Search

Abstract: A travel plan is a package of measures implemented by an organisation to encourage people who travel to/from that organisation to do so by means other than driving alone by private car. This paper advances two principal arguments: firstly, that the planning system and maximum parking standards as part of it are the main factors leading to travel plan development in England today; and, secondly, that the difficulties of using the planning system in this way means that there is a risk that many of these travel plans are unlikely to have a great deal of influence on travel patterns, making it more unlikely that they will achieve the predicted impact on travel behaviour change, as contained in the important study and report “Smarter Choices” (). This paper presents results from a survey of planning and transport authorities in England, which obtained a 62% response rate from the 139 authorities contacted. It also uses the results of 18 interviews with local authority and Highways Agency staff involved in securing travel plans through the planning process. The survey found that the planning process (as opposed to voluntary efforts) is indeed the main means by which travel plans are now secured. In addition, maximum parking standards were shown to have a major influence on travel plan formation for organisations going through the planning process. There are however reasons to doubt that all of the travel plans secured through the planning process are effective. This is because: [•] Many local authorities use only planning conditions and not the more flexible (but complex) obligations which would allow more complex travel plans to be secured. [•] There is a lack of monitoring of travel plans in many authorities. [•] There is evidence that in many authority areas there are travel plans in breach of legal agreements, but these breaches are not enforced, reportedly due to a lack of monitoring, resources, and other organisational issues. The paper discusses the reasons for these findings and also makes a number of suggestions as to how the planning system could be improved as a means of securing travel plans. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Smoking has been identified as the second greatest risk factor for global death and disability and has impacts on the oral cavity from aesthetic changes to fatal diseases such as oral cancer. The paper presents a secondary analysis of the National Adult Dental Health Survey (2009). The analysis used descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses and logistic regression models to report the self-reported oral health status and dental attendance of smokers and non-smokers in England. Of the 9,657 participants, 21% reported they were currently smoking. When compared with smokers; non-smokers were more likely to report ‘good oral health’ (75% versus 57% respectively, p<0.05). Smokers were twice as likely to attend the dentist symptomatically (OR = 2.27, CI = 2.02–2.55) compared with non-smoker regardless the deprivation status. Smokers were more likely to attend symptomatically in the most deprived quintiles (OR = 1.99, CI = 1.57–2.52) and perceive they had poorer oral health (OR = 1.77, CI = 1.42–2.20). The present research is consistent with earlier sub-national research and should be considered when planning early diagnosis and management strategies for smoking-related conditions, considering the potential impact dental teams might have on smoking rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current paper was to examine externalizing and internalizing behaviors in adolescents with gender dysphoria. One hundred forty-one young people (84 natal females and 57 natal males, M age = 15.13, SD = 1.70) attending the Gender Identity Development Service in London completed the Youth Self Report form at the end of the assessment period (4 to 6 sessions). The main findings indicated that, overall, the adolescents showed significantly more internalizing than externalizing behaviors. Using cutoff points provided by Achenbach and Rescorla (2001), the mean internalizing score fell within the clinical range and the mean externalizing score within the normal range. There was also a significant positive relationship between these two behaviors both in the natal females and the natal males. The natal males presented with significantly more internalizing behaviors than the natal females; however, no significant difference was observed between the genders in terms of the number of externalizing behaviors and total problems. We discuss the implications of these findings with regard to clinical work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper gives an overview of recent observation studies of coaching behaviour and the coaching relationship. It follows a keynote at the 2nd European Coaching Psychology Conference, December 2009, in London. Models influencing the research are drawn from studies of the behaviour of psychotherapists that help to understand the effects of therapeutic interventions. The background to the article is a process-theory of coaching. It reformulates and integrates general factors derived by Gassman and Grawe (2006) from behaviour observation studies. The process-theory assumes that the effects of coaching in general depend partly on seven hypothetical success factors of coaching behaviour that can be assessed by ratings of the observed behaviour of coaches: (1) Appreciation and emotional support of the client; (2) result-oriented problem reflection; (3) result-oriented self-reflection; (4) reflection and calibration of affects; (5) clarification of goals; (6) resource activation; and (7) support of transfer into practice. In a pilot study, trained observers rated the behaviour of coaches using video recordings of coaching sessions. The results show that outcome criteria can be predicted by specific success factors. To understand better how coaching works and how to improve coaching effectiveness, more research and multidisciplinary methods are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background English policy argues that people with intellectual disabilities should be supported in their local communities. There is considerable evidence that this aspiration is not being achieved. This paper seeks to look at the subsection of people with intellectual disabilities who have expensive care needs because of challenging behaviour, to identify the decision-making processes that have led to current service provision and expenditure and to suggest improvements. Materials and Methods We carried out a survey within five North London boroughs to investigate the characteristics of a cohort of people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour in high-cost accommodation (over £70 000/annum). Postal questionnaires and face-to-face interviews were conducted with stakeholders with intellectual disabilities and patterns of current costs were estimated from existing data provided by the commissioning authorities in the five boroughs. Results Two hundred and five individuals with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour were identified. They were accommodated in placements provided by 97 separate providers, both in and out-of-area. Those more likely to be placed out-of-area were younger, had multiple health problems, significant challenging behaviour and mental health problems including autistic spectrum disorders. The local community intellectual disabilities teams identified a number of difficulties in meeting the needs of those service users. Conclusions Expenditure on all placements for service users with intellectual disabilities is significant. There is a notable lack of investment in local service development. A coherent approach is required, often across service boundaries. The authors suggest a model for targeted investment aimed at supporting effective local services, and reducing the need for and expense of out-of-area placements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An argument for the political necessity, theoretical appropriateness, and methodological practicality of using recidivism as a measure of effectiveness in prison education programs is presented. Utilizing the experience of a current research project based in Canada and England, the paper explores issues of curriculum and pedagogy, the complexity of predicting behaviour, the utility and limitations of case studies, and 'scientific realist' evaluation methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internationally young people report experiencing sexual abuse and violence within schools. Developments within the field of adolescent sexual harm are increasingly recognising the need for ecological approaches to harm. Yet, to date, interventions with young people displaying harmful sexual behaviours have prioritised individual behaviours and characteristics over place-based interventions. This article presents empirical evidence from a mixed-methods study aimed at understanding the enablers and barriers to preventing and responding to harmful sexual behaviour in schools. Research was carried out in seven schools and four multi-agency partnerships in England, UK. Using evidence from focus groups, observations, case reviews and policy analysis the article outlines nine components that enable, or are barriers to, effective responses and interventions into harmful sexual behaviour in schools. The paper concludes that responses and interventions into harmful sexual behaviour must move beyond responding to individual behaviours to intervening within factors within schools themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Effective programs to help children manage their weight are required. Families for Health focuses on a parenting approach, designed to help parents develop their parenting skills to support lifestyle change within the family. Families for Health V1 showed sustained reductions in overweight after 2 years in a pilot evaluation, but lacks a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence base.Methods/design: This is a multi-center, investigator-blind RCT, with parallel economic evaluation, with a 12-month follow-up. The trial will recruit 120 families with at least one child aged 6 to 11 years who is overweight (≥91st centile BMI) or obese (≥98th centile BMI) from three localities and assigned randomly to Families for Health V2 (60 families) or the usual care control (60 families) groups. Randomization will be stratified by locality (Coventry, Warwickshire, Wolverhampton).Families for Health V2 is a family-based intervention run in a community venue. Parents/carers and children attend parallel groups for 2.5 hours weekly for 10 weeks. The usual care arm will be the usual support provided within each NHS locality.A mixed-methods evaluation will be carried out. Child and parent participants will be assessed at home visits at baseline, 3-month (post-treatment) and 12-month follow-up. The primary outcome measure is the change in the children's BMI z-scores at 12 months from the baseline. Secondary outcome measures include changes in the children's waist circumference, percentage body fat, physical activity, fruit/vegetable consumption and quality of life. The parents' BMI and mental well-being, family eating/activity, parent-child relationships and parenting style will also be assessed.Economic components will encompass the measurement and valuation of service utilization, including the costs of running Families for Health and usual care, and the EuroQol EQ-5D health outcomes. Cost-effectiveness will be expressed in terms of incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year gained. A de novo decision-analytic model will estimate the lifetime cost-effectiveness of the Families for Health program.Process evaluation will document recruitment, attendance and drop-out rates, and the fidelity of Families for Health delivery. Interviews with up to 24 parents and children from each arm will investigate perceptions and changes made.Discussion: This paper describes our protocol to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a parenting approach for managing childhood obesity and presents challenges to implementation.Trial Registration: Current Controlled Trials http://ISRCTN45032201. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]