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Biomedical subjects

R Callcott

Publications and source records attributed to R Callcott.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1985

Effects of random breath testing on hospital admissions of traffic-accident casualties in the Hunter Health Region.

During the period of six years from 1977 to 1982, the number of admissions of victims of traffic accidents to public hospitals in the Hunter Health Region of New South Wales fell from 2099 to 1734, a decline of 21%. About three-quarters of these patients were male; one-quarter were in the 15-20 year age group. Since the introduction of random breath testing (RBT) in 1982, there has been a further decline in admissions of traffic accident victims to hospitals of nearly 20%, attributable to the introduction of RBT. The initial decline of 30% appears to have stabilized at 20% after 12 months. The decline in admissions occurred in the urban hospitals (31%), and not in the rural hospitals; it was greater among male (31%) than among female (8%) accident victims. In the Hunter region, it is estimated that RBT has resulted in a saving of more than 3000 hospital bed-days in its first year.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1984

Antihypertensive treatment, body mass, and survival after myocardial infarction.

In a community-based study of heart attack, which was conducted in the Hunter Region of New South Wales in 1979, the prognosis was found to be poorer for patients who had received therapy with diuretic agents before the index attack, compared with those who either had received no treatment or were treated with other antihypertensive agents. There was also some evidence of a better prognosis for overweight people or those of normal weight, compared with those whose body weight was below normal.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1983

Cigarette smoking and drug use in schoolchildren: III--evaluation of a smoking prevention education programme.

A one year randomized controlled trial was used to evaluate the effectiveness of a smoking prevention programme designed by health educationalists for 10-12 year old primary schoolchildren. The study was carried out in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, using a sample of over 6000 children which would be large enough to detect, with high probability, differences of about 5% in smoking prevalence between the treatment and control groups. We report the results from the children surveyed in 1979 and 1980, before and after the programme was implemented. It was found that there were no significant differences in smoking behaviour between treatment and control groups. The changes that the programme did bring about were very small compared with the overall increases in smoking prevalence which occurred during the study period. The programme's effectiveness varied with both the age and sex of the children. It was most successful among older girls, aged 11-12 years, for whom smoking prevalence rates increased from 10.7% in 1979 to 22.6% in 1980 in the treatment group compared with 6.2% to 26.8% in the control group. It was least successful for younger boys, aged 10-11 years, for whom smoking increased from 9.4% to 14.5% in the treatment group compared with 10.3% to 11.8% in the control group. Attitudes changed in parallel with changes in smoking behaviour. Changes in knowledge differed only slightly between treatment and control groups. Inadequate implementation of the programme by some teachers may have been associated with adverse effects on the children's behaviour, attitudes and knowledge.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1983

Cigarette smoking and drug use in schoolchildren: IV--factors associated with changes in smoking behaviour.

Factors associated with changes in the smoking behaviour of approximately 6000 schoolchildren (two cohorts aged between 10 and 12 years in 1979) over 12 months are described. They were measured twice as part of a randomized controlled trial of a smoking prevention programme. Four groups were defined: (a) those who became smokers (adopters); (b) those who remained non-smokers; (c) those who became non-smokers (quitters), and, (d) those who remained smokers. Personal and social variables were ordered using a logistic regression model according to the strength of their association with adopting and quitting smoking. Factors distinguishing adopters from children who remained nonsmokers were, being a member of the older cohort, having friends who smoke, having siblings who smoke, approving of cigarette advertising and having a relatively large amount of money to spend each week. Factors distinguishing quitters from children who continued to smoke were, having siblings who do not smoke, being a member of the younger cohort, disapproving of cigarette advertising and having a relatively small amount of money to spend each week. Initial attitude scores were indicative of future smoking behaviour and where smoking behaviour changed, attitudes also changed so that the two remained congruent. The younger cohort improved their knowledge of smoking hazards over the year irrespective of their smoking behaviour. The older cohort showed significant differences in knowledge which were dependent upon smoking category, with 1980 smokers having lower knowledge scores than non-smokers and showing an apparent decrement in their previous knowledge.

Attitude↗