An empirical approach to selecting community-based alcohol interventions: combining research evidence, rural community views and professional opinion

Anthony Shakeshaft; Dennis Petrie; Christopher Doran; Courtney Breen; Robert Sanson-Fisher

doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-25

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An empirical approach to selecting community-based alcohol interventions: combining research evidence, rural community views and professional opinion

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An empirical approach to selecting community-based alcohol interventions: combining research evidence, rural community views and professional opinion

Anthony Shakeshaft, Dennis Petrie, Christopher Doran, Courtney Breen and Robert Sanson-Fisher

BMC Public Health, Vol.12(1), pp.1-11

2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-25

PMID: 22233608

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Abstract

Rural Community

Tobit Regression

Alcohol Harm

Alcohol Taxation

Tobit Regression Model

Background Given limited research evidence for community-based alcohol interventions, this study examines the intervention preferences of rural communities and alcohol professionals, and factors that influence their choices. Method Community preferences were identified by a survey of randomly selected individuals across 20 regional Australian communities. The preferences of alcohol professionals were identified by a survey of randomly selected members of the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and Other Drugs. To identify preferred interventions and the extent of support for them, a budget allocation exercise was embedded in both surveys, asking respondents to allocate a given budget to different interventions. Tobit regression models were estimated to identify the characteristics that explain differences in intervention preferences. Results Community respondents selected school programs most often (88.0%) and allocated it the largest proportion of funds, followed by promotion of safer drinking (71.3%), community programs (61.4%) and police enforcement of alcohol laws (60.4%). Professionals selected GP training most often (61.0%) and allocated it the largest proportion of funds, followed by school programs (36.6%), community programs (33.8%) and promotion of safer drinking (31.7%). Community views were susceptible to response bias. There were no significant predictors of professionals' preferences. Conclusions In the absence of sufficient research evidence for effective community-based alcohol interventions, rural communities and professionals both strongly support school programs, promotion of safer drinking and community programs. Rural communities also supported police enforcement of alcohol laws and professionals supported GP training. The impact of a combination of these strategies needs to be rigorously evaluated.

Details

Title: An empirical approach to selecting community-based alcohol interventions: combining research evidence, rural community views and professional opinion
Authors: Anthony Shakeshaft (Corresponding Author) - UNSW Sydney
Dennis Petrie - University of Dundee
Christopher Doran - University of Newcastle Australia
Courtney Breen - UNSW Sydney
Robert Sanson-Fisher - University of Newcastle Australia
Publication details: BMC Public Health, Vol.12(1), pp.1-11
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd.
Date published: 2012
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-25
ISSN: 1471-2458
PMID: 22233608
Copyright note: This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Grant note: This study was funded as part of the AARC project by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE).
Organisation Unit: School of Health - Psychology
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991242160202621
Output Type: Journal article

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