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New this Month - May 2005

Below are citations/abstracts of recently published articles and publications that have been authored and/or co-authored by Pacific Institute staff.

Berkeley -

Genevieve Ames

Gordon, D.R.; Ames, G.M.; Yen, I.H.; Gillen, M.; Aust, B.; Rugulies, R.; Frank, J.W.; Blanc, P.D., Integrating qualitative research into occupational health: A case study among hospital workers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 47(4):399-409, April 2005.

Abstract: Objective: We sought to better use qualitative approaches in occupational health research and integrate them with quantitative methods. Methods: We systematically reviewed, selected, and adapted qualitative research methods as part of a multisite study of the predictors and outcomes of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among hospital workers in two large urban tertiary hospitals. Results: The methods selected included participant observation; informal, open-ended, and semistructured interviews with individuals or small groups; and archival study. The nature of the work and social life of the hospitals and the foci of the study all favored using more participant observation methods in the case study than initially anticipated. Conclusions: Exploiting the full methodological spectrum of qualitative methods in occupational health is increasingly relevant. Although labor-intensive, these approaches may increase the yield of established quantitative approaches otherwise used in isolation.

Bridget Freisthler

Freisthler, B.; Gruenewald, P.J., Social ecology and the invention of new regulatory strategies for preventing drug and alcohol problems. In T. Stockwell, P.J. Gruenewald, J.W. Toumbourou and W. Loxley (eds.) Preventing Harmful Substance Use: The Evidence Base for Policy and Practice, pp. 291-306. Chichester, West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 2005. [with P.J. Gruenewald of PRC].

Paul Gruenewald

Gruenewald, P.J. Introduction to the evidence base for prevention in broad perspective. In T. Stockwell, P.J. Gruenewald, J.W. Toumbourou and W. Loxley (eds.) Preventing Harmful Substance Use: The Evidence Base for Policy and Practice, pp. 309-311. Chichester, West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 2005.

Stockwell, T.; Gruenewald, P.J.; Toumbourou, J.W.; Loxley, W., Recommendations for new directions in the prevention of risky substance use and related harms. In T. Stockwell, P.J. Gruenewald, J.W. Toumbourou and W. Loxley (eds.) Preventing Harmful Substance Use: The Evidence Base for Policy and Practice, pp. 443-464. Chichester, West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 2005.

Harold Holder

Holder, H.D.; Treno, A.J., Moving toward a common evidence base for alcohol and other drug prevention policy. In T. Stockwell, P.J. Gruenewald, J.W. Toumbourou and W. Loxley (eds.) Preventing Harmful Substance Use: The Evidence Base for Policy and Practice, pp. 351-366. Chichester, West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 2005. [with A.J. Treno of PRC].

Marcia Russell

Russell, M.; Carruthers, S., The evidence base for preventing the spread of blood-borne diseases within and from populations of injecting drug users. In T. Stockwell, P.J. Gruenewald, J.W. Toumbourou and W. Loxley (eds.) Preventing Harmful Substance Use: The Evidence Base for Policy and Practice, pp. 367-379. Chichester, West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 2005.

Bob Saltz

Saltz, R.F. What is "Evidence", and can we provide it? In T. Stockwell, P.J. Gruenewald, J.W. Toumbourou and W. Loxley (eds.) Preventing Harmful Substance Use: The Evidence Base for Policy and Practice, pp. 313-323. Chichester, West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 2005.

Calverton-

Eduardo Romano

Romano, E.; Tippetts, S.; Voas, R., Fatal red light crashes: the role of race and ethnicity. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 37(3): 453-460, 2005. [with S. Tippetts and R. Voas of PIRE/Calverton].

Abstract: There is an increasing number of motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) in the U.S. that occur at intersections. Noncompliance with traffic signals is one of the causes for such increase. In this study, we focused on Hispanic drivers. It has been shown that failing to follow traffic laws and regulations is a major cause of MVCs in Latin America. Does this driving behavior in Latin America correspond to the Hispanic community in the U.S.? Are U.S. Hispanics more likely to die in a red light incident? Are Hispanics more likely to be red light runners than other racial/ethnic groups in the U.S.? We answered these questions by taking advantage of a 1990-1996 Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) file with additional racial/ethnic information. Overall, we found no differences between African-American, White, and Hispanic drivers regarding red light running. We found that drinking and driving was the most important factor for red light running. However, we found evidence that some Hispanic subgroups may be more vulnerable to red light running. One such subgroup is formed by Hispanics who have no valid driver license and no record of previous driver license suspension. This study is the first to apply national, archival data to document the relevance of race/ethnicity to the red light running problem, and we hope that it might serve as an incentive for more research on this area.

Rebecca Spicer

Spicer, R.; Miller, T.; Langley, J.; Stephenson, S., Comparison of injury case fatality rates in the United States and New Zealand. Injury Prevention, 11: 71-76. 2005. [with T. Miller of PIRE/Calverton].

Abstract: Objective: To compare injury case fatality rates in the United States (US) with New Zealand (NZ) to guide future information collection, research, and evaluation. Design: Using NZ (1992-96) and US (1996-98) mortality censuses, NZ national 1992-96 hospital discharge censuses, and US 1996-98 National Hospital Discharge Survey data, the authors compared case fatality rates by mechanism and intent of injury and age group. The analysis was restricted to severe injuries (AIS3). Subjects: NZ (1992-96) and US (1996-98) populations. Main outcome measures: Ratio of case fatality rates in NZ versus the US (RCFR(NZ:US)). Results: Overall, among cases meeting the study criteria, unintentional injuries were 1.57 times more likely fatal in NZ and intentional assault injuries were 1.14 times more likely to be fatal in the US. Firearms were involved in 50% of US assaults versus 8% of NZ assaults. By mechanism, cutting/piercing injuries were 1.86, firearm injuries were 1.41, and motor vehicle injuries were 1.44 times more to be likely fatal in NZ. Natural/environmental injuries (RCFRNZ:US = 0.57), unintentional poisonings (RCFRNZ:US = 0.26), and unintentional suffocations (RCFRNZ:US = 0.67) were significantly more likely to be fatal in the US. Conclusions: Possible reasons for the observed results include: differences in geography and proportion of population in rural areas, trauma system differences, road design and vehicle types, seat belt use, larger role of firearms in US assaults, coding practices, policies, and environmental factors. Disparities evoke hypotheses to test in future research that will guide priority setting and intervention.

Spicer, R.S.; Miller, T.R., Impact of a workplace peer-focused substance abuse prevention and early intervention program. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 29(4): 609-611. [with T.R. Miller of PIRE/Calverton].

Abstract: Background: PeerCare is a workplace peer intervention program that focuses on changing workplace attitudes toward on-the-job substance use and trains workers to recognize, intervene with, and refer coworkers who have a problem. Methods: Monthly injuries at the study company (January 1983 through June 1996) were compared to counts at four other companies in the same industry. Using these panel data, fixed-effects negative binomial regression measured the association of the percentage of the workforce covered by PeerCare with the workplace injury rate. Results: For every 1% increase in the workforce covered with PeerCare, the risk of injury declined by 0.9984 (95% confidence interval, 0.9975-0.9994). These findings suggest that, by June 1996, when 86% of the workforce was covered under PeerCare, the program had reduced injury rates by an average 14% per month. Conclusions: The findings support the implementation of peer intervention programs as a means to reduce workplace injuries.

Providence -

Bob Stout

Shea, M.T.; Stout, R.L.; Yen, S.; Pagano, M.E.; Skodol, A.E.; Morey, L.C.; Gunderson, J.G.; McGlashan, T.H.; Grilo, C.M.; Sanislow, C.A.; Bender, D.S.; Zanarini, M.C., Associations in the course of personality disorders and axis I disorders over time. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 113: 499-508. 2004.

Abstract: In this study, the authors examined time-varying associations between schizotypal (STPD), borderline (BPD), avoidant (AVPD), or obsessive-compulsive (OCPD) personality disorders and co-occurring Axis I disorders in 544 adult participants from the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorders Study. The authors tested predictions of specific longitudinal associations derived from a model of crosscutting psychobiological dimensions (L. J. Siever & K. L. Davis, 1991) with participants with the relevant Axis I disorders. The authors assessed participants at baseline and at 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-up evaluations. BPD showed significant longitudinal associations with major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. AVPD was significantly associated with anxiety disorders (specifically social phobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder). Two of the four personality disorders under examination (STPD and OCPD) showed little or no association with Axis I disorders.

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