensuring validity of methods. Embedding research into the fast environment of high-performance football may provide a competitive advantage using ethical and evidence-based methods.

Tier-specific evolution of match performance characteristics in the English Premier League: it's getting tougher at the top.

This study investigated the evolution of physical and technical performances in the English Premier League (EPL), with special reference to league ranking. Match performance observations (n = 14,700) were collected using a multiple-camera computerised tracking system across seven consecutive EPL seasons (2006-07 to 2012-13). Final league rankings were classified into Tiers: (A) 1st-4th ranking (n = 2519), (B) 5th-8th ranking (n = 2965), (C) 9th-14th ranking (n = 4448) and (D) 15th-20th ranking (n = 4768). Teams in Tier B demonstrated moderate increases in high-intensity running distance while in ball possession from the 2006-07 to 2012-13 season (P < 0.001; effect size [ES]: 0.68), with Tiers A, C and D producing less pronounced increases across the same period (P < 0.005; ES: 0.26, 0.41 and 0.33, respectively). Large increases in sprint distance were observed from the 2006-07 to 2012-13 season for Tier B (P < 0.001; ES: 1.21), while only moderate increases were evident for Tiers A, C and D (P < 0.001; ES: 0.75, 0.97 and 0.84, respectively). Tier B demonstrated large increases in the number of passes performed and received in 2012-13 compared to 2006-07 (P < 0.001; ES: 1.32-1.53) with small-to-moderate increases in Tier A (P < 0.001; ES: 0.30-0.38), Tier C (P < 0.001; ES: 0.46-0.54) and Tier D (P < 0.001; ES: 0.69-0.87). The demarcation line between 4th (bottom of Tier A) and 5th ranking (top of Tier B) in the 2006-07 season was 8 points, but this decreased to just a single point in the 2012-13 season. The data demonstrate that physical and technical performances have evolved more in Tier B than any other Tier in the EPL and could indicate a narrowing of the performance gap between the top two Tiers

An individualized longitudinal approach to monitoring the dynamics of growth and fitness development in adolescent athletes.

This study evaluated the development of anthropometric and fitness characteristics of 3 individual adolescent junior rugby league players and compared their characteristics with a cross-sectional population matched by age and skill level. Cross-sectional anthropometric and fitness assessments were conducted on 1,172 players selected to the Rugby Football League's talent development program (i.e., the Player Performance Pathway) between 2005 and 2008. Three players of differing relative age, maturational status, and playing position were measured and tracked once per year on 3 occasions (Under 13s, 14s, 15s age categories) and compared against the cross-sectional population. Results demonstrated that the later maturing players increased height (player 1 = 9.2%; player 2 = 7.8%) and a number of fitness characteristics (e.g., 60-m speed-player 1 = -14.9%; player 2 = -9.9%) more than the earlier maturing player (player 3-Height = 2.0%, 60-m sprint = -0.7%) over the 2-year period. The variation in the development of anthropometric and fitness characteristics between the 3 players highlights the importance of longitudinally monitoring individual characteristics during adolescence to assess the dynamic changes in growth, maturation, and fitness. Findings showcase the limitations of short-term performance assessments at one-off time points within annual-age categories, instead of advocating individual development and progression tracking without deselection. Coaches should consider using an individual approach, comparing data with population averages, to assist in the prescription of appropriate training and lifestyle interventions to aid the development of junior athletes

Injury risk factors, screening tests and preventative strategies: A systematic review of the evidence that underpins the perceptions and practices of 44 football (soccer) teams from various premier leagues

Purpose: To systematically review the scientific level of evidence for the ‘Top 3’ risk factors, screening tests and preventative exercises identified by a previously published survey of 44 premier league football (soccer) teams. Also, to provide an overall scientific level of evidence and graded recommendation based on the current research literature. Methods: A systematic literature search (Pubmed [MEDLINE], SportDiscus, PEDRO and Cochrane databases). The quality of the articles was assessed and a level of evidence (1++ to 4) was assigned. Level 1++ corresponded to the highest level of evidence available and 4, the lowest. A graded recommendation (A: strong, B: moderate, C: weak, D: insufficient evidence to assign a specific recommendation) for use in the practical setting was given. Results: Fourteen studies were analysed. The overall level of evidence for the risk factors previous injury, fatigue and muscle imbalance were 2++, 4 and ‘inconclusive’, respectively. The graded recommendation for functional movement screen, psychological questionnaire and isokinetic muscle testing were all ‘D’. Hamstring eccentric had a weak graded ‘C’ recommendation, and eccentric exercise for other body parts was ‘D’. Balance/proprioception exercise to reduce ankle and knee sprain injury was assigned a graded recommendation ‘D’. Conclusions: The majority of perceptions and practices of premier league teams have a low level of evidence and low graded recommendation. This does not imply that these perceptions and practices are not important or not valid, as it may simply be that they are yet to be sufficiently validated or refuted by research

Injury prevention strategies at the FIFA 2014 World Cup: perceptions and practices of the physicians from the 32 participating national teams

Purpose The available scientific research regarding injury prevention practices in international football is sparse. The purpose of this study was to quantify current practice with regard to (1) injury prevention of top-level footballers competing in an international tournament, and (2) determine the main challenges and issues faced by practitioners in these national teams. Methods A survey was administered to physicians of the 32 competing national teams at the FIFA 2014 World Cup. The survey included 4 sections regarding perceptions and practices concerning non-contact injuries: (1) risk factors, (2) screening tests and monitoring tools, (3) preventative strategies and (4) reflection on their experience at the World Cup. Results Following responses from all teams (100%), the present study revealed the most important intrinsic (previous injury, accumulated fatigue, agonist:antagonist muscle imbalance) and extrinsic (reduced recovery time, training load prior to and during World Cup, congested fixtures) risk factors during the FIFA 2014 World Cup. The 5 most commonly used tests for risk factors were: flexibility, fitness, joint mobility, balance and strength; monitoring tools commonly used were: medical screen, minutes/matches played, subjective and objective wellness, heart rate and biochemical markers. The 5 most important preventative exercises were: flexibility, core, combined contractions, balance and eccentric. Conclusions The present study showed that many of the National football (soccer) teams’ injury prevention perceptions and practices follow a coherent approach. There remains, however, a lack of consistent research findings to support some of these perceptions and practices

Measuring the effect of enhanced cleaning in a UK hospital : a prospective cross-over study

Increasing hospital-acquired infections have generated much attention over the last decade. There is evidence that hygienic cleaning has a role in the control of hospital-acquired infections. This study aimed to evaluate the potential impact of one additional cleaner by using microbiological standards based on aerobic colony counts and the presence of Staphylococcus aureus including meticillin-resistant S. aureus. We introduced an additional cleaner into two matched wards from Monday to Friday, with each ward receiving enhanced cleaning for six months in a cross-over design. Ten hand-touch sites on both wards were screened weekly using standardised methods and patients were monitored for meticillin-resistant S. aureus infection throughout the year-long study. Patient and environmental meticillin-resistant S. aureus isolates were characterised using molecular methods in order to investigate temporal and clonal relationships. Enhanced cleaning was associated with a 32.5% reduction in levels of microbial contamination at handtouch sites when wards received enhanced cleaning (P < 0.0001: 95% CI 20.2%, 42.9%). Near-patient sites (lockers, overbed tables and beds) were more frequently contaminated with meticillin-resistant S. aureus/S. aureus than sites further from the patient (P = 0.065). Genotyping identified indistinguishable strains from both handtouch sites and patients. There was a 26.6% reduction in new meticillin-resistant S. aureus infections on the wards receiving extra cleaning, despite higher meticillin-resistant S. aureus patient-days and bed occupancy rates during enhanced cleaning periods (P = 0.032: 95% CI 7.7%, 92.3%). Adjusting for meticillin-resistant S. aureus patient-days and based upon nine new meticillin-resistant S. aureus infections seen during routine cleaning, we expected 13 new infections during enhanced cleaning periods rather than the four that actually occurred. Clusters of new meticillin-resistant S. aureus infections were identified 2 to 4 weeks after the cleaner left both wards. Enhanced cleaning saved the hospital £30,000 to £70,000.Introducing one extra cleaner produced a measurable effect on the clinical environment, with apparent benefit to patients regarding meticillin-resistant S. aureus infection. Molecular epidemiological methods supported the possibility that patients acquired meticillin-resistant S. aureus from environmental sources. These findings suggest that additional research is warranted to further clarify the environmental, clinical and economic impact of enhanced hygienic cleaning as a component in the control of hospital-acquired infection