Lisa Bourke

The Drop-Off/Pick-Up Method For Household Survey Research

The hand delivery of self-administered questionnaires has been presented as an alternative for reducing non-coverage error associated with the mail method at lower cost than face-to-face interviews. This research note draws from experiences using the hand delivery technique (combined with hand retrieval) in rural and small community studies to address practical issues associated with improving coverage, and its relationships with sampling, response, and administrative considerations. It is suggested that while this technique provides needed flexibility in relation to household enumeration options, logistical issues limit its applicability where settlement patterns are dispersed and resources to supplement sampling frames are inadequate. Time and cost outlays are required to maximize its potential. When place-related and administrative conditions can be met, the technique offers promise for reducing non-coverage error and possible sample bias without saerificing response rates. In addition, it provides opportunities to gain experiential insights not possible with other survey methods.

Attitudes toward the management of nonindustrial private forest land

Management of the nations forests has been widely criticized. Such criticisms stem, in part, from the widely held belief that owners and managers of nonindustrial private forests (NIPFs) have a vested economic interest in the resource not shared by the general public. As a result, previous studies of NIPF management have assumed that landowners differ from the general public and hold utilitarian‐oriented values toward the natural environment. Data collected in Pennsylvania, a state with one of the largest acreages of NIPFs, challenge this commonly held belief. This article presents evidence of common concerns held by NIPF landowners and the general public with respect to their attitudes toward forests and forest management policies. Moreover, these findings reveal that sociodemographic characteristics, use of the forest, and ownership status have little influence on attitudes toward management.

NIMBY and the hazardous and toxic waste siting dilemma: The need for concept clarification

Finding ways to appropriately dispose of the various wastes that we generate has become one of our most urgent and difficult public policy problems. Researchers and policymakers alike have increasingly attributed much of the blame for policy siting failures to local not‐in‐my‐backyard (NIMBY) responses. However, this concept, as currently used in the literature, has limited utility because of the absence of conceptual and operational clarity. We discuss major problems with the concept, including indiscriminate use, incentives problems, equity issues, and the assumed irrational base of NIMBYism. Important research issues are identified that must be addressed if the concept is to retain scientific and policymaking utility.

Toward understanding youth suicide in an Australian rural community

Australia has one of the highest rates of youth suicide in the western world, especially among rural men. This paper discusses the social construction of this issue in Australia and explores the issue through interviews with 30 young people and 12 key informants from a rural town in NSW. Findings suggest that young people struggle to deal with conflict in social relationships, that community discourses shape young peoples understandings and that suicide is talked about in reference to depression. Implications for youth suicide prevention in Australian rural communities are discussed.

Identity, uncertainty and responsibility: privileging place in a risk society

That young people today reside within social worlds of unprecedented ‘risk’ is a persuasive position. While such discourses have become increasingly pervasive, there has been little interest in exploring contemporary shifts within specific socio-geographic contexts: place has been largely invisible. This paper considers Ulrich Becks ‘risk society’ theses as a framework for exploring the experiences of 85 young residents of a regional Australian centre. These young peoples stories revealed complex and often contradictory, tensions in relation to identity, uncertainty and responsibility. Socio-geographic location was found to be a significant feature in the negotiation and repercussion of these young peoples lives.

Rural community stress, distress, and well-being in Pennsylvania

Abstract Rural distress and stress have become critical issues in the wake of crises in agriculture and other rural industries. Nationally, evidence has shown that populations in rural areas generally suffer higher rates of poverty, less access to health and human services, and greater levels of disability, impairment, and mental and physical disorders than those in urban areas. Research has also shown that particular rural areas and segments of rural communities vary greatly in the stresses to which they are exposed and in the apparent consequences for social and individual well-being (Beale, 1990; Luloff and Swanson, 1990; Wilkinson, 1991). There is, however, little research that documents these presumed variations or identifies specific reasons for potential differences in stress levels. After careful typology construction, this study finds little evidence of variation in stress levels by community type, despite widely varying community situations.

Expanding the scope of practice for enrolled nurses working in an Australian rural health service - Implications for job satisfaction

Career opportunities have been limited for enrolled nurses (ENs) working in small, rural health services. Medication endorsement offers ENs expanded scope of practice which may lead to improved job satisfaction. This small study compared job satisfaction between a group of ENs with recent medication endorsement and a group who elected not to undertake the course in a small, isolated health service. A questionnaire was designed to measure job satisfaction containing the measure of job satisfaction (MJS) scale and other information regarding the course in medication administration. Interviews were also conducted with medication endorsed nurses to gain a greater understanding about the course and their expanded scope of practice. Medication endorsed nurses were newer to nursing and their current job, and reported higher job satisfaction on all five factors. Non-medication endorsed nurses cited lack of confidence and ability as key reasons for not undertaking the course while medication endorsed nurses reported professional and personal reasons for expanding their scope of practice. Most enjoyed the responsibility and reported satisfaction from distributing medications and responding to pain while one viewed it as added work. The findings from this small study suggest that providing local education will improve job satisfaction of ENs.

Health behaviours of young, rural residents: a case study.

OBJECTIVE To analyse self-reported health behaviours of young people from a rural community and the factors influencing their behaviours. METHODS Interviews were conducted with 19 young people, 11 parents and 10 key informants from a small rural Victorian community, asking about teenage health behaviours and the factors influencing these behaviours. RESULTS Young people ate both healthy and unhealthy foods, most participated in physical activity, few smoked and most drank alcohol. The study found that community level factors, including community norms, peers, access issues and geographic isolation, were particularly powerful in shaping health behaviours, especially alcohol consumption. Smoking was influenced by social participation in the community and national media health campaigns. Diet and exercise behaviour were influenced by access and availability, convenience, family, peers and local and non-local cultural influences. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS The rural context, including less access to and choice of facilities and services, lower incomes, lack of transport and local social patterns (including community norms and acceptance), impact significantly on young peoples health behaviours. Although national health promotion campaigns are useful aspects of behaviour modification, much greater focus on the role and importance of the local contexts in shaping health decisions of young rural people is required.

Rural health is subjective, everyone sees it differently: understandings of rural health among Australian stakeholders

In Australia, a diversity of perspectives of rural health have produced a deficit discourse as well as multidisciplinary perspectives that acknowledge diversity and blend in social, cultural and public health concepts. Interviews with 48 stakeholders challenged categories of rural and remote, and discussed these concepts in different ways, but invariably marginalised Aboriginal voices. Respondents overwhelmingly used a deficit discourse to plead for more resources but also blended diverse knowledge and at times reflected a relational understanding of rurality. However, mainstream perspectives dominated Aboriginal voices and racial exclusion remains a serious challenge for rural/remote health in Australia.

Understanding drivers of rural and remote health outcomes: A conceptual framework in action

OBJECTIVE To demonstrate the usefulness of a conceptual framework to increase the understanding of rural and remote health by applying it to specific rural and remote health scenarios. DESIGN A conceptual framework was applied to two case studies illustrative of key issues in rural health to reflect different contexts, issues and responses. RESULTS Application of the framework to both case studies highlighted that changes in rural and remote health are diverse. While power was a key element of the framework, the interaction of all framework components underpinned changes. CONCLUSION The framework facilitated understanding of change in these rural scenarios and demonstrated that improvement in rural health requires change at both the local and structural levels.