Ken Pidd

The impact of work stress and job satisfaction on turnover intentions: A study of Australian specialist alcohol and other drug workers

Aims: A national study was conducted to investigate the extent and nature of job attitudes and well-being of specialist alcohol and other drug (AOD) workers in Australia. As part of that larger study, work stress and job satisfaction and their relationship with turnover intentions were examined. Method: A postal survey measuring working conditions, work stress, job satisfaction, turnover intention and key demographics among specialist frontline workers from AOD treatment services across Australia was undertaken. A total of 1345 responses from workers in 369 participating AOD treatment services were obtained. Findings: Although the majority of workers were satisfied with their jobs, one in five workers reported above average levels of stress. One in five workers also expressed intentions to leave the AOD field. Significant predictors of higher turnover intention were low job satisfaction, high work stress, low workplace social support and negative attitudes towards remuneration. Conclusion: This study was the first attempt to collect empirical data on levels of stress and job satisfaction among the Australian specialist AOD workforce. The findings presented here focus on work stress and job satisfaction and their association with turnover intention. The results indicate cause for concern and have important implications for the development of strategies to minimize turnover and improve the well-being of specialist AOD workers in Australia.

Methamphetamine use among Australian workers and its implications for prevention

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Little attention has been directed to the use of methamphetamine among Australian workers. To address this, a study was conducted that examined drug consumption patterns of the Australian work-force. DESIGN AND METHOD A secondary analysis of the 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) data was undertaken that focused on methamphetamine use among those in paid employment. RESULTS Methamphetamine use in the past 12 months was reported by 4.0% of workers compared to 2.2% of respondents not in the paid work-force. A larger proportion of male (4.8%) than female workers (3.0%) used methamphetamine. The highest prevalence occurred among 18-29-year-old workers (11.2%; males: 12.6%; females: 9.4%), and among workers in hospitality (9.5%), construction (5.4%) and transport (5.4%) industries and among tradespeople (6.5%). Significantly more methamphetamine users reported absenteeism compared to users of other illicit drugs and non-drug users. Among respondents reporting methamphetamine use, 13.4% reported absenteeism due to illicit drug use, while 56.8% reported absenteeism due to any illness or injury. Significantly more methamphetamine users (32.9%) reported going to work under the influence than users of other illicit drugs. Compared to users of other illicit drugs, methamphetamine users were also significantly more likely to drive a car, operate heavy machinery or abuse someone while under the influence. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The specific details of the profile of workers using methamphetamine and the impact it has on work performance allows for the development of targeted interventions and tailored prevention strategies previously not possible.

Adolescents in transition: The role of workplace alcohol and other drug policies as a prevention strategy

Aims: To assess (1) the alcohol and other drug (AOD) consumption patterns of adolescent new entrants to the Australian workforce and (2) the association between these consumption patterns and workplace factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 300 first-year apprentices (aged 15–22 years) employed in South Australian workplaces was conducted. Findings: More than 40% of apprentices surveyed reported cannabis and alcohol consumption patterns that placed them at risk of potential harm. In addition, 19% reported drinking alcohol and 6.7% reported using cannabis during work-related hours. Workplace alcohol availability and the existence of workplace AOD policies were significantly associated with apprentices’ consumption patterns. Apprentices employed in workplaces where alcohol was available used alcohol more often than those reporting no alcohol availability at work. Apprentices reporting an alcohol policy at their workplace reported less alcohol use compared to apprentices reporting no policy. Apprentices reporting a drug policy at their workplace reported lower levels of cannabis and alcohol use compared to those reporting no policy. Conclusions: Workplace factors, in particular workplace AOD policies, were significantly associated with adolescent AOD use both at and away from the workplace. These findings indicate that the workplace has potential as a setting for prevention strategies design to minimize AOD-related harms.

How effective is drug testing as a workplace safety strategy? A systematic review of the evidence

The growing prevalence of workplace drug testing and the narrow scope of previous reviews of the evidence base necessitate a comprehensive review of research concerning the efficacy of drug testing as a workplace strategy. A systematic qualitative review of relevant research published between January 1990 and January 2013 was undertaken. Inclusion criteria were studies that evaluated the effectiveness of drug testing in deterring employee drug use or reducing workplace accident or injury rates. Methodological adequacy was assessed using a published assessment tool specifically designed to assess the quality of intervention studies. A total of 23 studies were reviewed and assessed, six of which reported on the effectiveness of testing in reducing employee drug use and 17 which reported on occupational accident or injury rates. No studies involved randomised control trials. Only one study was assessed as demonstrating strong methodological rigour. That study found random alcohol testing reduced fatal accidents in the transport industry. The majority of studies reviewed contained methodological weaknesses including; inappropriate study design, limited sample representativeness, the use of ecological data to evaluate individual behaviour change and failure to adequately control for potentially confounding variables. This latter finding is consistent with previous reviews and indicates the evidence base for the effectiveness of testing in improving workplace safety is at best tenuous. Better dissemination of the current evidence in relation to workplace drug testing is required to support evidence-informed policy and practice. There is also a pressing need for more methodologically rigorous research to evaluate the efficacy and utility of drug testing.

What Factors Need to be Addressed to Support Dental Hygienists to Assist Their Patients to Quit Smoking

INTRODUCTION Dental hygienists are well placed to assist their patients to quit smoking. Smoking affects oral health and dental treatments, and hygienists report greater time with patients than dentists with more focus on prevention. However, there has been little research into the extent to which hygienists assist patients to quit smoking and strategies to support them in this role. METHODS A 2-stage survey of Australian dental hygienists was conducted. The first survey measured potential predictors of asking patients about smoking and assisting patients to quit smoking using the Theory of Planned Behavior as a framework. The second survey measured these behaviors in the past week. Structural equation modeling was used to examine predictors of the two behaviors. RESULTS A total of 362 hygienists returned the first questionnaire. Intentions to ask and assist patients were high. The 273 hygienists who returned the second questionnaire assisted an estimated total of 1,394 patients to quit smoking in 1 week. Predictors within the Theory of Planned Behavior framework explained significant variance in asking (11%) and assisting (29%) behaviors, with self-efficacy the most critical predictor in both cases (β = .27 and .32, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Dental hygienists may be a viable and willing avenue for addressing smoking. Hygienists may be best supported in this role through increasing skills and confidence around asking sensitively about smoking, building rapport, and assisting patients to quit smoking. Incorporation of smoking status into general history taking and adoption of organizational policies on assisting patients to quit smoking could also be encouraged.

Workplace interventions for alcohol and other drug problems

The objective of this review is to examine whether workplace interventions for alcohol and other drug problems are effective. The primary outcome on which effectiveness will be assessed is the reduction of alcohol and other drug impaired performance at work as seen through occupational and health safety issues, productivity and absenteeism.

Young construction workers: substance use, mental health, and workplace psychosocial factors

Purpose Young Australian workers are at elevated risk of mental health and alcohol and other drug related problems. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between alcohol and drug (AOD) use, psychological wellbeing, and the workplace psychosocial environment among young apprentices in the construction industry. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey of a cohort of 169 construction industry apprentices in their first year of training was undertaken. The survey included measures of psychological distress (K10), quantity/frequency measures of alcohol and illicit drug use, and workplace psychosocial factors. Findings Construction industry apprentices are at elevated risk of AOD related harm and poor mental health. Levels of psychological distress and substance use were substantially higher than age/gender equivalent Australian population norms. Job stress, workplace bullying, and general social support accounted for 38.2 per cent of the variance in psychological distress. General social support moderated the effects of job stress and bullying on psychological distress. Substance use was not associated with psychological distress. However, workplace social support accounted for 2.1 per cent of the variance in AUDIT-C scores, and 2.0 per cent of the variance in cannabis use. Workplace bullying explained 2.4 per cent of the variance in meth/amphetamine use. Practical implications Construction trades apprentices are a high-risk group for harmful substance use and poor mental health. Study results indicate that psychosocial wellbeing interventions are warranted as a harm reduction strategy. Originality/value This is the first study of its kind to describe a cohort of Australian construction trade apprentices in terms of their substance use and psychological wellbeing. The study shows workplace psychosocial factors may predict young workers psychological wellbeing.

Quantifying the societal cost of methamphetamine use to Australia

Globally, there are increasing concerns about the harms associated with methamphetamine use. This paper i) reports on the results of a cost-of-illness (CoI) study that quantified the social costs associated with methamphetamine use in Australia and, ii) drawing on examples from this study, critically examines the general applicability of CoI studies for the alcohol and other drug field. A prevalence approach was used to estimate costs in 2013/2014, the most recent year for which reasonably comprehensive data were available. The value selected for a statistical life-year in our central estimate was AUD 281,798. Other costs were estimated from diverse sources. Total cost was estimated at AUD 5023.8 million in 2013/14 (range, AUD 2502.3 to AUD 7016.8 million). The greatest cost areas were crime including costs related to policing, courts, corrections and victims of crime (AUD 3244.5 million); followed by premature death (AUD 781.8 million); and, workplace costs (AUD 289.4 million). The social costs of methamphetamine use in Australia in 2013/14 are high, and the identification of crime and premature mortality as the largest cost areas is similar to USA findings and represents important areas for prevention and cost remediation. However, caution is required in interpreting the findings of any CoI study, as there is uncertainty associated with estimates owing to data limitations. Moreover, CoI estimates on their own do not identify which, if any, of the costs are avoidable (with drug substitution being a particular problem) nor do they shed light on the effectiveness of any potential interventions. We also recognise that data limitations prevent some costs from being estimated at all.

Accessing the inaccessible: Engaging male-dominated workplaces in alcohol and drug intervention programs.

Introduction: Risky alcohol use is associated with a range of adverse social and health outcomes. Research indicates the majority of risky drinkers are employed and suggests that workplace interventions can have positive benefits on alcohol and drug (AOD) use behaviours and attitudes. However, engaging male dominated workplaces to implement alcohol and other workplace health intervention programs is difficult.

A block randomised controlled trial of a brief intervention with a cohort of first year hospitality trainees

Targeted interventions for high risk groups are increasingly important. Alcohol problems are not evenly distributed. Highly differentiated patterns and prevalence have been identified among workers according to their industry and occupational groups. Young workers in the hospitality industry have been found to be among the highest consumers of alcohol and drugs yet largely overlooked for early and brief intervention. To assess the efficacy of an innovative brief intervention on risky drinking and associated psycho-social measures a trial was undertaken with a cohort of Australian first year hospitality trainees. The study comprised a block randomised controlled trial. Baseline data (T1) was collected at the commencement of hospitality training from both control and intervention groups prior to the administration of a brief intervention and 5 months later at the end of the first term of training (T2). The intervention focused on strategies to address workplace social norms and pressures, resilience and coping strategies, alternative stress management techniques, assertiveness training and social support mechanisms. The intervention was informed by a systematic review of the literature and a qualitative study involving focus groups. Measures included AUDIT, K10, quality of life measures and life satisfaction scales. The findings indicate high levels of risky alcohol consumption among this group of young workers. Significant relationships between age, gender and psycho-social measures were found for risky drinkers. The results of brief intervention indicated changes in the desired direction. Findings are presented together details of efficacy, acceptability to students, implications for wide scale implementation and the feasibility of sustained interventions of this type. This is one of few brief intervention RCTs of its type that address a high risk population using a tailored and targeted intervention and offers considerable promise.