ORCID Profile
0000-0002-4773-4285
Current Organisation
La Trobe University
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Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-05-2023
DOI: 10.1111/DAR.13681
Abstract: This study investigates differences in health and well‐being associated with current, past or no injecting drug use (IDU) among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Australia, identifying key health care considerations between injecting experiences. Data were extracted from the HIV Futures 9 study a survey of PLHIV conducted in 2018–2019. Chi‐square and analysis of variance analyses compared clinical and treatment characteristics, major physical and mental comorbidities, sexually transmitted infection diagnoses, and quality of life for those who reported current (last 12 months), past (12+ months ago) or no IDU. Current IDU ( n = 106) was associated with higher rates of sexually transmitted infection testing and diagnoses, higher frequency of self‐reported antiretroviral therapy non‐adherence due to drug use and greater social quality of life than past ( n = 126) or no IDU ( n = 508 total N = 740). Past and current IDUs were associated with more mental illness diagnoses and self‐reported concern about drug use. Past IDU was associated with more physical comorbidities, lower satisfaction with clinical care and greater difficulty in affording health care than current or no IDU. Past and current IDUs are associated with unique health concerns. However, past IDU appears to be related to greater dissatisfaction in navigating health care than in iduals with current IDU experience. Higher social connection and the types of services being accessed by in iduals who currently inject may play a role in shaping service satisfaction. Peer‐based interventions to help support in iduals in accessing services that are affirming of their needs is an ongoing priority.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-12-2016
DOI: 10.1111/DAR.12370
Abstract: Understanding how types of alcohol consumers differ is important for public policy targeted at reducing adverse events. The aims of the present study were to identify typologies of alcohol consumers in Australian nighttime entertainment districts based on risk factors for harm and to examine variation between the identified groups in drinking setting and harms. Street-intercept surveys were conducted with 5556 alcohol consumers in and around licensed venues in five Australian cities between November 2011 and June 2012. Latent class analysis identified groups based on age and sex, and blood alcohol concentration, pre-drinking, energy drink use and illicit drug use during that night. Four classes were identified: general patron group (33%), young pre-drinker group (27%), intoxicated male pre-drinker group (31%) and intoxicated illicit drug male group (9%). The proportion of the general patron group interviewed decreased over the night, while the other groups increased (particularly in regional cities). As compared with the general patron group, the remaining three groups reported increased odds of being involved in aggression and any alcohol-related injuries in the past 3 months, with highest rates of harm amongst the intoxicated illicit drug male group. Alcohol consumers in nighttime entertainment districts are not a homogeneous group. One-third have a low likelihood of risky consumption practices however, representation of this consumer class diminishes throughout the night. Elevated harms amongst groups characterised by certain risk factors (e.g. pre-drinking and illicit drug use) emphasise the importance of addressing these behaviours in public policy. [Peacock A, Norman T, Bruno B, Pennay, Droste N, Jenkinson R, Quinn B, Lubman DI, Miller P. Typology of alcohol consumers in five Australian nighttime entertainment districts. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016 :539-548].
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-10-2019
DOI: 10.1111/DAR.12998
Abstract: Associations between substance use and aggression may be lified by simultaneous alcohol and illicit drug use. This study aims to compare differences in involvement in past aggression between people who use different substances while accounting for broader risk propensity. Self-reported data on past three-month involvement in verbal and physical aggression (victim or perpetrator) were drawn from interviews conducted in night-time entertainment districts in seven Australian cities (n = 5078). Using inverse probability of treatment weighting techniques, participants who reported alcohol versus alcohol and illicit drug use on the night of interview (including ecstasy, cannabis and other illicit stimulant subgroups) were weighted on the basis of drug use risk covariates (e.g. alcohol consumed, gender) to determine differences in involvement in aggression involvement. After weighting for covariates, in iduals who reported consuming any illicit drug + alcohol and ecstasy + alcohol combinations were more likely to be involved in physical (33% and 105%, respectively) and verbal (36% and 116%, respectively) aggression in the previous 3-months when compared to those who consumed alcohol only. Cannabis + alcohol and other illicit stimulant + alcohol combinations were no more likely to be involved in either forms of aggression. The likelihood of having been involved in past aggressive incidents was higher among those who reported any illicit drug + alcohol and ecstasy + alcohol combinations than those who reported alcohol exclusively, after accounting for covariates. These findings highlight in iduals that may benefit most from the development of tailored health promotion reventative safety interventions in night-time settings.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 11-11-2022
Abstract: It is well documented that lower socio-economic status is associated with poorer health outcomes, while health literacy is considered important for improving health. What is less clear, is the extent to which greater health literacy can improve health outcomes among people for whom poverty or financial insecurity are important barriers to health. The paper presents findings from an Australian survey of people living with HIV (PLHIV) (N = 835) in which we explored the relationship between financial insecurity and health outcomes, looking at the extent to which health literacy mediates this relationship. The study drew on a comprehensive definition of health literacy, measuring participant’s confidence to communicate with healthcare providers, navigate the health system and take an active stance in relation to their health. Findings showed that financial insecurity was associated with lower health literacy and poorer self-reported physical and mental health. Health literacy mediated 16.2% of the effect of financial insecurity on physical health scores and 16.6% of the effect of financial insecurity on mental health scores. This suggests that programmes which seek to build health literacy among PLHIV may improve health outcomes among PLHIV who are struggling financially. Health literacy programmes are likely to be effective if they build confidence and resourcefulness among people to engage with health information, decision-making and care.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 20-05-2021
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-11-2021
DOI: 10.1111/DAR.13215
Abstract: Comprehensively investigating alcohol‐related behaviours in the context of a dynamic multi‐day alcohol‐licensed event is important for understanding and minimising patron risk. We aimed to assess the measurement utility of implementing a multi‐dimensional alcohol assessment battery using biometric data collection, real‐time drink logs and retrospective self‐report measures over the course of a 4‐day music festival. Fourteen adults participated ( n = 7 male, mean age 21.9 years). Breath and transdermal alcohol concentration (BrAC and TAC, respectively) were measured using breathalysers and transdermal alcohol bracelets. A real‐time drink log was completed via smartphones on initiating each drink, and a retrospective questionnaire was administered up to twice daily throughout the event (6 timepoints total). While almost all participants (92.9%) logged significantly fewer drinks in real‐time than they retrospectively reported via the twice‐daily questionnaires, logs provided important contextual information including the types of drinks consumed and drinking intensity. Compared to BrAC, TAC provided a better understanding of the time course of intoxication, indicating highest alcohol consumption outside of static BrAC assessment windows. However, BrAC provided a better assessment of present state: all participants were 0.00% BrAC at departure despite over two‐fifths (42.9%) of the s le's last TAC reading exceeding 0.00%. As standalone assessments, each method possessed limitations. As a combined battery, they were successfully administered simultaneously, resulting in a more comprehensive overview of alcohol consumption/intoxication over the prolonged drinking session. However, the marked burden of simultaneous administration should be considered, and measures should be chosen judiciously based on research needs.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 12-12-2022
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 15-07-2022
DOI: 10.1007/S10461-022-03795-2
Abstract: This paper examines how antiretroviral therapy (ART) use and fears towards the onward transmission of HIV have changed among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Australia between 1997 and 2018. Participants were recruited as part of the HIV Futures study, a large cross-sectional survey of PLHIV in Australia, in 1997, 2003, 2012 and 2018 (total n = 3889). ART use, viral load detectability, and fear of onward HIV transmission were compared between years. Predictors of onward transmission fear were assessed among the 2018 subs le. While ART use within our s le decreased between 1997 and 2003, it subsequently increased to 97% in 2018. Self-reported viral load undetectability steadily increased over time, up to 88% in 2018. Notably, fewer PLHIV reported being fearful of transmitting HIV in 2018 compared to all other years. Being unfamiliar with the undetectable = untransmissible health movement, and having a detectable or uncertain viral load at last test, were significant predictors of being fearful of onward HIV transmission. Beyond the immediate medical considerations of HIV treatment, these results suggest that the undetectable = untransmissible movement may play a critical role in attenuating burdens experienced by PLHIV in Australia and that such messaging, in tandem with early and consistent ART use, should remain a salient feature of heath messaging among this population.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.DRUGPO.2021.103526
Abstract: Establishing typologies of drug use among gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (GBMSM) who are living with HIV, as well as differences in health outcomes between them, is important in addressing health inequalities within this population. We sought to determine how use of non-prescription drugs is clustered for these in iduals and to establish differences in their broader health and well-being, including STI diagnosis, mental health, and physical health. We examined past-year drug use reported by 747 GBMSM in Australia as part of the HIV Futures 8 survey, a large cross-sectional survey of people living with HIV. We tested between two and five latent class models of specific drug use and conducted cross-class comparisons of past-year STI diagnosis and self-reported mental and physical health. We identified four distinct drug use typologies: 'chemsex-related use', 'minimal use', 'analgesic and sedative use', and ' erse use'. The 'chemsex use' and ' erse use' classes had a markedly higher likelihood of STI diagnosis relative to the other two classes, while the 'analgesic and sedative use' class reported markedly poorer physical and mental health scores than the other classes. While GBMSM living with HIV in Australia have higher rates of drug use compared to other GBMSM, and the general population, our analysis indicates that patterns of drug use are not uniform within this group. Specific patterns of drug use are related to distinct health inequalities, and this should be accounted for when addressing the needs of men who use drugs differently.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-2022
DOI: 10.1111/ACER.14925
Abstract: Seeing alcohol in media has been demonstrated to increase alcohol craving, impulsive decision-making, and hazardous drinking. Due to the exponential growth of (social) media use it is important to develop algorithms to quantify alcohol exposure efficiently in electronic images. In this article, we describe the development of an improved version of the Alcoholic Beverage Identification Deep Learning Algorithm (ABIDLA), called ABIDLA2. ABIDLA2 was trained on 191,286 images downloaded from Google Image Search results (based on search terms) and Bing Image Search results. In Task-1, ABIDLA2 identified images as containing one of eight beverage categories (beer/cider cup, beer/cider bottle, beer/cider can, wine, ch agne, cocktails, whiskey/cognac/brandy, other images). In Task-2, ABIDLA2 made a binary classification between images containing an "alcoholic beverage" or "other". An ablation study was performed to determine which techniques improved algorithm performance. ABIDLA2 was most accurate in identifying Whiskey/Cognac/Brandy (88.1%) followed by Beer/Cider Can (80.5%), Beer/Cider Bottle (78.3%), and Wine (77.8%). Its overall accuracy was 77.0% (Task-1) and 87.7% (Task-2). Even the identification of the least accurate beverage category (Ch agne, 64.5%) was more than five times higher than random chance (12.5% = 1/8 categories). The implementation of balanced data s ler to address class skewness and the use of self-training to make use of a large, secondary, weakly labeled dataset particularly improved overall algorithm performance. With extended capabilities and a higher accuracy, ABIDLA2 outperforms its predecessor and enables the screening of any kind of electronic media rapidly to estimate the quantity of alcohol exposure. Quantifying alcohol exposure automatically through algorithms like ABIDLA2 is important because viewing images of alcoholic beverages in media tends to increase alcohol consumption and related harms.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 23-09-2022
DOI: 10.3389/FPSYT.2022.992309
Abstract: While there is evidence for self-exclusion (SE) as an in idual-level harm reduction intervention, its effects on reducing harm from gambling at the population level remain unclear. Based on a review of national legal frameworks and SE programs, including their utilization and enforcement in selected high-income societies, the present analysis aims to explore the reach and strengths of SE in the protection of gamblers in these jurisdictions. It places particular emphasis on SE programs' potential to prevent and minimize gambling harm at the population level. The overview examined SE in Finland, Germany, Italy, Massachusetts (USA), Norway, Sweden, and Victoria (Australia). These jurisdictions differ considerably in how gambling is regulated as well as in how SE is implemented and enforced. The reach and extent of enforcement of SE apparently vary with the polity's general policy balance between reducing gambling problems and increasing gambling revenue. But in any case, though SE may benefit in idual gamblers and those around them, it does not appear to be capable of significantly reducing gambling harm at the population level. To render SE programs an effective measure that prevents gamblers and those linked to them from financial, social, and psychological harm, utilization needs to be substantially increased by reforming legal regulations and exclusion conditions.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 09-01-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2023
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-2022
DOI: 10.1111/ACER.14788
Abstract: The possibility of residual impairment of cognitive performance after multiday drinking sessions is particularly important given the potential for the deleterious effects of fatigue and hangover. This pilot study aimed to devise a methodology to compare sober performance on driving‐relevant attentional tasks at the end of a 4‐day music festival with performance at varying levels of the breath–alcohol curve. Fifty‐two participants completed selective and sustained attention tasks at a breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) of 0.00%, 0.05%, and 0.08% following acute dosing in a controlled laboratory setting. A subset of participants ( n = 13) were then tested at the conclusion of a 4‐day music festival at 0.00% BrAC, with task performance compared with laboratory results. During the laboratory phase, sustained attention was poorer at the 0.05% ascending timepoint only (compared to 0.00% BrAC). During the festival phase, participants made a greater number of errors on the selective attention task predeparture than at 0.00% and 0.05% BrAC in the laboratory. Sustained attention performance was poorer while intoxicated in the laboratory. Our findings suggest that the absence of blood alcohol acutely may not be indicative of unimpaired cognitive performance and that other factors related to multiday drinking may produce driving‐related attentional deficits. The findings reinforce the need to measure attentional performance in real‐world drinking contexts despite the methodological complexities of doing so. A larger study is warranted to replicate the findings and should include attentional measures that either are more sensitive to the effects of acute alcohol intoxication than those in our study or are based on a driving simulator.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 28-09-2023
No related grants have been discovered for Thomas Norman.