Drugs-education Prevention and Policy, May 16, 2018
Broaden intervention to include wider range of employee wellbeing topics identified by employees ... more Broaden intervention to include wider range of employee wellbeing topics identified by employees as relevant issues. Increased awareness of community support services.
Objectives: Alcohol consumption and harms among older people are increasing. We examined differen... more Objectives: Alcohol consumption and harms among older people are increasing. We examined different demographic characteristics and drinking patterns among an older population. Methods: Secondary analyses of nationally representative Australian data; subjects aged 50+ years (N = 10,856). Two-step cluster analysis was performed to identify demographic groups and alcohol consumption behaviours. Results: Three groups were identified: Group 1 (older, unmarried, and lived alone): >65 years, moderate drinkers, poorest health, psychological distress, social disadvantage, smokers, illicit drug users, and more frequent previous alcohol treatment. Group 3 (older married): >65 years, good health, low psychological distress, less likely to drink at risky levels, and one in five drank daily. Group 2 (younger married): 50-64 years, mostly employed, highest proportion of risky drinkers and of 5+ standard drinks per session, and liberal drinking attitudes with most concern from others about their drinking. Discussion: These demographic typologies can inform targeted prevention efforts for an estimated 1.3 million adults older than 50 years drinking at risky levels.
Box 1. AOD-related activities Level of Care Examples in AOD field Preventive care Advice on smoki... more Box 1. AOD-related activities Level of Care Examples in AOD field Preventive care Advice on smoking cessation Advice on alcohol or drug use in pregnant women Advice on risks of alcohol or drug use (e.g., risky and high risk drinking) Alcohol or drug screening Contraindications of alcohol use with other medication Treatment Prescribing of pharmacotherapies or therapeutic drugs for treatment of dependence (e.g., methadone, nicotine replacement therapy) Brief interventions Motivational interviewing Cognitive behavioural therapy Management Maintenance and management of clients on pharmacotherapies (e.g., outcome monitoring for opioid substitution treatment) Management of depression and other psychological conditions associated with use of AOD Management of chronic illness related to use of AOD (e.g., hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis, HIV) Rehabilitation Management of relapse in clients with AOD dependence Palliative care Treatment for clients with terminal illness related to use of AOD (e.g., cancer) 3.3.2. Research-to-practice gap Research on dissemination strategies spans diverse fields from agriculture to manufacturing and medicine and includes both 'hard' technologies, such as specialised equipment or computer programs, and 'soft' technologies, such as educational techniques or training workshops (Schoenwald & Hoagwood, 2001). One of the most common tools for improving the quality of health care is clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). While the development of disease-specific CPGs is well-established, strategies for disseminating information and implementing change in health care practice have been applied inconsistently and studies indicate that the extent to which CPGs are incorporated into clinical practice is disappointing (Karuza et al., 1995). For example, gaps between the development of evidence-based best practice, such as CPGs, and the actual use of such guidelines has led to the underuse, overuse, or misuse of health care services (Chassin & Galvin, 1998). In a review of 48 studies on quality of care in the US, less than 50% of patients received the recommended care. Moreover, in 20-30% of cases, the care given ranged from ineffective to potentially detrimental (Schuster, McGlynn, & Brook, 1998). The underlying reasons for the gulf between formulating best practice and implementing best practice have been debated at length. Uptake and implementation of innovations typically require changes in professional practice that may occur at several different levels-patient / client, health care provider, health care team, health care organisation, or the wider environment (e.g., public policy changes). Barriers to uptake may be related to knowledge, existing culture or belief system of a group, routine practices, available resources, or individual characteristics of the providers, end-users and the innovation to be implemented. Baseline performance Baseline measurements or control group performance must be included when assessing effectiveness so that potential "ceiling effects" may be determined. methods methods Table 7. Other sources of information Specialty Websites Website address National Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA)
Drugs-education Prevention and Policy, Dec 13, 2016
Over the past two decades, there has been a major paradigm shift in the conceptualisation of work... more Over the past two decades, there has been a major paradigm shift in the conceptualisation of workforce development for the alcohol and other drugs (AOD) sector. Foremost, in this regard, is the shift towards a systems approach. Unlike more traditional approaches, which predominantly address the immediate education and training needs of individual workers, a systems approach is broad and comprehensive and targets individual, organisational and structural factors. It also incorporates issues such as innovation dissemination and systems redesign. This paradigm shift and its implications for workers, services and sectors are outlined. Then, an overview of the background, historical and contextual factors impacting current approaches to workforce development is provided. This is followed by a description of changes in the theoretical understandings of effective workforce development which prompted the paradigm shift. A range of factors impacting at the global and individual worker level are then described, such as the impacts of changes to AOD prevention and intervention approaches. Then, a number of aspects of contemporary approaches to workforce development are described, specifically: worker well-being; workforce planning; leadership and management; worker recruitment and retention; effective learning environments; and training. Finally, an example of the application of a systems approach to workforce development is provided in the
Introduction and Aims. Globally, there is growing concern regarding workers' alcohol use and its ... more Introduction and Aims. Globally, there is growing concern regarding workers' alcohol use and its implications for health, wellbeing and workplace safety. Male-dominated industries are more susceptible to risky alcohol consumption and its associated harms. This paper investigated the patterns, prevalence and predictors of risky drinking among construction workers. Design and Methods. Male construction workers (n = 511) completed a survey measuring alcohol-related measures including Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Concise (AUDIT-C), which was compared with population data. Hierarchical multiple regression examined alcohol-related knowledge, perception of risk to workplace safety, psychological distress, job stress, general health, quality of life and workplace alcohol culture variables as predictors of risky drinking. Results. Prevalence of risky drinking was higher than the national average, particularly for younger (<25 years) and mid-aged (45-54 years) workers. One in six construction workers reported workmates being visibly affected by alcohol in the workplace. Key predictors of risky drinking were perception of alcohol-related risks to workplace safety, general health, alcohol knowledge and descriptive norms regarding workmates' alcohol use. Discussion and Conclusions. These findings provide useful insights into the patterns and predictors of risky drinking in construction and can inform future preventive programs and interventions in high-risk workplaces. In addition to tailoring programs to both young and mid-aged workers, this work highlights the importance of implementing strategies to increase awareness of risks to workplace safety; and the adoption of norms that inhibit the social acceptability of risky drinking behaviour in the wider workplace.
This review was undertaken by the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA)... more This review was undertaken by the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) at Flinders University to examine aspects of alcohol and drug training courses offered through Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) within the vocational education and training (VET) sector. The review also specifically addressed issues in relation to cannabis training content. The review is a companion document to a previous project that collated information about RTOs providing alcohol and other drugs (AOD) training in Australia:
Australian's cocaine use is at record levels. Large increases occurred between 2016-2019, wit... more Australian's cocaine use is at record levels. Large increases occurred between 2016-2019, with significant increases predominately found among employed Australians. Patterns, and prevalence of workers' cocaine use were examined using the 2016 and 2019 National Drug Strategy Household Survey data via frequency analyses. Logistic regression modelling identified predictors of employed Australian's: cocaine use (2019); and increased use over time (2016-2019). Workers' cocaine use increased 63% between 2016-2019 (3.8%-6.2%). Predictors of use, and increased use, were age, marital status, state, remoteness, smoking status, alcohol use, and cocaine approval level. Income and psychological distress predicted cocaine use in 2019 only. Highest prevalence in 2019 occurred among workers who approved of regular cocaine use (47.9%), currently smoked (14.9%), were very highly distressed (14.0%), risky alcohol consumers (13.7%), and aged 18-24 years (13.9%). Numerous individual-leve...
Drugs-education Prevention and Policy, May 16, 2018
Broaden intervention to include wider range of employee wellbeing topics identified by employees ... more Broaden intervention to include wider range of employee wellbeing topics identified by employees as relevant issues. Increased awareness of community support services.
Objectives: Alcohol consumption and harms among older people are increasing. We examined differen... more Objectives: Alcohol consumption and harms among older people are increasing. We examined different demographic characteristics and drinking patterns among an older population. Methods: Secondary analyses of nationally representative Australian data; subjects aged 50+ years (N = 10,856). Two-step cluster analysis was performed to identify demographic groups and alcohol consumption behaviours. Results: Three groups were identified: Group 1 (older, unmarried, and lived alone): >65 years, moderate drinkers, poorest health, psychological distress, social disadvantage, smokers, illicit drug users, and more frequent previous alcohol treatment. Group 3 (older married): >65 years, good health, low psychological distress, less likely to drink at risky levels, and one in five drank daily. Group 2 (younger married): 50-64 years, mostly employed, highest proportion of risky drinkers and of 5+ standard drinks per session, and liberal drinking attitudes with most concern from others about their drinking. Discussion: These demographic typologies can inform targeted prevention efforts for an estimated 1.3 million adults older than 50 years drinking at risky levels.
Box 1. AOD-related activities Level of Care Examples in AOD field Preventive care Advice on smoki... more Box 1. AOD-related activities Level of Care Examples in AOD field Preventive care Advice on smoking cessation Advice on alcohol or drug use in pregnant women Advice on risks of alcohol or drug use (e.g., risky and high risk drinking) Alcohol or drug screening Contraindications of alcohol use with other medication Treatment Prescribing of pharmacotherapies or therapeutic drugs for treatment of dependence (e.g., methadone, nicotine replacement therapy) Brief interventions Motivational interviewing Cognitive behavioural therapy Management Maintenance and management of clients on pharmacotherapies (e.g., outcome monitoring for opioid substitution treatment) Management of depression and other psychological conditions associated with use of AOD Management of chronic illness related to use of AOD (e.g., hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis, HIV) Rehabilitation Management of relapse in clients with AOD dependence Palliative care Treatment for clients with terminal illness related to use of AOD (e.g., cancer) 3.3.2. Research-to-practice gap Research on dissemination strategies spans diverse fields from agriculture to manufacturing and medicine and includes both 'hard' technologies, such as specialised equipment or computer programs, and 'soft' technologies, such as educational techniques or training workshops (Schoenwald & Hoagwood, 2001). One of the most common tools for improving the quality of health care is clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). While the development of disease-specific CPGs is well-established, strategies for disseminating information and implementing change in health care practice have been applied inconsistently and studies indicate that the extent to which CPGs are incorporated into clinical practice is disappointing (Karuza et al., 1995). For example, gaps between the development of evidence-based best practice, such as CPGs, and the actual use of such guidelines has led to the underuse, overuse, or misuse of health care services (Chassin & Galvin, 1998). In a review of 48 studies on quality of care in the US, less than 50% of patients received the recommended care. Moreover, in 20-30% of cases, the care given ranged from ineffective to potentially detrimental (Schuster, McGlynn, & Brook, 1998). The underlying reasons for the gulf between formulating best practice and implementing best practice have been debated at length. Uptake and implementation of innovations typically require changes in professional practice that may occur at several different levels-patient / client, health care provider, health care team, health care organisation, or the wider environment (e.g., public policy changes). Barriers to uptake may be related to knowledge, existing culture or belief system of a group, routine practices, available resources, or individual characteristics of the providers, end-users and the innovation to be implemented. Baseline performance Baseline measurements or control group performance must be included when assessing effectiveness so that potential "ceiling effects" may be determined. methods methods Table 7. Other sources of information Specialty Websites Website address National Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA)
Drugs-education Prevention and Policy, Dec 13, 2016
Over the past two decades, there has been a major paradigm shift in the conceptualisation of work... more Over the past two decades, there has been a major paradigm shift in the conceptualisation of workforce development for the alcohol and other drugs (AOD) sector. Foremost, in this regard, is the shift towards a systems approach. Unlike more traditional approaches, which predominantly address the immediate education and training needs of individual workers, a systems approach is broad and comprehensive and targets individual, organisational and structural factors. It also incorporates issues such as innovation dissemination and systems redesign. This paradigm shift and its implications for workers, services and sectors are outlined. Then, an overview of the background, historical and contextual factors impacting current approaches to workforce development is provided. This is followed by a description of changes in the theoretical understandings of effective workforce development which prompted the paradigm shift. A range of factors impacting at the global and individual worker level are then described, such as the impacts of changes to AOD prevention and intervention approaches. Then, a number of aspects of contemporary approaches to workforce development are described, specifically: worker well-being; workforce planning; leadership and management; worker recruitment and retention; effective learning environments; and training. Finally, an example of the application of a systems approach to workforce development is provided in the
Introduction and Aims. Globally, there is growing concern regarding workers' alcohol use and its ... more Introduction and Aims. Globally, there is growing concern regarding workers' alcohol use and its implications for health, wellbeing and workplace safety. Male-dominated industries are more susceptible to risky alcohol consumption and its associated harms. This paper investigated the patterns, prevalence and predictors of risky drinking among construction workers. Design and Methods. Male construction workers (n = 511) completed a survey measuring alcohol-related measures including Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Concise (AUDIT-C), which was compared with population data. Hierarchical multiple regression examined alcohol-related knowledge, perception of risk to workplace safety, psychological distress, job stress, general health, quality of life and workplace alcohol culture variables as predictors of risky drinking. Results. Prevalence of risky drinking was higher than the national average, particularly for younger (<25 years) and mid-aged (45-54 years) workers. One in six construction workers reported workmates being visibly affected by alcohol in the workplace. Key predictors of risky drinking were perception of alcohol-related risks to workplace safety, general health, alcohol knowledge and descriptive norms regarding workmates' alcohol use. Discussion and Conclusions. These findings provide useful insights into the patterns and predictors of risky drinking in construction and can inform future preventive programs and interventions in high-risk workplaces. In addition to tailoring programs to both young and mid-aged workers, this work highlights the importance of implementing strategies to increase awareness of risks to workplace safety; and the adoption of norms that inhibit the social acceptability of risky drinking behaviour in the wider workplace.
This review was undertaken by the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA)... more This review was undertaken by the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) at Flinders University to examine aspects of alcohol and drug training courses offered through Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) within the vocational education and training (VET) sector. The review also specifically addressed issues in relation to cannabis training content. The review is a companion document to a previous project that collated information about RTOs providing alcohol and other drugs (AOD) training in Australia:
Australian's cocaine use is at record levels. Large increases occurred between 2016-2019, wit... more Australian's cocaine use is at record levels. Large increases occurred between 2016-2019, with significant increases predominately found among employed Australians. Patterns, and prevalence of workers' cocaine use were examined using the 2016 and 2019 National Drug Strategy Household Survey data via frequency analyses. Logistic regression modelling identified predictors of employed Australian's: cocaine use (2019); and increased use over time (2016-2019). Workers' cocaine use increased 63% between 2016-2019 (3.8%-6.2%). Predictors of use, and increased use, were age, marital status, state, remoteness, smoking status, alcohol use, and cocaine approval level. Income and psychological distress predicted cocaine use in 2019 only. Highest prevalence in 2019 occurred among workers who approved of regular cocaine use (47.9%), currently smoked (14.9%), were very highly distressed (14.0%), risky alcohol consumers (13.7%), and aged 18-24 years (13.9%). Numerous individual-leve...
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