“EVERYBODY LOSES:” UNDERSTANDING POLICE ROLES AND PERCEPTIONS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS

To better understand police response to domestic violence, it is useful to consider the perspectives of officers themselves. Through exploratory, in-depth interviews and applying the lens of role theory, this study focuses on police officers’ perceptions of their role in responding to domestic violence, their perceptions of the effectiveness of their response, and challenges they face. Findings suggest that, for these participants, there is an overlap in the different roles they inhabit, as well as limitations and barriers to their response. These limitations and obstacles are a signal that officers may be experiencing role overload, which leads to their frustration and ambivalence toward domestic violence situations. This study has the potential to serve as the groundwork for future research and policy changes aimed at mitigating role overload experienced, particularly in domestic violence calls

“Not the Time For Kumbaya”: An Exploratory Study of Race-Based Caucusing in the Social Work Classroom

This paper describes the use of race-based caucusing in a foundation-level MSW course focused on racism and other systems of oppression at a primarily White university in the Northeast. This technique was chosen based on the desire to allow space for students to examine and dismantle their internalized racialized socialization. This strategy was used in three sections of this course across two semesters, and this paper describes the findings of focus groups conducted with students at the end of each semester to understand their experiences with caucusing and their perceptions of the drawbacks and benefits of using this strategy in the classroom context. We discovered that student experiences of caucusing centered around the separate spaces that race-based caucusing created. Specifically, we learned from students that they had varied initial reactions to the idea of race-based caucusing as well as encountering challenges and seeing benefits to the strategy. As instructors, we provide our own experiences with caucusing and, based upon our analysis of the focus group data, conclude that this strategy yielded different results for BIPOC and White students and offer some suggestions to aid other instructors considering implementation

Global lung function initiative 2012 reference values for spirometry in Asian Americans

Background Spirometry reference values specifically designed for Asian Americans are currently unavailable. The performance of Global Lung Function Initiative 2012 (GLI-2012) equations on assessing spirometry in Asian Americans has not been evaluated. This study aimed to assess the fitness of relevant GLI-2012 equations for spirometry in Asian Americans. Methods Asian subjects who never smoked and had qualified spirometry data were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2012. Z-scores of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC were separately constructed with GLI-2012 equations for North East (NE) Asians, South East (SE) Asians, and individuals of mixed ethnic origin (Mixed). In addition, Proportions of subjects with observed spirometry data below the lower limit of normal (LLN) were also evaluated on each GLI-2012 equation of interest. Results This study included 567 subjects (250 men and 317 women) aged 6–79 years. Spirometry z-scores (z-FEV1, z-FVC, and z-FEV1/FVC) based on GLI-2012 Mixed equations had mean values close to zero (− 0.278 to − 0.057) and standard deviations close to one (1.001 to 1.128); additionally, 6.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.1–8.9%) and 6.4% (95% CI 3.7–9.1%) of subjects were with observed data below LLN for FEV1/FVC in men and women, respectively. In contrast, for NE Asian equations, all mean values of z-FEV1 and z-FVC were smaller than − 0.5; for SE Asian equations, mean values of z-FEV1/FVC were significantly smaller than zero in men (− 0.333) and women (− 0.440). Conclusions GLI-2012 equations for individuals of mixed ethnic origin adequately fitted spirometry data in this sample of Asian Americans. Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings

The effect of obesity on spirometry tests among healthy non-smoking adults

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The effects of obesity on pulmonary functions have not been addressed previously among Saudi population. We aim to study the effects of obesity on spirometry tests among healthy non-smoking adults.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross sectional study conducted among volunteers healthy non-smoking adults Subjects. We divided the subjects into two groups according to their BMI. The first group consisted of non-obese subjects with BMI of 18 to 24.9 kg/m2 and the second group consisted of obese subjects with BMI of 30 kg/m2 and above. Subjects underwent spirometry tests according to American thoracic society standards with measurement of the following values: the forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) and forced mid-expiratory flow (FEF25-75).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The total subjects were 294 with a mean age of 32 years. There were 178 males and 116 females subjects. We found no significant differences in FEV1 (p value = 0.686), FVC (p value = 0.733), FEV1/FVC Ratio (p value = 0.197) and FEF25-75 (p value = 0.693) between the obese and non-obese subjects. However, there was significantly difference in PEF between the two groups (p value < 0.020).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Obesity does not have effect on the spirometry tests (except PEF) among health non-smoking adults. We recommend searching for alternative diagnosis in case of findings abnormal spirometry tests results among obese subjects.</p

Police Response to Intimate Partner Violence: Influences on Decision-Making

Intimate partner violence continues to be a significant social problem for which we rely on the criminal justice system, specifically on police. Thus, it is important to understand the factors that shape officer decision-making in intimate partner violence cases. This study investigated the factors associated with arrest in these cases and expands the use of the Decision Making Ecology framework previously employed in child welfare research to police, another type of public service decision-maker. Using self-administered questionnaires with police officers from multiple police departments in the Chicago suburbs, this study collected information about recent calls to which officers responded. The findings of a path analysis suggest that case-related factors and officer assessment of risk are influential in the decision-making process. Specifically, the victim signing a complaint and injuries to the victim and the offender, as well as the neighbor calling 911, the sex of the victim, and drug or alcohol use of the offender influence the decision to arrest. This model also identified that both sex of the victim and use of drugs or alcohol by the offender have a relationship with officer perception of risk, which also influences arrest. This study lends to our understanding about the complexity involved in decision-making and reveals the important role of officer perception of future risk in arrest decisions. While this study was limited in its ability to test the full Decision Making Ecology framework, findings support its potential for application in future police decision-making research. The findings also have implications for future research aimed at understanding the role that officer assessment of risk plays in the decision-making process. Ultimately, understanding the actions of police can help shape police training and policy, as well as advocacy efforts of social workers to improve short- and long-term outcomes for survivors

Police Response to Intimate Partner Violence: Influences on Decision-Making

Intimate partner violence continues to be a significant social problem for which we rely on the criminal justice system, specifically on police. Thus, it is important to understand the factors that shape officer decision-making in intimate partner violence cases. This study investigated the factors associated with arrest in these cases and expands the use of the Decision Making Ecology framework previously employed in child welfare research to police, another type of public service decision-maker. Using self-administered questionnaires with police officers from multiple police departments in the Chicago suburbs, this study collected information about recent calls to which officers responded. The findings of a path analysis suggest that case-related factors and officer assessment of risk are influential in the decision-making process. Specifically, the victim signing a complaint and injuries to the victim and the offender, as well as the neighbor calling 911, the sex of the victim, and drug or alcohol use of the offender influence the decision to arrest. This model also identified that both sex of the victim and use of drugs or alcohol by the offender have a relationship with officer perception of risk, which also influences arrest. This study lends to our understanding about the complexity involved in decision-making and reveals the important role of officer perception of future risk in arrest decisions. While this study was limited in its ability to test the full Decision Making Ecology framework, findings support its potential for application in future police decision-making research. The findings also have implications for future research aimed at understanding the role that officer assessment of risk plays in the decision-making process. Ultimately, understanding the actions of police can help shape police training and policy, as well as advocacy efforts of social workers to improve short- and long-term outcomes for survivors

A randomized, double-blind study comparing 5 days oral gemifloxacin with 7 days oral levofloxacin in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis

AbstractObjective: To demonstrate that 5 days of treatment with a new fluoroquinolone, gemifloxacin, is at least as effective as 7 days of treatment with levofloxacin in adult patients with acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB).Design: Randomized, double-blind, double dummy, multicentre, parallel group studySetting: Sixty different medical centers in US, UK and Germany.Material and methods: A total of 360 adults (>40years of age) with AECB were randomly assigned to receive gemifloxacin 320mg once daily for 5 days or levofloxacin 500mg once daily for 7 days. The primary efficacy parameter was a clinical response at follow-up (Days 14–21).Results: In total, 335/360 patients completed the study (93.1%). Seven patients receiving gemifloxacin withdrew from the study compared to 18 patients receiving levofloxacin; this difference was statistically significant (Fisher's exact test: p=0.02). In the intent-to-treat (ITT) population, the clinical success rate at follow-up (Days 14–21) was 85.2% (155/182) with gemifloxacin and 78.1% (139/178) with levofloxacin. Clinical success rate in the per-protocol (PP) population was 88.2% (134/152) with gemifloxacin and 85.1% (126/148) with levofloxacin. At long-term follow-up (Days 28–35), the clinical success rates in the PP population were 83.7% (123/147) with gemifloxacin and 78.4% (109/139) with levofloxacin. The difference in success rates was 5.26% (95% CI: −3.83, 14.34).Conclusion: The clinical efficacy of gemifloxacin 320mg once daily for 5 days in AECB was at least as good as levofloxacin 500mg once daily for 7 days. Fewer withdrawals and superior clinical efficacy at long-term follow-up were also seen with gemifloxacin