PREVENTION FOCUS

Applied Research

Seminar Discussion

In your group you’ll be assigned two research concepts.

Discuss the article in general Important points Surprises Parts you didn’t understand New hypotheses

Then find an example of each of your concepts.

Review of Research Terms and Concepts

Random selection/assignment- Fleming and Colleagues

CONTROL GROUP INTERVENTION GROUP

Health Booklet Health Booklet

15 minute dr. visit at time 1

15 minute dr. visit 1 month later

Two phone calls two weeks later

Worksheet, drinking diary & drinking agreement

Variables in Pre test/Post test Design

Independent Detailed information about use: frequency, quantity,

blood alcohol level, alcohol related problems Comparison data

Control Psychoeducational brochure

Dependent Heavy drinking episodes Quantity of alcohol consumed

New Terms and Concepts

Longitudinal Multiple measures of the same variables over time Fleming and Colleagues measured the dependent

variable at 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 months

Confounding Variables The “noise”…what else might explain change? Monti and Colleagues studied teenagers Both groups drank less…why might this be? Emergency room conditions that might explain an

ineffective intervention???

And More Terms and Concepts

Blind study The subject doesn’t know what condition she/he is in. Information on multiple health related topics was

provided in Collins and Colleagues

Double Blind study Both the subject and the person delivering the

intervention don’t know what condition the subject is in. Fleming and Colleagues-physicians were unaware…

Plausible Alternative Hypothesis - What else might explain your findings?

Levels of Prevention

Primary Advertisements like, Drive Hammered, Get Nailed”

Secondary Collins and Colleagues study – students are showing signs

of problematic drinking, at greater risk than students in general

Tertiary Fleming and Colleagues

Identified “problem drinkers” Goal was to reduce additional problems as a result of drinking,

e.g. emergency room visits, hospitalization and arrests.

Application – LGBTQ Youth Suicide

Recent suicides of lgbtq youth have occurred, in part due to bullying as well as other stressors associated with sexuality and discrimination.

28% of 9th-12th grade gay/bi males will attempt suicide at least once; 20% of lesbian/bi females. (4.2 & 14.5 for straight males/females).

Some studies show 40-52% of lgbtq youth have attempted.

LGBTQ youth have fewer protective factors and more risk factors than general population of youth.

Prevention should incorporate or respond to these factors.

In Your Group

1. You are assigned a specific approach to suicide prevention.

2. Come up with a hypothesis related to effectiveness of the approach.

3. Plan a study to test your hypothesis.4. Be sure to incorporate the concepts we’ve

studied.5. What are strengths and weaknesses of

your approach?