Citation

Usher K, Woods C, Lynch P, Pointing SB, Budden L, Barker R, Catchpoole J, Clough A. J. Clin. Nurs. 2016; 26(5-6): 668-677.

Affiliation

Research Fellow Australian Institute Of Tropical Health & Medicine (AITHM) James Cook University PO Box 6811 Cairns Qld 4870.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/jocn.13534

PMID

27549665

Abstract

AIMS: The aim of this study was to gauge whether, and to what extent, population flow occurred as a result of the implementation of alcohol-management plans in Indigenous communities.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol management plans involving carriage limits and dry places were introduced into 15 Queensland Indigenous communities between 2002-04. Controls on alcohol availability were further tightened between 2008-10, seeing the closure of eight mainly remote community taverns/canteens.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was undertaken utilising data from the Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit.

METHODS: Population flow was measured by changing patterns of alcohol-related injuries in a mining region near dry Indigenous communities following the introduction of alcohol management plans (AMPs) and a control mining region distant from Indigenous communities with AMPs. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Logistic regression was used for comparison of the characteristics between the emergency department presentations. The rates of alcohol-related injury presentations per 1000/population were calculated and age-standardised to the Australian population.

RESULTS: Between the five year periods 2003-2007 and 2008-2012, alcohol-related injury presentations to the Mount Isa ED trebled from an age-adjusted average annual rate of 9.5/1000 in the region's population to 27.1/1000 population. In the control region, alcohol-related ED injury presentations did not increase to the same degree with age-adjusted average annual rates of 1.42/1000 and 2.21/1000 respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The ten-year pattern of emergency department presentations for alcohol-related injuries increased significantly in the Mount Isa region compared to the control region. Further research should investigate the impacts of population flow related to Indigenous community alcohol management plans. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Language: en