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Biomedical subjects

A Lockwood

Publications and source records attributed to A Lockwood.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Public support for the prevention of alcohol-related problems.

Support for a number of strategies and policies for the prevention of alcohol related harm was ascertained as part of a larger survey of public attitudes and behaviours in a representative sample of the Perth metropolitan area. Support for these policies varied, but was generally positive, with young male drinkers the least supportive. The greatest degree of support was found for a variety of training strategies for licensees and barstaff, while a number of restrictive practices, such as reduced trading hours and the banning of the sale of beer in jugs, were less popular. Those who had recently worked in the alcohol trade were less likely than the general population to be supportive of these policies. This effect could not be completely explained by their generally being younger and drinkers. It is concluded that governments generally have a mandate to introduce certain policies and practices into the licensed drinking environment, but that the resistance of the alcohol trade to such measures may need to be overcome if they are to be successfully introduced.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1993

Public perceptions of responsibility and liability in the licensed drinking environment.

This study reports the results of a survey conducted in Perth (Western Australia) to assess public perceptions of the concepts of server responsibility and server liability. Eleven hundred and sixty persons aged 16 and over were asked if they thought licensees and barstaff should be held partly responsible when someone becomes intoxicated on licensed premises, or licensees and barstaff should be partly liable for injuries caused by an intoxicated person after leaving licensed premises. Results indicate that, on average, few people agreed to either proposition, despite an overwhelming majority believing that continuing to serve an intoxicated person increases the risk of an accident. However, when analysed by category of respondent, non-drinkers and persons aged over 30 were significantly more likely to agree with licensees and barstaff being partly responsible for someone becoming intoxicated, and for them to be partly liable in the case of an accident involving an intoxicated customer. The results of this survey indicate the need for education programmes to convince the public that excessive alcohol consumption and the resulting harm is not merely the responsibility of the individuals concerned, but is also the responsibility of those groups and individuals involved in the promotion, marketing and sale of alcohol. We suggest that such education campaigns might best be targeted at those groups where least support was found, young drinkers (18-24 years) and the servers of alcohol.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1993

What prevents prevention? Lessons from the failure of a university alcohol and drug policy.

This paper describes an investigation of why an attempt at alcohol and drug problem prevention failed. Between 1986 and 1991 a comprehensive policy on alcohol and drug use was developed in a university in Western Australia. Using a key-informant approach, 26 'players' central to the decision to reject the policy were interviewed, and relevant university documents were examined. The failure of the initiative was found to be caused not only by bad policy formulation (for example, the perceived poor tone of the document, concerns about content and general presentation) but also to bad process. Lack of effective consultation, suspicions about the origins of the policy, distrust and dislike of the policy presenters and concerns about the aim of the policy were cited as major impediments. The central tenet of the policy, that in order to reduce alcohol problems everyone must reduce their drinking, was rejected by most of the decision makers. Perceptions that members of the policy working party were taking an anti-alcohol stance engendered criticisms that the policy reflected the work of 'wowsers' and 'health zealots'. The major lessons learned were that policy formulation, presentation and negotiation are skilled tasks. Preventers need a range of abilities with perhaps the foremost being the capacity to listen to criticism, consult genuinely and implement change slowly. The notion that preventers know what is good for other people needs to be avoided. Preventive policy, if it is to be implemented, has to be introduced by invitation not imposition.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1991

Preventing drug use problems: the university as a site for local action.

While the prevention of drug use problems comes well recommended, there is limited agreement on which preventive strategies are the most effective. Furthermore there is debate as to where activity most effectively occurs-should it be at the national or local level? In this study a university community was investigated with the aim of determining whether members of that community appreciated the need for prevention of drug use problems and which preventive strategies they deemed to be of value. The difficulties inherent in taking action within a tertiary environment are also considered and an agenda for action described.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1990

Psychotropic drugs in Australia: consumption patterns.

This paper reviews studies of psychotropic drug use in Australia, analyses results from the Australian Health Surveys and compares the findings with those from other countries. It identifies subpopulations with high rates of drug use, which may consequently be at greater risk of drug-related harm. The levels of consumption of psychotropic agents in Australia were estimated from the results of studies conducted in community and institutional settings between 1970 and 1986. In the absence of more recent data national prevalence rates were derived from analysis of data provided by the Australian Health Surveys (AHS) of 1977-1978 and 1983-1984, and comparisons were made with rates available from other countries. While the prevalence of current and frequent use of drugs for nervous conditions was found to have decreased in most age groups over this period, it was consistently higher in females than in males, and increased with age. An analysis of the 1983-1984 AHS data revealed that the consumption of "medicines for nervous conditions" fell by 35% but that no change occurred in the prevalence of persons taking sleeping medicines. This fall appeared to occur in both rural and urban populations. Further analysis of data relating to the consumption of hypnotic agents revealed that changes occurred in the patterns of use within age and gender subgroups. Significant differences were observed between Australian States in consumption rates of sleeping medicines (chi 2 = 282.2; df = 7; P less than 0.01) and of medicines for nervous conditions (chi 2 = 289.7; df = 7; P less than 0.01). There were high rates of use of medicines for sleep in South Australia and of medicines for nervous conditions in Queensland. The prevalence of use of both drugs for sleep (rs = 0.71; P less than 0.05) and drugs for nervous conditions (rs = 0.77; P less than 0.05) was related to the rate of consultations with doctors. Preliminary surveys of various non-British subpopulations including Aborigines were inconclusive. These results have implications for reducing the harm associated with the use of psychotropic agents, particularly hypnotics and drugs for nervous conditions, in Australia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Benzodiazepine drugs in Australia: associated mortality and morbidity.

The use of benzodiazepine drugs in Australia results not only in widespread therapeutic benefits but also in harmful outcomes at both an individual and societal level. Accurate measurement of the level of harm has been precluded by a lack of robust data relating to the use of these drugs and to the resulting adverse consequences. This paper examines existing mortality and morbidity data, comments upon the available data sources and recommends areas where research is needed in order to clarify the relationship between the use of benzodiazepines and associated adverse effects.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1974

Replication of the Escherichia coli chromosome with a soluble enzyme system.

Semi-conservative DNA synthesis is observed when the isolated, folded E. coli chromosome is supplemented with a DNA-free, soluble enzyme fraction, the four deoxynucleoside 5'-triphosphates, ATP, and Mg(++). The DNA synthesized in vitro remains associated with the folded chromosome during sedimentation through neutral sucrose, but is released as small DNA fragments in alkali. Sealing of these replicative intermediates to the chromosome requires the presence of both E. coli DNA polymerase I (EC 2.7.7.7) and DNA ligase (EC 6.5.1.2).

Adenosine Triphosphate↗