Chengqiu Xie

A social psychological approach to driving violations in two Chinese cities

Abstract A questionnaire study conducted in two Chinese cities investigated the determinants of the respondents’ aberrant driving behaviours. The Chinese Driving Questionnaire (CDQ) was developed and a version of the Manchester Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ) containing an extended set of driving violations particularly relevant in China was also included. Factor analysis of the DBQ revealed four factors with Alpha values over .60, two of them violations and the other two lapses and errors. Factor analysis of the CDQ items also revealed four factors with Alpha values over .60, namely the sense of social hierarchy, potential road safety countermeasure, belief in interpersonal network, and challenging legitimate authority. The result of a correlation analysis of the DBQ and CDQ scales showed that while the two violation scales were significantly and positively correlated with the social hierarchy and interpersonal network scale, the two lapse and error scales basically were not. When the DBQ scales were regressed on demographic variables and CDQ scales, the results of the hierarchical regressions showed that the prediction of self-reported driving violations had been significantly improved by the addition of culture relevant factors measured in the CDQ, while there was no major change in the prediction of lapses and errors. Logistic regression analysis showed that aggressive violations made a significant contribution to traffic accident involvement, independent of the demographic variables. The present study also identified some potential road safety countermeasures, and suggested young female drivers, and drivers at their early thirties should be especially targeted in road safety campaign.

An examination of factors influencing delayed discharge of older people from hospital

This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with the delayed discharge of older people from hospital and their length of stay (LOS).

Promoting Personalization in Social Care Services for Older People

This article presents findings on 4 themes associated with the personalization of social care for older people: integration of health and social care services; initiatives that prevent the need for more costly interventions; services to maintain people at home; and systems that promote choice, control, and flexibility. The quantitative study utilized data from a national postal survey conducted in England. Findings suggest variable progress regarding the range and style of support available to older people. These are discussed in the context of service integration, community-based services, and consumer-directed care. Implications for service development and future research are highlighted.

Changing patterns of care coordination within old-age services in england

There has been a focus internationally in recent years on policies and strategies to divert the long-term care of frail older people away from residential and nursing home care and enhance provision of community-based care by improving care coordination through increased differentiation within care management arrangements and service integration between health and social care. The aim of this article is to explore variations over time in care coordination arrangements within old-age services using data from national postal surveys of English local authorities. Indicators of differentiation and integration developed from earlier research were used to compare changes over time. There appeared to be some evidence of change relating to integration at both organizational and practice levels, but little change was detected in respect of differentiation within care management arrangements. The impact of the findings in the context of four enduring themes related to international case/care management literature—eligibility, integrated health and social care, shared information, and targeting—are discussed, and the relevance of these in relation to possible future trends is explored.

Exploring patterns of care coordination within services for older people

Introduction Supporting frail older people at home is an international policy objective. This article explored variations in care coordination arrangements and their relationship with service level outcomes using England as a case study. Method Survey data and routinely generated data collected in 2006 from 119 local authorities responsible for social care were combined. Using cluster analysis, distinct groups were identified with regard to forms of care coordination. Results Considerable variation was evident both within and between different types of care coordination, reflecting implementation guidance. Links with service level outcomes were weak, the most notable being the provision of intensive home care, a component of intensive care management. Discussion Thus this study, using agency level data, confirmed the variability in care coordination arrangements and the relative absence of intensive care management, central to shifting the balance of care from residential and nursing provision to care at home.

Exploring the role of independent organisations in care coordination for older people in England

Summary Social care policies advocate the provision of coordinated care and the involvement of the independent sector in service planning and delivery. This study explores the characteristics of the independent organisations involved in care coordination for older people, the tasks undertaken, and management of the interface between the commissioning authorities and these organisations. The findings are based on semistructured telephone interviews conducted in 2009 with representatives from 25 local authorities in England regarding 40 organisations. Findings All organisations identified are voluntary in nature. They were diverse in terms of size, staffing, and history, typically undertaking care coordination for discrete user groups but few exclusively for older people. A range of care coordination activities were reported: assessment, brokerage, support planning, and monitoring and review. The extent of their involvement in these activities varied markedly. Commissioning and contracting arrangements differed; most organisations had short-term contracts. The main mechanism of contract monitoring was activity data returns; there was a lack of more detailed service evaluation. Both opportunities and challenges exist with regard to the future role of voluntary organisations in care coordination. Applications This study highlights the potential for voluntary organisations to undertake care coordination activities. To achieve this, partnership working between service commissioners and these organisations is required, and funding and support are essential for provider organisations to develop appropriate infrastructures. Information governance arrangements are required to facilitate information sharing. The potential expansion of the role of voluntary organisations and the implications for practitioners with respect to their employment prospects are explored.

Resource allocation priorities in social care for adults with a learning disability: an analysis and comparison of different stakeholder perspectives

Purpose – How resources for social care are allocated to individual service users has long been a concern. There are debates regarding the priority given to certain needs in Resource Allocation Systems (RASs). The purpose of this paper is to compare the views of adults with a learning disability and Directors of Adult Social Care regarding their priorities for resource allocation with priorities arising from observed resource allocation decisions. Design/methodology/approach – In a consultation workshop, 12 adults with learning disabilities were asked to rank the perceived importance of eight needs-related outcomes. Directors of Adult Social Care completed an online questionnaire concerning the distribution of resources across the same eight outcomes. Actual resource allocation data from 11 local authorities were also modelled against these outcomes. A variable importance metric (the percentage contribution of each outcome to predicting costs) was used to rank the importance of these outcomes in terms of ...

Care coordination for older people: an exploratory framework

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a framework for examining variation in care coordination arrangements for older people. Design/methodology/approach – A multi-method approach was adopted combining analysis of secondary data and primary data. There were two stages: the development of the framework and its constituent attributes and indicators; and its validation from two perspectives: a meeting with managers and focus groups with practitioners. It was informed by an existing generic framework; subsequent policy guidance; data from an English national survey; previous research; and international literature. Findings – The framework comprises 19 attributes each with indicators measuring performance relating to: organisational arrangements influencing service delivery; the performance of core tasks of care coordination; and differentiation within the process to distinguish between responses to different levels of need. Originality/value – Care coordination arrangements in England are characte...

Social care in older people's services-facilitating the flexible use of resources

Personal budgets in social care are a mechanism for the allocation of resources for care that permits users’ greater choice and flexibility. This study was designed to explore developments in care coordination arrangements by examining the flexible use of resources. Two national surveys identified agencies with such arrangements in older people’s services in advance of this agenda, described here as innovative authorities. Telephone interviews with their representatives explored salient factors in the development, focus, and operation of personal budgets. Carers were the main recipients, and there was also evidence of more appropriate use of resources structured around service users’ needs. Implementation of personal budgets requires authorities to be more creative and flexible in respect of internally held budgets to meet the needs and wishes of older service users. This study provides evidence that some of these requirements have already been adopted by a few agencies.