Review of policies and guidelines concerning adults' alcohol consumption and promotion in Australian government schools.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Schools are recognised as important settings for promoting student and community wellbeing through education, policies and the modelling of behaviour. Recently, there has been controversy regarding the promotion and use of alcohol by adults at school events. The aim of this study was to examine the policy approach of all Australian jurisdictions to the possession and use of alcohol, by adults, at government school events when students are present. METHODS: A desktop review of Australian governments' alcohol in schools policy/guidelines documents was undertaken. Results Eighteen documents across eight jurisdictions were retrieved. There were inconsistencies between jurisdictions and lack of policy clarity regarding the promotion and/or use of alcohol by adults at events organised by schools for recreation, celebration and fundraising purposes. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Clarity is needed about the role of alcohol in Australian schools, particularly in relation to its use of alcohol when there is a duty of care to children. The possession and/or use of alcohol by adults at school events may contribute to the pervasive role of drinking in Australian social life. SO WHAT? Clear and evidence-based guidelines are needed to inform school policies across all jurisdictions as to whether, when and under which circumstances it is appropriate for schools to promote and/or supply alcohol. This would also strengthen the ability of school principals and communities to make appropriate evidence-based decisions that focus on the interests of children.

Prevalence and correlates of multiple cancer risk behaviors in an Australian population-based survey: results from the Queensland Cancer Risk Study.

OBJECTIVE: To report on the prevalence, clustering, and correlates of behavioral risk factors for cancer in the Queensland, Australia, population. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The Queensland Cancer Risk Study was a population-based survey of 9419 Queensland residents aged 20-75 years. Information was collected through anonymous computer-assisted telephone interviews between February and November 2004. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, sun exposure, and inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, weighted by age, gender, and geographic region. RESULTS: The majority of respondents reported between two and four cancer risk behaviors (79.4%). Men, those younger than 59 years and those with lower educational attainment had more than twofold increased odds of reporting multiple cancer risk factors. Marital status and geographic region were moderately associated with cancer risk. Smoking, high levels of alcohol consumption, and sun exposure were associated with up to twofold increased odds of engaging in multiple additional risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified key subgroups of the Queensland population with increased odds of engaging in multiple risk behaviors for cancer, particularly younger men and people with lower educational attainment. Individual behavioral risk factors can also exert a significant impact on the overall risk profile, and this may be a useful consideration for public health campaigns that target key health behaviors.

Rating access to health care: Are there differences according to geographical region?

OBJECTIVE: To report on satisfaction with access to health care in Queensland focussing on regional differences. METHODS: A sub-sample of 4440 respondents with no history of cancer from the Queensland Cancer Risk Study who completed a self-administered questionnaire was used for this study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Perceptions of overall difficulty gaining access to health care and ratings of access to various health care services by region. RESULTS: Queenslanders living outside major cities reported less satisfaction with access to various aspects of health care services. Age was associated with more favourable ratings of health care access. CONCLUSIONS: Despite public health efforts to increase service provision throughout Queensland, health care access is still rated relatively less favourably by Queenslanders in regional and remote parts of the state. IMPLICATIONS: Identifying which services are difficult to access and why will assist public health policy makers in improving health service accessibility.

'Occasional' and 'social' smokers: potential target groups for smoking cessation campaigns?

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of self-described 'occasional' and 'social' Australian smokers. DESIGN: Analysis of a national cross-sectional survey of smoking patterns, conducted in Australia in 2004. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Australian adults in 2004 who responded to a survey question about self-described smoking status. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic characteristics, patterns of alcohol and tobacco use, smoking cessation attempts in the past year, and interest in cessation. RESULTS: Smokers who described themselves as 'occasional' and 'social' smokers comprised 29% of all smokers. A significant proportion of occasional and social smokers had been daily smokers, but the majority either believed that they had 'already quit' or had no intention of quitting smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Self-ascribed occasional and social smokers potentially represent an important target group for cessation. These types of smokers may be more resistant to public health messages regarding cessation because they do not view their smoking behaviour as presenting a high risk.