Biomedical subjects

Evelyn Vingilis

Publications and source records attributed to Evelyn Vingilis.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

The effects of drinking-driving laws: a test of the differential deterrence hypothesis.

AIMS: Ontario introduced an Administrative Driver's Licence Suspension (ADLS) law in 1996, whereby a person with a blood alcohol level over the legal limit of 80 mg%, or who refused to provide a breath sample, would have his or her driver's licence suspended immediately for a period of 90 days. We test the differential deterrence hypothesis which would predict that social or lighter drinkers would be more affected by the Administrative Driver's License Suspension law than heavier drinkers. DESIGN: Data from the 1996 and 1997 cycles of the Ontario Drug Monitor, a general population survey of Ontario adults (monthly cross-sectional surveys), were employed (response rate 64-67%). Analyses were restricted to drivers who reported at least some drinking during the last year (n = 3827). The total number of drinks consumed during the past 12 months was analysed with analysis of variance. FINDINGS: We found that the mean alcohol consumption of those who reported drinking-driving increased significantly after the ADLS was introduced, whereas the alcohol consumption of those who did not drive after drinking remained the same. CONCLUSIONS: The limits of this study include a lack of comparison data from regions without ADLS, a reliance on self-report measures, possible age restrictions of the findings and the fact that only an inferential test of the differential deterrence hypothesis is permitted by the data. Despite these limitations, these findings are consistent with the prediction that lighter or more moderate drinkers will tend to stop driving after drinking completely, and thus drop out of the drinking-driving population when the ADLS law was introduced, leaving heavier drinkers in this population. It will be important to continue to examine the dynamics of differential deterrence over a longer interval.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Who provides walk-in services? Survey of primary care practice in Ontario.

OBJECTIVE: To compare walk-in clinics with other primary care settings on characteristics associated with best practices in primary care. DESIGN: A mailed self-administered questionnaire asked about organizational and clinical characteristics of primary care practices located in major urban and suburban areas in Ontario. SETTING: Four types of fee-for-service group practices: walk-in and urgent-care clinics (WICs), mixed practices (MPs), after-hours clinics (AHCs), and group family practices (GFPs). PARTICIPANTS: A physician or a staff member involved in practice administration. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The four practice types were compared on organizational characteristics and measures of access, continuing care, comprehensiveness, coordination, and mechanisms for monitoring quality of care. RESULTS: Walk-in clinics, MPs, and AHCs were open more hours during evenings and weekends and were more likely to see patients without appointments; GFPs were more likely to have on-call arrangements. Group family practices saw a larger proportion of patients for whom they provided ongoing care; WICs and MPs reported that more than 60% of their visits were with "regular" patients. Walk-in clinics were less likely to provide preventive services and psychological counseling than were GFPs and MPs. A few WICs, MPs, and GFPs had procedures to support coordination of care or to monitor quality of care. CONCLUSION: Although WICs, MPs, and AHCs provided walk-in services to Ontario patients, WICs and MPs also provided a substantial amount of ongoing care and preventive services. Independent AHCs appeared to most closely fit the "walk-in clinic" stereotype.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The early effects of Ontario's Administrative Driver's Licence Suspension law on driver fatalities with a BAC > 80 mg%.

BACKGROUND: On November 29, 1996, Ontario introduced an Administrative Driver's Licence Suspension (ADLS) law, which required that anyone charged with driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over the legal limit of 80 mg% or failing to provide a breath sample would have their licence suspended for a period of 90 days at the time the charge was laid. This study evaluates the early effects of Ontario's ADLS law on alcohol-involved driver fatalities. METHODS: Interrupted time series analysis with ARIMA modelling was applied to the monthly proportion of drivers killed in Ontario with a BAC over 80 mg% for the period Jan. 1, 1988 to Dec. 31, 1997. RESULTS: A significant intervention effect was found, with ADLS being associated with an estimated reduction of 17.3% in the proportion of fatally injured drivers who were over the legal limit. CONCLUSION: These data provide an early indication that the law resulted in some success in reducing alcohol-related driver fatalities.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Integrating knowledge generation with knowledge diffusion and utilization: a case study analysis of the Consortium for Applied Research and Evaluation in Mental Health.

OBJECTIVE: Knowledge diffusion and utilization (KDU) have become a key focus in the health research community because of the limited success to date of research findings to inform health policies, programs and services. Yet, evidence indicates that successful KDU is often predicated on the early involvement of potential knowledge users in the conceptualization and conduct of the research and on the development of a "partnership culture". This study describes the integration of KDU theory with practice via a case study analysis of the Consortium for Applied Research and Evaluation in Mental Health (CAREMH). METHODS: This qualitative study, using a single-case design, included a number of data sources: proposals, meeting minutes, presentations, publications, reports and curricula vitae of CAREMH members. RESULTS: CAREMH has adopted the following operational strategies to increase KDU capacity: 1) viewing research as a means and not as an end; 2) bringing the university and researcher to the community; 3) using participatory research methods; 4) embracing transdisciplinary research and interactions; and 5) using connectors. Examples of the iterative process between researchers and potential knowledge users in their contribution to knowledge generation, diffusion and utilization are provided. CONCLUSIONS: This case study supports the importance of early and ongoing involvement of relevant potential knowledge users in research to enhance its utilization potential. It also highlights the need for re-thinking research funding approaches.

Humans↗