Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30223812›Full record

Observational studyBMC public health2018

A longitudinal observation study assessing changes in indicators of serious injury and violence with alcohol controls in four remote indigenous Australian communities in far north Queensland (2000-2015).

Alan R Clough, Michelle S Fitts, Reinhold Muller, Valmae Ypinazar, Stephen Margolis

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC public health, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Alcohol use in Australia: countering harm with healing.The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific · 2023
    Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Alan R CloughCommunity-based Health Promotion and Prevention Studies Group, College of Public Health, Medicine and Veterinary Sciences, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, PO Box 6811, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia. alan.clough@jcu.edu.au.
Michelle S FittsCollege of Public Health, Medicine and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
Reinhold MullerCommunity-based Health Promotion and Prevention Studies Group, College of Public Health, Medicine and Veterinary Sciences, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, PO Box 6811, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia.
Valmae YpinazarGriffith University, Mt Gravatt, Brisbane, QLD, 4122, Australia.
Stephen MargolisGriffith University, Mt Gravatt, Brisbane, QLD, 4122, Australia.

Funding

National Health and Medical Research Council 1042532
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLegal restrictions on alcohol availability have been used to address violence and injury in the world's remote Indigenous communities. In Australia, alcohol management plans (AMPs) were implemented by the Queensland Government in 2002. This study reports changes in indicators of alcohol-related violence and injury in selected communities.

methodsDesign and setting: A longitudinal observational study was conducted in four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) communities in Cape York, far north Queensland. All communities are similarly-isolated from population centres where alcohol is available. DATA: For 2000 to 2015 inclusive: 1019 Royal Flying Doctor Service aeromedical trauma retrievals; 5641 Queensland Police Service records of unique assault occurrences, including 2936 involving alcohol; and records for 2741 unique assault victims were examined. DATA ANALYSIS: Rates (per 1000 population) of trauma retrievals, assault occurrences and assault victims (per 1000 population) were compared across three policy phases. Phase 1: 2000 to 2008. Initial restrictions on possession and consumption of alcohol in 'restricted areas' were implemented during 2002-2003. Phase 2: 2009 to 2012. All alcohol was prohibited in three study communities and its legal availability limited in the fourth from 2009. Phase 3: 2013 to 2015. Government reviews of AMP policies in light of legal challenges and community responses characterise this phase.

resultsCompared with Phase 1, in Phase 2 retrieval rates declined by - 29.4%, assault occurrences by - 34.1% with less than one-third involving alcohol, and assault victims by - 21.1%, reaching historically low levels in 2010-2012. These reductions did not continue consistently. Compared with Phase 1, in Phase 3 retrieval rates, assault occurrence rates and assault victim rates declined by somewhat lesser amounts, - 13.9%, - 15.0% and - 13.4%, respectively. In Phase 3, the proportion of assault occurrences involving alcohol in communities 2, 3 and 4 rose towards pre-2008 levels.

conclusionsEarly successes of these controversial alcohol restrictions are jeopardised. Indicators of violence and injury appear to be rising once more in some AMP communities. Importantly, rates have not generally exceeded the highest levels seen in Phase 1. Fresh policy action is required with rigorous monitoring to prevent erosion of initial important successes.

Indexed as

Rural PopulationTrauma Severity IndicesAlcohol DrinkingAlcoholic BeveragesAlcohol-Related DisordersAustralian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PeoplesHumansLongitudinal StudiesQueenslandViolenceWounds and InjuriesAlcoholAlcohol supply controlsIndigenous AustraliaInjuryViolence

Identifiers

PMID30223812
PMCPMC6142387

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.