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1 – 10 of 22Jacqui Cameron, Steven W. Bothwell, Ken Pidd and Nicole Lee
Risky alcohol use can reduce productivity at work and impact employees’ mental health and wellbeing. Several risk factors converge in male-dominated industries, which can increase…
Abstract
Purpose
Risky alcohol use can reduce productivity at work and impact employees’ mental health and wellbeing. Several risk factors converge in male-dominated industries, which can increase risky drinking and deteriorate mental health. This paper aims to explore the prevalence of risky drinking and psychological distress in a male-dominated industry compared with that in the general population.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from four manufacturing sites in Australia. In total, 450 workers were invited to participate in a survey that measured drinking behaviours using AUDIT-C and psychological distress using the K10, along with demographics including age, gender, job role and ethnicity. The observed outcome measures were compared with general population data available through publicly available data sets.
Findings
Surveys were returned by 341 employees, of which 319 completed AUDIT-C. AUDIT-C and K10 scores were significantly correlated (R = 0.31, p < 0.0001). Hazardous drinking was more prevalent among workers than in Australian general population (66.1% vs 23.6%). Binge drinking was greater among workers than in the general population (25.4% vs 26.5%). The difference was higher among female workers than among male workers (35.1% vs 10.8%).
Originality/value
The findings of this study show a significantly greater risk of alcohol-related harm among workers in male-dominated industries compared with that in the general population. This risk is more pronounced among women, who also experienced greater rates of moderate and high psychological distress compared with those experienced by the general population. A fitness-for-work approach is proposed to minimise alcohol-related harm among workers in male-dominated industries. Moreover, male-dominated industries are proposed to consider the interconnectivity of other workplace health and safety factors.
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Camille Benson, Jacqueline Jane Cameron and Julaine Allan
Integrated care approaches have been recommended for co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. The purpose of this study is to explore and map the research…
Abstract
Purpose
Integrated care approaches have been recommended for co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. The purpose of this study is to explore and map the research literature regarding social work and its intersection with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.
Design/methodology/approach
An iterative and systematic search of five electronic databases CINAHL, Scopus, PsycINFO, Social Science Database and Medline was conducted to identify studies published between 2002 and 2022. Two reviewers independently screened publications in two successive stages of title and abstract screening, followed by a full-text screening of eligible studies. Data from each included publication were screened and extracted using Covidence.
Findings
A total of 38 eligible studies were included in the final scoping review. The included studies were conducted in eight different counties, including a range of study designs (e.g. cross-sectional, RCT, pilot studies). Only 8 of the 38 studies included people with co-occurring disorders as participants. Study settings were broad, for example, dual-diagnosis, military, homeless, substance use and community-based settings.
Originality/value
A review of the literature surrounding social work practice and its intersection with co-occurring mental health and Alcohol and other drug was warranted to document the evidence on this largely unexplored area of research. This review found that there was a paucity of literature that focused specifically on the role of social work practice in relation to individuals with co-occurring disorders, with a limited number of studies focusing on dual diagnoses.
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Nicole K. Lee, Jacqui Cameron, Angela Harney and Sandra Roeg
Dissemination of good practice information to practitioners is one of the great challenges of the substance abuse treatment sector. The authors' understanding of the process by…
Abstract
Purpose
Dissemination of good practice information to practitioners is one of the great challenges of the substance abuse treatment sector. The authors' understanding of the process by which research is translated is limited, but a whole of workforce approach is considered best practice. This paper aims to examine organisational change as a result of a workforce capacity‐building program over six months.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 195 staff (nine service managers, 39 supervisors and 147 clinicians) in 13 alcohol and other drug (AOD) services across Australia participated in mental health screening and brief intervention training using PsyCheck. PsyCheck is designed to detect and address common mental health symptoms among drug treatment clients. The Dual Diagnosis Capability in Addiction Treatment (DDCAT) index was used to measure capacity before and after training.
Findings
There was no significant difference between baseline and follow‐up DDCAT scores; however, the level of PsyCheck implementation indicated improvement in DDCAT scores.
Practical implications
The results show that where organisations implement the program successfully, capacity improves; where the program is not well implemented, capacity reduces. Successful implementers report a number of common elements: the screening tool was implemented into routine assessment; there was a single onsite “champion” supporting the implementation; and they worked with the staff and persisted with the implementation even where there was initial worker resistance.
Originality/value
This paper provides the opportunity to assess workforce capacity building and the feasibility of utilising the DCCAT to measure co‐occurring mental health and substance use disorders in Australian AOD services.
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Linda Jenner, Jacqui Cameron, Nicole K. Lee and Suzanne Nielsen
– The purpose of this paper is to examine test-retest reliability of the PsyCheck screening tool.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine test-retest reliability of the PsyCheck screening tool.
Design/methodology/approach
In all, 50 drug users in their first three months of treatment were given the Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ; PsyCheck version) at two time points between five and nine days apart to examine reliability of the screen over time.
Findings
Results suggest that the SRQ (PsyCheck version) has good test-retest reliability. ICC=0.841 (p=0.000) showed strong agreement between time 1 and time 2.
Practical implications
The study confirms that the SRQ (PsyCheck) is a stable and reliable instrument for use within drug treatment settings. The implications of the use of screening tools not validated within alcohol and drug treatment setting are discussed.
Originality/value
Mental health problems, particularly anxiety and mood disorders, are common among clients of alcohol and drug treatment services and alcohol and drug workers often undertake symptom management of high prevalence disorders. The originality of this study is that the PsyCheck screening tool was designed for use by non-mental health specialists to detect common mental health problems.
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Jacqui Cameron, Nicole K. Lee, Heidi Strickland and Michael Livingston
The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of introducing clinical case management into a youth alcohol and other drug treatment setting.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of introducing clinical case management into a youth alcohol and other drug treatment setting.
Design/methodology/approach
Case management as usual (CMAU), the current brokerage model operating as a control group was compared to clinical case management (CCM). Individual client outcomes were compared with the site as the grouping variable.
Findings
Although alcohol and drug outcomes were similar, arguably slightly favouring the intervention group, results suggest that young people receiving clinical case management showed potentially greater improvement across a range of other health outcomes including mental health, treatment utilisation and social outcomes than the CMAU brokerage model.
Practical implications
The study examined the feasibility of training clinicians in a youth alcohol and drug treatment agency in a clinical case management model and examined whether this more intensive case management approach could improve substance use and mental health outcomes for young people.
Originality/value
Although widely used, much less is known about the efficacy of case management within substance use treatment settings, where case management tends to be loosely defined and encompasses a broad range of activities. The originality of this study is that little is known about the effectiveness of case management in youth services, where it tends to be the primary service offered.
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Nicole K. Lee, Ann Roche, Vinita Duraisingam, Jane A. Fischer and Jacqui Cameron
– The purpose of this paper is to identify mental health interventions within male-dominated industries.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify mental health interventions within male-dominated industries.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review was undertaken, examining mental health interventions within male-dominated industries. Major electronic databases, grey literature and reference lists for English language studies published January 1990-June 2012 were searched. Independent extraction of the studies was completed by two reviewers using predefined data fields including study quality measures.
Findings
Five studies met inclusion criteria. The available evidence suggests that effective interventions to address anxiety and depression in male-dominated industries include: improving mental health literacy and knowledge, increasing social support, improving access to treatment, providing education for managers and addressing workload issues.
Practical implications
Working conditions and the workplace can have a significant impact on a worker's mental health. Work-related factors including working conditions, job demands and social support in the workplace are particularly important for the mental health workers. Indeed, poor work conditions have been associated with poorer mental health outcomes in particular anxiety and depression, however, little work has been conducted on mental health interventions in the workplace and further the impact on male-dominated industries.
Originality/value
Overall, the body of evidence supporting effective interventions for mental health problems among workers in male-dominated industries is limited. Nonetheless, the evidence does suggest that mental health interventions in male-dominated industries is logistically feasible and can have some positive impact on the mental health of workers, particularly for high prevalence low severity disorders such as anxiety and depression.
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Gail Gilchrist, Jacqui Cameron, Susan Nicolson, Megan Galbally and Paddy Moore
Perinatal drug users are a marginalized group at risk of depression and parenting stress. This study aims to inform service development by determining key components needed to…
Abstract
Purpose
Perinatal drug users are a marginalized group at risk of depression and parenting stress. This study aims to inform service development by determining key components needed to reduce depression among this population by triangulating data from qualitative interviews with service users and their care providers.
Design/methodology/approach
Pre and post natal in‐depth qualitative interviews with drug users attending a specialist antenatal clinic in Melbourne, Australia, and their care providers were conducted; and an email survey of experts was undertaken. Twenty‐eight interviews were conducted and the views of ten experts were received. Data from these sources were triangulated to determine the key components of an intervention to reduce depression among perinatal drug users.
Findings
There was high concordance among data sources. Key service components identified were: case management; extended postnatal care; access to mental health services and drug treatment including relapse prevention; parenting support, and housing support. Judgmental attitudes from healthcare staff and the fear of child protection may be barriers to accessing services.
Research limitations/implications
The study findings are limited by the small sample size.
Practical implications
Services should be enhanced in pregnancy and the early parenting years to build a service model that incorporates the key components identified in this study and supported in the literature.
Originality/value
The originality and value of this study is that it determines the key service components needed to reduce depression among perinatal drug users by triangulating their experiences and views, that of their care providers and expert opinion.
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Sharon Mavin, Patricia Bryans and Rosie Cunningham
The purpose of this paper is to highlight gendered media constructions which discourage women's acceptability as political leaders and trivialise or ignore their contribution.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to highlight gendered media constructions which discourage women's acceptability as political leaders and trivialise or ignore their contribution.
Design/methodology/approach
Media analysis of UK newspapers, government web sites, worldwide web relating to the UK 2010 government election, women MPs and in particular representations of Harriet Harman and Theresa May.
Findings
Media constructions of UK women political leaders are gendered and powerful in messaging women's (un)acceptability as leaders against embedded stereotypes. Being invisible via tokenism and yet spotlighted on the basis of their gender, media constructions trivialize their contribution, thus detracting from their credibility as leaders.
Research limitations/implications
UK‐based study grounded in opportune “snapshot” media analysis during election and resultant formation of UK coalition Government. Focus on two women political leaders, results may not be generalisable.
Practical implications
Raises awareness of the numerical minority status of UK women political leaders, the invisibility‐visibility contradiction and the power of the media to construct women leaders against gender stereotypes. Call for continued challenge to gendered leader stereotypes and women's representation in UK political leadership.
Originality/value
Highlights power of media to perpetuate gender stereotypes of UK women political leaders.
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Heather Cameron and Jacqui Limberger
Faced with a unique problem of providing cross‐cultural awareness training on a continuing basis, Griffith University, located in Brisbane, Queensland developed an innovative…
Abstract
Faced with a unique problem of providing cross‐cultural awareness training on a continuing basis, Griffith University, located in Brisbane, Queensland developed an innovative program to meet the challenges it faced. A key strategy in the University's Indigenous Recruitment Strategy was to establish a cross‐cultural awareness program sensitising university staff to employment matters affecting indigenous Australians. The reality of developing, implementing and sustaining such a program meant that factors that operate in any large organisation, particularly where flexibility in releasing staff to participate in staff development programs is limited, were particularly problematic. The end product, “Please Explain: Indirect Discrimination in the Workplace”, has translated the concepts of cross‐cultural awareness, traditionally expressed through verbal means, into a staff development resource accessible in multiple formats: print, online, video and audio. The project is an excellent example of how unique solutions can be found to tackle seemingly insurmountable problems, and of how the completely different arenas of information communication technology, staff development, cross‐cultural awareness and anti‐discrimination training can come together in synergistic reality.
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