Thursday 24 April 2014

Journal club follow-up - Harm minimisation drug education

Journal club was again an amazing success, the library was filled with people from across the organisations all eager to hear about a recent clinical trial testing a new harm minimisation education program being run in Victoria.

The evidence behind the trial was strong and the findings proved that harm minimisation programs work to effectively reduce harmful outcomes from drinking. Students undertaking the program

1. consumed less alcohol;

2. consumed alcohol in a less risky manner;

3. experienced less harm associated with the drinking of alcohol

The article prompted much discussion, some of it very entertaining, some if it a bit disturbing and even some that was actually on topic.

Lastly, kudos to Justin for all his hard work analysing the article and presenting the evidence in a way that was easily understandable to all who came.

Stay tuned for the next one as we are hoping that it will be even better.

References

Midford, R., Mitchell, J., Lester, L., Cahill, H., Foxcroft, D., Ramsden, R., ... & Pose, M. (2014). Preventing alcohol harm: Early results from a cluster randomised, controlled trial in Victoria, Australia of comprehensive harm minimisation school drug education. International Journal of Drug Policy, 25(1), 142-150.


Study protocol for the article:

Midford, R., Cahill, H., Foxcroft, D., Lester, L., Venning, L., Ramsden, R., & Pose, M. (2012). Drug education in victorian schools (DEVS): the study protocol for a harm reduction focused school drug education trial. BMC public health, 12(1), 112.


Trial registration at the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Centre:


Self-reporting as an accurate measurement tool:
Lintonen, T., Ahlström, S., & Metso, L. (2004). The reliability of self-reported drinking in adolescence. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 39(4), 362-368.


If you are interested in the topic of school based education programs on alcohol, drugs and mental health you may be interested in the CLIMATE schools prevention program. An online intervention currently being implemented and researched by NDARC . You can view that project's study protocol here. The project is currently underway and due for completion in 2016.


 

Friday 11 April 2014

New name for the Resource Centre


We'd love to hear your thoughts on a new name for the Resource Centre.  The following three options are currently being considered; you may wish to vote on one of these...
 
 
 
 
Healthy Options Library
 
Australian Drug and Mental Health Library
The Drug and Mental Health Library


... or please feel free to make your own suggestion/s. 

Ideally, the name would encompass the three organisations.  We hope to have this finalised ASAP.

Comment below with your vote or suggestion or email library@drugarm.com.au




Thursday 10 April 2014

Free access to OUP cannabis readings



 
Oxford University Press are helping contribute to the debate on the legalisation of cannabis by offering free access to a special collection of articles. Access is available until the 31st May, 2014.



Wednesday 2 April 2014

Meet the library staff

There are a few more people around the library at the moment and we thought it might be a good time to introduce the staff in here and what we are working on.  Those with access to the office are welcome to call in at any time to chat with the staff.  If you aren't within visiting distance you can email the library at library@drugarm.com.au or contact one of us via the details below.

Each member of the library staff is able to help you with any of the enquiries that you have, be it a short "yes" or "no" question, or a more detailed reference search.  We also can help with loaning, reserving, extending and returning materials, as well as signing you up for membership.  However, each of us has different work projects, skills and areas of interest, which may be relevant to where you want to direct your enquiry.


Justin Clark


Position: Librarian
 
Work hours: Mon-Fri
 
Contact details: justinc@drugarm.com.au
 
Qualifications
2009 – Evidence Based Medicine for the Medical Librarian
University of North Carolina
2008 – Bachelor of Librarianship and Corporate Information Management
Curtin University of Technology
2004 – Diploma of Library and Information Studies
Southbank Institute of Technology
 
 
Work background
eResearch Analyst, Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Foundation (QCIF).
  • Worked at the University of Queensland helping to implement a $98 Million research computing infrastructure project
Librarian, Herston Health Sciences Library, University of Queensland .
  • Worked with staff at the University of Queensland, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Royal Children’s Hospital and the Queensland Institute of Medical Research to improve teaching and research outcomes.
Multiple positions, The University of Queensland Library,
  • Worked as a senior library technician, senior library assistant and library assistant at the following libraries, the Biological Sciences Library, Herston Health Sciences Library, the UQ/Mater McAuley Library, and the UQ Dentistry Library.
Volunteer Library Aide, Yeronga State High School Library
  • Worked with the librarian to help maintain the library.
 
Publications
 
Clark, J. (2013) Systematic reviewing: introduction, locating studies and data abstraction, Chapter 11 in Williams, G and Doi, SA (eds), Methods of Clinical Epidemiology, (ch. 12). Springer Series in Epidemiology and Public Health.
Stone JC, Clark J, Cuneo R, Russell AW, Doi SA. (2013) Estrogen and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) for the treatment of acromegaly: a meta-analysis of published observational studies. Pituitary. Aug 8.
Doi SA, Clark J and Russell AW. (2012) Concordance of the late night salivary cortisol in patients with Cushing's syndrome and elevated urine-free cortisol. Endocrine. 43 2:327-33.
Hieu, Trinh Trung, Russell, Anthony W., Cuneo, Ross, Clark, Justin, Kron, Tomas, Hall, Per and Doi, Suhail A. R. (2012) Cancer risk after medical exposure to radioactive iodine in benign thyroid diseases: a meta-analysis. Endocrine Related Cancer, 19 5: 645-655.
Baghdadi, Leena R., Abu, Hatem Abu, Amer, Saad A. K., Palomba, Stefano, Falbo, Angela, Al-Ojaimi, Eftekhar, Ott, Johannes, Zhu, Wenjie, Fernandez, Herve, Nasr, Ahmed, Ramzy, Abdel Maguid, Clark, Justin and Doi, Suhail A. R. (2012) Impact of obesity on reproductive outcomes after ovarian ablative therapy in PCOS: A collaborative meta-analysis. Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 25 3: 227-241.
Yousef, Altayyeb, Clark, Justin and Doi, Suhail A. R. (2010)Thyroxine suppression therapy for benign, non-functioning solitary thyroid nodules: A quality-effects meta-analysis. Clinical medicine and research, 8 3-4: -150.
 
Chen, G, Clark, J and Cook, R. (2012) Research services delivery in an integrated NeCTAR/RDSI node eResearch Australasia Conference 2012, Sydney NSW, Australia.
 
Current work projects
Overseeing, improving and redesigning library operations and services
Increasing access to high quality resources through the library
Ensuring the organisations historical documentation is properly preserved
 
Areas of interest
Improving the evidence base of health by collaborating with the research community,
Current research projects are:
  • Does Tai Chi help reduce anxiety and depression in hospital patients
  • What is the prevalence of Clostridium Difficile bacteria in the community
  • What is the most effective way to treat tuberculosis in developing countries
 
 
Jerome Davis
 

 
Position: Library Technician
 
Work hours: 11.30am – 4.30pm Mon, Tues, Wed
 
Qualifications
2012 - Diploma of Library and Information Services
Southbank Institute of Technology
 
1983 - Associate Diploma in Applied Science - Applied Chemistry
Queensland University of Technology
 
Work background
 
Library Technician (Volunteer) - Drug Arm Australasia
  • Circulation and general reference inquiries
Library Technician - Australian College of Applied Psychology – Casual
  • Circulation and general reference inquiries

Laboratory Technician
  • Worked in various laboratories in the coal, oil and defence aviation.  Analysis of samples for quality control purposes
 
Current work projects
Assisting the librarians improve the Resource Centre’s presence and performance
Assist with updating library catalogue records
Relocating the Reference Collection to the General collection
 
Areas of interest
Assisting the Resource Centre become more accessible and engaged with staff, clients and the general community


Kate Bugden

 
... I'm in the middle


Position: Librarian

Work hours: 8.30am - 4.30pm Wed, Thurs, Fri

Contact details: kateb@drugarm.com.au

Qualifications: 
2014 - Master of Information Services (Librarianship)
Charles Sturt University

2009 - Diploma of Library and Information Services
Southbank Institute of Technology

2002 - Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)
University of Queensland

Professional affiliations: Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) member

Work background:
Library technician - Australian Catholic University
  • Working with faculty and post graduate students to deliver interlibrary loans and document services. Circulation, resource and reference enquiries 
Amphetamine-Type Stimulants project coordinator - Drug Arm
  • Implementation of an organisation wide capacity building project including quality certification, research project with QADREC, treatment process documentation, policy and procedure documentation, training program role out and social marketing campaign. 

Current work projects:
Increasing and improving the library's online presense including:
  • new library website with inclusion of recommendations, organisational publications, and current awareness services
  • new online catalogue with added functionality such as commenting, tagging, creating resource lists
  • social media engagement, such as this blog and future Twitter, delicious, YouTube accounts
  • online news curation, delivery of AOD and MH news online
  • online material delivery, such as eMagazines
Policy and procedure documentation
Projects within the organisation - consultation and assistance

Areas of interest:
Increasing access and engagement with regional offices - "distance librarianship". 
Online information delivery and utilising technology in appropriate and engaging ways. 
Working on resources and programs that develop literacy and information literacy. 
Ongoing professional development and life-long learning.
The impact of reading on cognitive development and the benefits of reading (especially fiction), including the use of reading groups and reading skills as an intervention in a variety of settings.