Gavan R. Palk

Adaptive and Maladaptive Coping Strategies Predict Posttrauma Outcomes in Ambulance Personnel

Attending potentially dangerous and traumatic incidents is inherent in the role of emergency workers, yet there is a paucity of literature aimed at examining variables that impact on the outcomes of such exposure. Coping has been implicated in adjusting to trauma in other contexts, and this study explored the effectiveness of coping strategies in relation to positive and negative posttrauma outcomes in the emergency services environment. One hundred twenty-five paramedics completed a survey battery including the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996), the Impact of Events Scale–Revised (IES-R; Weiss & Marmar, 1997), and the Revised-COPE (Zuckerman & Gagne, 2003). Results from the regression analysis demonstrated that specific coping strategies were differentially associated with positive and negative posttrauma outcomes. The research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding regarding the effectiveness of coping strategies employed by paramedics in managing trauma, with implications for their psychological well-being as well as the training and support services available.

Policing alcohol‐related incidents: a study of time and prevalence

Objective: To examine the prevalence of alcohol-related incidents attended by operational police within three of the largest cities of Queensland e.g., Brisbane, Gold Coast and Townsville (N = 7398). There have been only a relatively small proportion of Australian studies that have examined the prevalence and characteristics of alcohol-related incidents requiring police attention and most are based on small sample sizes that are representative of specific populations. Method: Participants in the current study were first response operational police officers who completed a modified activity log over a 5 week period, identifying the type, prevalence and characteristics of alcohol-related incidents that were attended (N = 31090). Results: Overall, approximately one in four incidents attended by police during the study period, involved alcohol while only 3% were drug related. The most common incidents police attended were vehicle and/or traffic matters, disturbances and offences against property. A closer examination revealed that disturbances and vehicle/traffic type incidents were almost twice as likely to be alcohol-related as compared to the overall percentage of incidents. Similar findings were evident between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas which highlights the consistent impact of alcohol on police resources. Offenders were more likely to be young males, while victims consisted of a relatively even number of males and females. Conclusions: The findings highlight the pervasive nature of alcohol across a range of criminal incidents, demonstrating the tremendous impact alcohol-related incidents have on police resources and can potentially contribute to the development of more effective, problem-oriented strategies to address alcohol-related crime.

Applying Stafford and Warr's reconceptualization of deterrence theory to drug driving: Can it predict those likely to offend?

In December 2007, random roadside drug testing commenced in Queensland, Australia. Subsequently, the aim of this study was to explore the preliminary impact of Queenslands drug driving legislation and enforcement techniques by applying Stafford and Warrs [Stafford, M.C., Warr, M., 1993. A reconceptualization of general and specific deterrence. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 30, 123-135] reconceptualization of deterrence theory. Completing a comprehensive drug driving questionnaire were 899 members of the public, university students, and individuals referred to a drug diversion program. Of note was that approximately a fifth of participants reported drug driving in the past six months. Additionally, the analysis indicated that punishment avoidance and vicarious punishment avoidance were predictors of the propensity to drug drive in the future. In contrast, there were indications that knowing of others apprehended for drug driving was not a sufficient deterrent. Sustained testing and publicity of the legislation and countermeasure appears needed to increase the deterrent impact for drug driving.

The impact of a lockout policy on levels of alcohol‐related incidents in and around licensed premises

This paper reports on the impact of a lockout policy on levels of alcohol‐related offences in and around licensed premises. The lockout policy prevents patrons from entering or re‐entering late night trading licensed premises for a specific period prior to closure. A modified police activity log was utilised by all first response operational police to record their attendance at incidents in and around licensed premises. Chi‐square analyses of the prevalence of incidents before and after implementation of the lockout policy demonstrated that the number of alcohol‐related offences requiring police attention was significantly proportionally lower following the liquor trading changes. Alcohol‐related offences, particularly those related to disturbances and sexual offences were significantly reduced following the introduction of the lockout policy. However, while offences related to property, stealing, and assault experienced a reduced trend, these did not reach significance. In contrast, traffic offence rates were unchanged. The findings of the study provide supportive evidence that lockout initiatives have potential as a major crime prevention technique to reduce specific types of alcohol‐related offences.

Perspectives on the Effectiveness of the Late Night Liquor Trading Lockout Legislative Provision

The effectiveness of “the lockout policy” integrated within a broader police enforcement strategy to reduce alcohol-related harm, in and around late night licensed premises, in major drinking precincts is examined. First response operational police (n = 280) records all alcohol and non–alcohol-related incidents they attended in and around late night liquor trading premises. A before and after study design is used, with police completing modified activity logs prior to and following the introduction of the lockout policy in two policing regions: Gold Coast (n = 12,801 incidents) and Brisbane City/Fortitude Valley (n = 9,117 incidents). Qualitative information from key stakeholders (e.g., police, security staff, and politicians; n = 20) is also obtained. The number of alcohol-related offences requiring police attention is significantly reduced in some policing areas and for some types of offences (e.g., sex offences, street disturbances, traffic incidents). However, there is no variation for a number of other offence categories (e.g., assault). Interviews with licensees reveal that although all were initially opposed to the lockout policy, most perceived benefits from its introduction. This study is the first of its kind to comprehensively examine the impact of a lockout policy and provides supportive evidence for the effectiveness of the lockout policy as integrating positively with police enforcement to enhance public safety in some areas in and around late night liquor trading premises.

Steering Clear of Driving After Drinking: a Tailored e-Health Intervention for Reducing Repeat Offending and Modifying Alcohol Use in a High-Risk Cohort

PurposeDigital interventions to reduce risk behaviours are emerging as effective public health measures; however, few have been applied to drink driving and associated alcohol use based on a harm reduction perspective. This paper reports on the design, development, and pilot of a novel intervention which aims to reduce repeat offending by first-time convicted drink driving offenders. It explores whether an online program is acceptable and user friendly and contains useful and relevant content, with a sample of first-time drink driving offenders recruited at the time of conviction.MethodBuilding upon existing research into interventions to reduce drink driving recidivism and problem alcohol use, a tailored program was designed to provide content specifically concerned with drink driving and with an additional component related to alcohol use. Following stakeholder and internal review, the ‘Steering Clear First Offender Drink Driving Program’ was subsequently piloted with 15 first-time drink driving offenders. Evaluative data was analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively.ResultsThe pilot results indicate that the participants found the program to be user friendly, as demonstrated by high scores in relation to navigation, online delivery, engagement, avatar usage and straightforwardness. They reported that they found the content to be useful and relevant and that the key learning area was in relation to the consequences of drink driving.ConclusionOnline interventions for reducing risky behaviour such as drink driving may be useful and cost effective from a public health perspective. Potentially, they can directly address risky behaviours associated with alcohol use in high-risk cohorts that may not ordinarily receive intervention.

A Qualitative Exploration of Young Australian Adults’ Understanding of and Explanations for Alcohol-Involved Rape

Little is known about the beliefs that underlie the biased attributions that typically characterise peoples perceptions of intoxicated sexual perpetrators and their victims. Guided by consensual qualitative research, we explored young Australian adults’ (18–25 years; N = 15) attributions for an alcohol-involved rape based on focus groups and interviews. Prominent themes indicated that participants rarely labelled the assault as rape and, instead, adhered to miscommunication explanations. Participants emphasised the developmental value of the victimisation experience although recognising its harmful consequences. Both perpetrator and victim were held strongly responsible based on perceived opportunities to prevent the assault but implicit justifications were, nevertheless, evident. As such, explicit and implicit attributions were contradictory, with the latter reflecting the attributional double standard previously observed in quantitative rape-perception research. Findings underscore the need to challenge pervasive rape myths and equip young adults with knowledge on how to respond supportively to the commonly stigmatised victims of rape.

Explicating the Role of Sexual Coercion and Vulnerability Alcohol Expectancies in Rape Attributions

Despite evidence suggesting that alcohol expectancies may influence people’s rape perceptions, no study to date has measured context-specific expectancies comprehensively. This study represents an initial investigation of the role of sexual coercion and vulnerability alcohol expectancies in young Australian adults’ rape blame attributions. Using a vignette method, it was hypothesized that participants’ stronger expectancy endorsement would predict lesser perpetrator blame and greater victim blame. Participants (n = 210; 34.9% males; 18-25 years) read a hypothetical rape scenario and rated dimensions of blameworthiness attributed to the intoxicated sexual perpetrator and victim. Participants completed the Sexual Coercion and Sexual Vulnerability subscales of the Drinking Expectancy Sexual Vulnerabilities Questionnaire for the targets self, men, and women in addition to measures of traditional gender role attitudes and rape myth acceptance. Hierarchical multiple regressions revealed that, as expected, stronger sexual coercion expectancy predicted lower perpetrator blame and greater victim blame. Self-oriented expectancy predicted evaluations of the perpetrator whereas other-oriented expectancy predicted victim evaluations. These effects were robust after controlling for gender role attitudes and rape myth acceptance. Alcohol expectancies appear to be part of a network of beliefs and attitudes which perpetuate biased rape attributions and may be useful to challenge in altering rape perceptions.

Motorists' knowledge, attitudes and practices toward alcohol-impaired driving/riding in Ghana

ABSTRACT Objectives: The main objective of this study was to establish the knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward drink driving/riding as a risk factor for road traffic crashes in 3 regional capitals in Ghana. Methods: The study used a face-to-face approach to randomly sample motorists who were accessing various services at fuel/gas stations, garages, and lorry terminals in 3 cities in Ghana. Results: Over the previous 12 months, 24% of all motorists and 55% of motorists who were current alcohol users reported driving or riding a vehicle within an hour of alcohol intake. On average, motorists/riders who were current alcohol users consumed 4 standard drinks per drinking occasion. Generally, 83% of motorists who currently use alcohol walked, rode, or drove home after consuming alcohol away from their homes. Motorists/riders who reported drink driving were 4 times more likely to have had previous traffic violation arrests compared to those who reported no drink driving/riding (P =.001). Respondents were of the opinion that speeding was the major cause of traffic crashes, followed by driver carelessness, poor road conditions, inexperienced driving, and drink driving, in that order. Thirty-six percent of motorists who use alcohol had the perception that consuming between 6 and 15 standard drinks was the volume of alcohol that will take them to the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of 0.08%. Compared to females, male motorists/riders were more likely to report drink driving (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 5.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.31 to 11.47). Private motorists also reported a higher likelihood of drink driving compared to commercial drivers (AOR = 3.36; 95% CI, 1.88 to 6.02). Only 4% of motorists knew the legal BAC limit of Ghana and only 2% had ever been tested for drink driving/riding. Conclusion: The volumes of alcohol that motorists typically consume per drinking occasion were very high and their estimates of the number of drinks required to reach the legal BAC limit was also very high. Provision of authoritative information advising motorists about safe, responsible, or low-risk levels of alcohol consumption is imperative. Many traffic violations including drink driving were reported, thus suggesting a need for enhanced policing and enforcement. However, given the low level of knowledge of the legal BAC limit, educating motorists about how many drinks will approximate the legal BAC should be intensified prior to an increase in enforcement; otherwise, the desired outcome of enforcement may not be achieved.

Traversing the Space between Threats and Violence: A Review of Threat Assessment Guidelines

While the majority of violent threats – defined as an expression of intent to do harm or act out violently against someone or something – do not progress to actual violence, a small proportion of threateners do go on to enact violence. Most researchers argue that violence risk assessments are inadequate for assessing threats of violence, which raises the question: how should a threat assessment (TA) be conducted? To begin to understand available frameworks for assessing threats, a systematic review of TA research literature was conducted. Most TA literature pertains to a specific domain (schools, public figure threats, workplaces) and target audience (clinicians, school personnel, law enforcement). TA guidelines are typically based on literature reviews with some based on empirical measures and others having no strong evidential basis. The most common concepts in TA are exploration of the threateners mental health, the motivation for the threat and the presence of any plans. Rather than advocating for the development of a protocol for conducting TA, this article outlines the common areas of inquiry in assessing threats and highlights the limitations of current TA guidelines.