Measuring the impact of public understandings of risk from urban and industrial development on community psychosocial well-being: a mixed methods strategy

As the science of well-being moves towards an understanding of the influence of social experiences shared by many on individual and group-level well-being (‘community well-being’), a new approach to measuring well-being is required. It needs to bridge the contextually-specific social experiences best uncovered by social research methods, and psychological diagnoses made using conventional psychometric scales and diagnostic interviews. We build on our previous work on a new psychosocial model of a major influence on contemporary community well-being, the process by which people form, maintain and change their understandings of risk from urban and industrial projects, and any subsequent effects on individual psychosocial well-being. We utilise this model, and propose a mixed qualitative and quantitative methodology to argue for; 1) the incorporation of the emic (subject’s) perspective in the conceptual underpinnings of measurement scales; and 2) the synthesis of quantitative and qualitative assessments of well-being. This gives validity and contextual precision to scales which measure experiences of well-being that are geographically and socio-culturally-located. The resulting data offers both context of scale, and depth of insight. Additionally, our proposition combines theories and methods from psychology, social anthropology, sociology, social epidemiology, public health and community development. This evinces the importance of drawing on broad ranging perspectives to develop tools which capture the complex and multi-dimension nature of well-being - where psychological responses are shaped by collective social experiences

Can emergency care practitioners differentiate between an avoided emergency department attendance and an avoided admission?

Background: After a 999 call to the ambulance service, there is no 'gold standard' for determining whether the actions of an emergency care practitioner (ECP) result in a patient avoiding attendance at an emergency department (ED) or avoiding an admission to hospital. Within the Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust this outcome has previously been measured using an audit form completed by the ECP. However, the accuracy of the ECP's opinion has not been assessed. Aim: To evaluate the accuracy of the ECP's opinion when deciding whether their actions resulted in a patient avoiding attendance at an ED or avoiding hospital admission. Methods: Over a 10-week-period in 2009, quantitative data were collected using a case review approach. Anonymised patient consultation records were independently reviewed by an ED consultant and a general practitioner. The decision as to whether the actions of the ECP resulted in the patient avoiding ED attendance or hospital admission was compared between the three healthcare professionals using descriptive statistics and κ values to assess inter-rater agreement. Results: Overall inter-rater agreement between the three healthcare professionals was κ=0.385 (fair agreement). The complete agreement rate on a case by case basis for all three healthcare professionals was 80.2% (138/172). Conclusion: This study provides some evidence that ECPs can accurately report on whether their actions, at the time of that care episode, result in a patient avoiding attendance at an ED or avoiding a hospital admission

An Integrative Model of Information Systems Use in Mandatory Environments

The volitional nature of IS use in organizations is shifting to contexts of mandatory adoption. This has prompted a need for IS researchers to reassess current predictive models of IS use. In this paper we present our work on a theoretical framework for predicting IS use in a mandatory adoption environment. Issues specific to mandatory environments are raised and discussed, and a new model for predicting end-user behavior is proposed. Methodological considerations for testing the model are discussed

Issues in Predicting and Explaining Usage Behaviors with the Technology Acceptance Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior When Usage Is Mandatory

Within certain industries there is an increasing prevalence toward computerizing work practices and mandating specific tasks performed using an Information System (IS). This trend is unlikely to diminish the need for stakeholders, involved in the implementation of an IS, to identify the determinants of successful use. Yet, to date, there is a paucity of research that has considered the issues specific to predicting and explaining user behavior in these situations. In this paper, we identify the relevant issues necessary for applying the technology acceptance model and the theory of planned behavior to the prediction and explanation of mandated IS usage, and we assess the value of these models to the task. The results of a longitudinal study conducted in a hospital setting are presented and we suggest the direction that future research might take

Young People’s Perceptions of the Influence of a Sport-for-Social-Change Program on Their Life Trajectories

Sport-for-social-change programs focusing on enhancing young people’s personal and social development emerged in the early to mid-2000s. Children and adolescents who participated in early programs are now adults, providing an opportunity to examine whether these programs have had any influence on their life trajectories. The Football United program has been operating in Sydney, Australia, since 2006 and is used as a case study in this article. This qualitative study draws on 20 interviews conducted in 2018 with a diverse sample of past participants of the program. Key findings were that participants perceived that the relationships they formed at Football United have had a substantial impact on their life trajectories, including influencing education and career decisions. These relationships were found to increase participants’ social capital, creating diverse connections with people and institutions within and external to their geographical communities. This study also found participants embraced a long-term commitment to ‘give back’ to their local geographical, cultural, and ethnic communities, which they attributed to their participation in the program

Koori voices: Self-harm, suicide attempts, arrests and substance use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents following residential treatment

Background: Complex interacting social, economic and historical factors influence the availability and uptake of alcohol and drugs, including among Indigenous communities. Self-harm and suicide as well as homelessness and incarceration, can both precede and result from drug and alcohol use. Rates of self-harm, suicide and incarceration among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia are among the highest in the world and drug and alcohol treatment programs need to address these underlying complexities. This study examines whether an 'holistic' residential drug and alcohol treatment program for adolescents, with over 30% of clients identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, can improve outcomes post-discharge, including reducing self-harm, suicide attempts, arrests and alcohol and drug use. The program addresses substance use, mental health, employment, accommodation, social/community and family life. Program admission and 3 months' post-discharge data from 2007 to 2016 were analysed. Results: From 2007 to 2016, 619 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people were admitted to the program; 247 stayed in the program for 30 days or more; 89 were successfully followed up three months post-discharge to determine whether there was a significant improvement from baseline using the McNemar's Test and the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test. On admission, 18 people (20%) of the study population reported attempting suicide in the last 3 months and 23 people (30%) reported self-harm. Most had been engaged in the criminal justice system, with 67 people (75%) having been to court and 62 people (70%) arrested one or more times in the past 3 months, with 35 people (41%) in unstable housing, reporting having lived in three or more places in the previous 6 months. At 3 months post-treatment, all (n = 18) who reported suicide attempts in the 3 months prior to admission reported no attempts in the prior 3 months at follow-up. There was also a significant reduction in self-harm with 23 young people out of the 27 who reported self-harm at baseline not reporting self-harm at follow up (85%) and in the proportion of adolescents who reported using cannabis, amphetamines and alcohol, as well as a reduction in the proportion who reported being arrested. Conclusions: The findings provide support for an 'holistic' residential treatment program as an approach to improve health and related outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. In addition to a focus on multiple aspects of a young person's life in treatment, culturally relevant modes of treatment and support should be a future focus to further strengthen programs when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are over-represented in the client group

Mortality among young people seeking residential treatment for problematic drug and alcohol use: A data linkage study.

Background Young people with problematic alcohol and other drug (AOD) use are often referred to residential treatment. Subsequent mortality rates among this high-risk group is not known. This study estimates mortality rates and determines causes of death amongst young people referred to residential treatment in Sydney, Australia. Design Retrospective data linkage study. Data of young people (13–18 years) referred to a residential treatment service 2001–2015 (n = 3256) linked with Australian death registration data, and followed up to 16 years (2001–2016). Methods Mortality rates (CMRs) and standardised mortality ratios (SMRs, age-, gender-, calendar-year-adjusted) calculated using population mortality rates. Causes of death were analysed using ICD-10 codes for AOD-induced, AOD as contributory and non-AOD related causes. Results During follow-up of the cohort (28,838 person-years), 63 people died (71.4 % males; 48 % Indigenous; median age at death = 21.9 years; median follow-up = 5.1years), with 76 % dying before aged 25 years. Overall mortality (SMR = 4.91, 95 % CI: 3.8−6.2; CMR = 2.18/1000 person-years, 95 % CI: 1.7−2.8) was significantly higher than age-gender-matched general population, particularly in females (SMR = 9.55; males: SMR = 4.11; RR: 2.3, 95 % CI: 1.3–4.1). SMRs were not significantly different between treatment groups (SMRs>5.5) and non-attend group (SMR = 3.7) (p = 0.359). Two-thirds of deaths involved AOD, with AOD-induced deaths comprising 42 % and AOD as contributory for 22 % deaths. Overdose, mainly opioids (including opiates), suicide, and transport accidents were major causes of deaths. Conclusion Very high mortality rates, particularly among females, and the high incidence of overdose and suicide emphasise early screening for those at high-risk, targeted and culturally appropriate interventions, and maximised continuing after-care accessible to young people

Australian news media reporting of methamphetamine: an analysis of print media 2014-2016.

ObjectivesTo examine the representation and framing in Australian print media of methamphetamine and methamphetamine users from 2014 to 2016 when media attention was heightened around the National Ice Taskforce, including the implications of the coverage and framing in limiting public health responses to the problem.MethodsA quantitative media content analysis examined media portrayals of methamphetamine, including crystalline methamphetamine (also referred to by other names including 'crystal' or 'ice'), in 1,364 Australian print media articles published 2014-2016.ResultsThe largest number of articles about methamphetamine were published in 2015 with a higher proportion of these articles framed as a crisis than in other years. A crisis framing predominated media reporting across all years, with crime and legal consequences a key focus. Users were positioned predominantly as criminals, deviants or addicts.ConclusionsThe coverage of methamphetamine in the Australian print media mostly serves to construct methamphetamine use as an urgent social problem, often framed from a legal perspective and associated with violent, dangerous, deviant and aggressive users. Implications for public health: Such reporting and stigmatisation of methamphetamine use can undermine public health policy responses and strategies, including early intervention and treatment and focused efforts directed at those most at risk of harm

The association between post-migration nutrition and lifestyle transition and the risk of developing chronic diseases among sub-Saharan African migrants: A mixed method systematic review protocol

Sub-Saharan African (SSA) migrants face nutrition and lifestyle changes upon arrival in a host country. The shift in diet and lifestyle reflects post-migration acculturation and could predispose migrants to nutrition-and lifestyle-related chronic diseases. A mixed-methods systematic review of published studies and the grey literature on post-migration nutrition and lifestyle transition among SSA migrants will be undertaken. Studies published in English and conducted from 2000 to 2020 using quantitative and/or qualitative methods will be included. Ten bibliographic databases will be searched: Scopus, Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, CINAHL, PubMed, ProQuest, PsycINFO, Informit and Web of Science. Data extraction will be informed by the Cochrane PROGRESS-Plus framework and the Joanna Briggs Institute manual. The quality of the included studies will be appraised for risk of bias using validated tools. An integrated approach to quantitative and qualitative data synthesis through data transformation will be undertaken, and a narrative synthesis of the findings will be provided. This protocol is guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines and provides insight into the scope and parameters of the systematic review to be conducted. The aim of the review is to evaluate the association between post-migration nutrition and lifestyle transition and the risk of developing chronic diseases among SSA migrants in Australia. This review will provide insight into possible areas for interventions to improve the health of migrants. Systematic Review Registration: The protocol was registered with the PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews CRD42020206560