Suchergebnisse

Abstract. Aims: In the article at hand we intend to discuss to what extent hitherto efforts towards standardization and quality assurance have been able to achieve stability concerning the production of evidence, and whether an actual evidence-based practice for psychosocial interventions for alcohol and drug problems is anywhere truly in the making. Methods: To explain several methodological inadequacies we make use of a perspective commonly referred to as the actor-network theory (ANT). This is characterized by a strong interest in detailed analysis of how an innovation or an idea is transformed due to interaction with its situated and specific conditions. The empirical material is taken from four earlier studies of our own hands. Results: We have given examples of how an unsystematic handling of different control group designs can lead to serious misinterpretations of intervention effects. The same goes for researcher allegiance, the use of different types of criteria in order to rank different types of evidence, unmotivated restrictions on the inclusion of evidence in a given systematic review, or as in the case of several US clearinghouses, to use extremely weak criteria when discriminating between what is evidence-based and what is not. Conclusions: We suggest that all of these shortcomings are directly or indirectly related to translations, modifications or neglect to adhere to methodological rules intended to produce a reduction of biases and increase standardization

Research indicates that a number of psychosocial interventions are effective for reducing behavioural problems in youth. These interventions are now often included on best practice lists aiming to facilitate informed treatment choices among practitioners. However, analyses in neighbouring research areas have highlighted serious shortcomings in how primary studies are analysed and how studies are synthesised in research reviews. This study took a closer look at the evidence of efficacy for psychosocial interventions that aim to reduce behavioural problems in youth, as shown in systematic research reviews by the Cochrane and the Campbell Collaborations (n = 8). The findings suggest a bias towards overemphasising the efficacy of the interventions in several reviews, an over‐confidence in the validity of the findings in some reviews and, overall, a somewhat uncertain evidence base for the efficacy of the interventions. Systematic reviews are crucial for summarising research but more attention to methodological issues may be needed in this area.

We explore how four evidence-producing organisations in the US go ahead when they rate the evidence base for psychosocial interventions, using the Incredible Years programme as our case study. The findings demonstrate variation in the procedures and resulting evidence claims across the organisations, with some organisations being strict and some being permissive. The presence of such conflicting practices highlights central challenges for the evidence-based practice framework and its ambition of obtaining uniform evidence statements. We conclude that practitioners and policy makers should be aware of such variation in order to be able to make informed decisions regarding which programmes to use.

Abstract

Aims
The study aims to examine how socio-economic status (SES) among youth is related to binge-drinking and alcohol-related problems using three SES indicators: (i) SES of origin (parental education level), (ii) SES of the school environment (average parental education level at student's school) and (iii) SES of destination (academic orientation).


Methods
Cross-sectional data on upper secondary students (n= 4448) in Sweden. Multilevel logistic and negative binomial regression were used to estimate the relationship between each SES indicator and binge-drinking and alcohol-related problems, respectively.


Results
Only SES of destination was significantly associated with binge-drinking, with higher odds for students in vocational programmes (OR= 1.42, 95% CI= 1.13–1.80). For the second outcome, SES of destination (rr=1.25; 95%CI=1.08–1.45) and SES of the school environment (rr=1.19, 95% CI=1.02–1.39) indicated more alcohol-related problems in vocational programmes and in schools with lower-educated parents. After adjustment for drinking patterns, the relationship remained for SES of the school environment, but became non-significant for SES of destination.


Conclusion
Our results suggest that the SES gradient among youth is stronger for alcohol-related problems than for harmful drinking. By only focusing on SES differences in harmful alcohol use, researchers may underestimate the social inequalities in adverse alcohol-related outcomes among young people. Our findings also support the notion that the environment young people find themselves in matters for social inequalities in alcohol-related harm.

High-pressure photoelectron spectroscopy is a rapidly developing technique with applications in a wide range of fields ranging from fundamental surface science and catalysis to energy materials, environmental science, and biology. At present the majority of the high-pressure photoelectron spectrometers are situated at synchrotron end stations, but recently a small number of laboratory-based setups have also emerged. In this paper we discuss the design and performance of a new laboratory based high pressure photoelectron spectrometer equipped with an Al Ka X-ray anode and a hemispherical electron energy analyzer combined with a differentially pumped electrostatic lens. The instrument is demonstrated to be capable of measuring core level spectra at pressures up to 30 mbar. Moreover, valence band spectra of a silver sample as well as a carbon-coated surface (graphene) recorded under a 2 mbar nitrogen atmosphere are presented, demonstrating the versatility of this laboratory-based spectrometer. ; Funding Agencies|Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA); Swedish Research Council [621-2010-4799]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Royal Society [UF100105]; EPSRC; EPSRC [EP/K004913/1, EP/J021199/1]