14 results on '"Suurvali H"'
Search Results
2. Changes in liver cirrhosis death rates in different countries in relation to per capita alcohol consumption and Alcoholics Anonymous membership.
- Author
-
Smart, R G, primary, Mann, R E, additional, and Suurvali, H, additional
- Published
- 1998
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. Treatment seeking among Ontario problem gamblers: results of a population survey.
- Author
-
Suurvali H, Hodgins D, Toneatto T, Cunningham J, Suurvali, Helen, Hodgins, David, Toneatto, Tony, and Cunningham, John
- Abstract
Objective: This study examined help seeking for gambling concerns among people with different levels of gambling problems.Methods: Ontario adults who had gambled more than dollars 100 (N=4,217) and who screened positive for a possible gambling problem (N=1,205) were classified according to gambling problem severity and asked about their experiences with gambling treatment.Results: Only 6% of gamblers had ever accessed a service, including a self-help group or self-help materials. With self-help materials excluded, only 3% of gamblers (from 1% of those who met only the initial CLiP screening criteria to 53% of those with pathological gambling) had sought treatment for gambling.Conclusions: Few gamblers sought treatment for gambling problems; greater problem severity was associated with greater likelihood of using treatment, with self-help materials used most often. Further research is needed on why treatment seeking is low and on the effectiveness of self-help resources in reaching gamblers with problems in earlier stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2008
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
4. The relationship between alcohol use and mortality rates from injuries: a comparison of measures.
- Author
-
Mann, Robert E., Suurvali, Helen M., Smart, Reginald G., Mann, R E, Suurvali, H M, and Smart, R G
- Subjects
ALCOHOL drinking ,ALCOHOLIC beverages ,SOCIAL indicators ,PEOPLE with alcoholism ,ADULT children of people with alcoholism ,ALCOHOL - Abstract
Per capita consumption of alcohol has traditionally been considered to be the leading indicator of population levels of alcohol problems. However, some recent research suggests that this relationship may be weakening, and that drinking pattern measures may be preferable to per capita consumption as problem-level indicators. We compared the ability of per capita alcohol consumption and survey-based measures of alcohol use to predict deaths from injuries in Ontario, Canada, for the period 1977-1996. Per capita consumption and percentage of daily drinkers were significantly related to injury mortality, but percentage of drinkers and percentage of episodic heavy drinkers (those who drank five or more drinks on a drinking occasion) were not. Of the measures we examined, per capita consumption was the strongest indicator of mortality rates from injuries. However, the survey-derived measure of percentage of daily drinkers was similar to per capita consumption in ability to predict problem levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2001
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
5. Motivators for seeking gambling-related treatment among Ontario problem gamblers.
- Author
-
Suurvali H, Hodgins DC, Toneatto T, and Cunningham JA
- Subjects
- Adult, Awareness, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, Middle Aged, Ontario, Psychotherapy, Group, Self Concept, Socioeconomic Factors, Gambling psychology, Gambling rehabilitation, Motivation, Patient Acceptance of Health Care psychology
- Abstract
A random digit dialing telephone survey was used to interview 8,467 adults in Ontario, Canada. The NODS-CLiP was used to identify a representative sample of 730 gamblers (54.3% male, mean age 45.3 years) with possible past year gambling problems in order to explore factors that might affect disordered gamblers' motivators for seeking gambling-related help. A final sample of 526 gamblers provided useable data on possible reasons for and barriers to seeking help, awareness of services, self-perception of gambling problems and experience with help-seeking. Financial and relationship issues were the most frequently volunteered motivators. However, over two-thirds of the respondents could not think of a reason for seeking help. Gamblers who had self-admitted or more severe problems, who knew how to get help, who were employed and had more education, and who identified possible barriers to seeking help were more likely to suggest motivators, especially financial ones. More research is recommended on gamblers' trajectory towards recognition of a gambling problem, the process of overcoming specific barriers to treatment, and the role of social advantage (e.g., education and employment), in order to devise educational campaigns that will encourage earlier help-seeking among disordered gamblers.
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
6. Hesitation to seek gambling-related treatment among Ontario problem gamblers.
- Author
-
Suurvali H, Hodgins DC, Toneatto T, and Cunningham JA
- Subjects
- Adult, Denial, Psychological, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, Middle Aged, Motivation, Ontario, Shame, Gambling psychology, Gambling rehabilitation, Patient Acceptance of Health Care psychology
- Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to examine barriers in seeking help for gambling problems., Methods: A random digit dialing telephone survey was conducted among adults in Ontario, Canada. Respondents meeting criteria for possible past year gambling problems were asked an open-ended question on why they might hesitate once they had decided to seek help., Results: Of 556 eligible respondents, 47% asserted they would not hesitate to seek help. The most frequently identified possible reasons for hesitation were shame, difficulty acknowledging the problem, and treatment-related issues. Younger gamblers and those with higher problem severity, self-perception of a gambling problem, and past treatment experience were more likely to volunteer shame and treatment-related issues. Gamblers with lower problem severity, no self-perception of a gambling problem, and no history of help seeking more frequently said they would not hesitate to seek help. However, among problem/pathological gamblers, 49% did not self-perceive even a moderate gambling problem; they were more likely than self-perceived problem gamblers in this high severity group to predict no hesitation., Conclusions: In addition to revealing perceived and objective factors that impede help seeking for gambling problems, the identification of possible barriers may indicate, among some disordered gamblers, awareness of gambling problems and consideration given to possible actions. Both tackling barriers and enhancing problem awareness are necessary components of strategies to provide accessible and timely assistance to those with gambling problems.
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
7. Motivators for resolving or seeking help for gambling problems: a review of the empirical literature.
- Author
-
Suurvali H, Hodgins DC, and Cunningham JA
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Behavior, Addictive therapy, Communication Barriers, Empirical Research, Female, Humans, Intention, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Satisfaction, Self Care psychology, Social Environment, Socioeconomic Factors, Behavior, Addictive psychology, Gambling psychology, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Internal-External Control, Patient Acceptance of Health Care psychology, Self Efficacy
- Abstract
This literature review summarizes recent empirical research on the reasons disordered gamblers try, through treatment or otherwise, to resolve or reduce their gambling problems. Relevant databases and bibliographies were searched for English-language studies, published since 1998, that asked gamblers themselves about motivators for action. Found were ten studies addressing reasons for trying to resolve or reduce gambling problems, five addressing reasons for seeking help and four addressing reasons for requesting self-exclusion from casinos. Help-seeking occurred largely in response to gambling-related harms (especially financial problems, relationship issues and negative emotions) that had already happened or that were imminent. Resolution was often motivated by the same kinds of harms but evaluation/decision-making and changes in lifestyle or environment played a more prominent role. Self-exclusion was motivated by harms, evaluation/decision-making and a wish to regain control. Awareness and educational materials could incorporate messages that might encourage heavy gamblers to make changes before harms became too great. Intervention development could also benefit from more research on the motivators leading to successful (vs. failed) resolution, as well as on the ways in which disordered gamblers are able to overcome specific barriers to seeking help or reaching resolution.
- Published
- 2010
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
8. Barriers to seeking help for gambling problems: a review of the empirical literature.
- Author
-
Suurvali H, Cordingley J, Hodgins DC, and Cunningham J
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Behavior, Addictive therapy, Female, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Humans, Intention, Internal-External Control, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Satisfaction, Self Efficacy, Social Environment, Socioeconomic Factors, Behavior, Addictive psychology, Communication Barriers, Denial, Psychological, Gambling psychology, Patient Acceptance of Health Care psychology, Self Care
- Abstract
This literature review summarizes recent empirical research on obstacles preventing problem gamblers from seeking treatment for their gambling problems. Relevant databases and bibliographies were searched for English-language papers and reports published since 1998. The only methodological requirement was that gamblers themselves be asked about reasons for not seeking help. Nineteen studies conducted in five countries were identified. All except one targeted adults. Despite differences in methodology, many of the same barriers to treatment were identified. Most commonly reported barriers were: wish to handle problem by oneself; shame/embarrassment/stigma; unwillingness to admit problem; and issues with treatment itself. The authors of the review argue that unwillingness to admit to the problem may be even more prevalent than is typically indicated by the results of barriers studies. Other frequently reported barriers included lack of knowledge about treatment options and practical issues around attending treatment. More research is needed on barriers to treatment-seeking experienced by subgroups of gamblers defined by culture, ethnicity, gender, age. Open-ended questioning methods can help provide insights into what barrier categories mean to different groups and individuals. Input directly from gamblers can be combined with information from other kinds of studies to devise better ways of reaching problem gamblers, especially those in underserviced populations.
- Published
- 2009
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
9. Alcohol consumption, alcoholics anonymous membership, and homicide mortality rates in Ontario 1968 to 1991.
- Author
-
Mann RE, Zalcman RF, Smart RG, Rush BR, and Suurvali H
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Data Interpretation, Statistical, Female, Humans, Incidence, Male, Middle Aged, Ontario epidemiology, Predictive Value of Tests, Retrospective Studies, Alcohol Drinking epidemiology, Alcoholics Anonymous, Homicide statistics & numerical data, Mortality
- Abstract
Background: Research has shown a strong link between alcohol use and a variety of problems, including violence. Parker and colleagues have presented a selective disinhibition theory for the link between alcohol use and homicide (and other violence) that posits a causal relationship that is also influenced by other situational and contextual factors. This model is particularly well suited for aggregate-level investigations. In this study, we examine the impact of alcohol factors, including consumption measures and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) membership rates, on homicide mortality rates in Ontario, and test predictions derived from the selective disinhibition model., Methods: Time series analyses with ARIMA modeling were applied to total, male, and female homicide rates in Ontario between 1968 and 1991. The analyses performed included total alcohol consumption, spirits consumption, beer consumption, and wine consumption. Missing AA membership data were interpolated with cubic splines., Results: For the total population and males, homicide rates were significantly and positively related to total alcohol consumption and to the consumption of beer and spirits. They were also negatively related to AA membership rates in the analyses involving spirits and wine and positively related to unemployment rates in the analyses involving beer, wine, and total alcohol. Among females, none of the measures were significant predictors of homicide mortality rates., Conclusions: These data provide important support for the selective disinhibition model and confirm important relationships between per capita consumption measures and homicide mortality rates, especially among males, seen in other studies. Additionally, the results for AA membership rates are consistent with the hypothesis that AA membership and treatment for misuse of alcohol can exert beneficial effects observable at the population level.
- Published
- 2006
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
10. Drinking-driving fatalities and consumption of beer, wine and spirits.
- Author
-
Mann RE, Zalcman RF, Asbridge M, Suurvali H, and Giesbrecht N
- Subjects
- Alcohol Drinking prevention & control, Canada epidemiology, Humans, Incidence, Prevalence, Accidents, Traffic mortality, Alcohol Drinking epidemiology, Alcoholic Beverages statistics & numerical data, Automobile Driving statistics & numerical data
- Abstract
Drinking-driving is a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in Canada. The purpose of this paper was to examine factors that influenced drinking driver deaths in Ontario. We examined the impact of per capita consumption of total alcohol, and of beer, wine and spirits separately, on drinking-driving deaths in Ontario from 1962 to 1996, as well as the impact of the introduction of Canada's per se law and the founding of People to Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere - Mothers Against Drunk Driving (PRIDE - MADD) Canada. We utilised time-series analyses with autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) modelling. As total alcohol consumption increased, drinking driving fatalities increased. The introduction of Canada's per se law, and of PRIDE-MADD Canada, acted to reduce drinking driving death rates. Among the specific beverage types, only consumption of beer had a significant impact on drinking driver deaths. Several factors were identified that acted to increase and decrease drinking driver death rates. Of particular interest was the observation of the impact of beer consumption on these death rates. In North America, beer is taxed at a lower rate than other alcoholic beverages. The role of taxation policies as determinants of drinking-driving deaths is discussed.
- Published
- 2006
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
11. Alcohol consumption, alcoholics anonymous membership, and suicide mortality rates, Ontario, 1968-1991.
- Author
-
Mann RE, Zalcman RF, Smart RG, Rush BR, and Suurvali H
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Female, Humans, Incidence, Male, Middle Aged, Ontario epidemiology, Prevalence, Unemployment statistics & numerical data, Alcohol Drinking therapy, Alcoholics Anonymous, Patient Participation statistics & numerical data, Suicide statistics & numerical data
- Abstract
Objective: The goal of this study is to identify alcohol-related factors that influence mortality rates from suicide. Specifically, we examine the impact of per capita consumption of total alcohol, distilled spirits, and beer and wine; unemployment rate; and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) membership rate on total and male and female suicide mortality rates in Ontario between 1968 and 1991., Method: We studied the impact of alcohol consumption levels, AA membership rates, and unemployment rates on suicide mortality rates in Ontario from 1968 to 1991. Time series analyses with Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) modeling were applied to total and male and female suicide rates. The analyses performed included total alcohol consumption, distilled spirits consumption, beer consumption, and wine consumption. Missing AA membership data were interpolated with cubic splines., Results: Total alcohol consumption and consumption of each of beer, distilled spirits, and wine were significantly and positively related to total and female suicide mortality rates. AA membership rates were negatively related to total and female suicide rates. Although data for males did not reach significance (except for the relationship between wine consumption and suicide rate), the direction of effects was consistent with that observed for female and total suicide rates. Unemployment rates were positively related to male and total suicide rates in some models., Conclusions: These data confirm the important relationships between per capita consumption measures and suicide mortality rates seen by previous investigators. Additionally, the results for AA membership rates are consistent with the hypothesis that AA membership and treatment for misuse of alcohol can exert beneficial effects observable at the population level.
- Published
- 2006
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
12. Cirrhosis mortality in Ontario: effects of alcohol consumption and Alcoholics Anonymous participation.
- Author
-
Mann RE, Smart RG, Rush BR, Zalcman RF, and Suurvali H
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Female, Humans, Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic mortality, Male, Middle Aged, Ontario epidemiology, Alcohol Drinking epidemiology, Alcoholics Anonymous, Liver Cirrhosis mortality
- Abstract
Aims: We test the hypotheses that cirrhosis mortality rates are positively associated with per capita alcohol consumption and negatively associated with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) membership rates., Design: The impact of alcohol consumption levels and AA membership rates on cirrhosis mortality rates in Ontario from 1968 to 1989 were examined. Time-series analyses with ARIMA modelling were applied to male and female cirrhosis mortality rates in three age groups: 15-44, 45-64 and 65 + years. Missing AA membership data were interpolated using two methods: linear splines and cubic splines., Findings: In general, cirrhosis mortality rates were positively associated with alcohol consumption and negatively associated with AA membership. For some age and gender combinations, these effects were not statistically significant., Conclusions: The limits of this study include restrictions in the length of series available and in the ability to infer causality. Despite these limitations, these findings are consistent with previous research demonstrating that per capita consumption is a strong determinant of cirrhosis mortality rates, and also that higher levels of AA membership can reduce cirrhosis mortality rates.
- Published
- 2005
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
13. Do drinking surveys predict changes in population-based alcohol problem indicators?
- Author
-
Smart RG, Suurvali HM, and Mann RE
- Subjects
- Data Collection, Humans, Ontario epidemiology, Alcohol Drinking epidemiology, Alcohol-Related Disorders epidemiology, Health Surveys
- Abstract
We examined per capita alcohol consumption and survey-based measures of alcohol use in Ontario in relation to indicators of alcohol problems for the period 1977-1997. Per capita consumption and percentage of daily drinkers were significantly related to problem indicators, but percentage of drinkers and percentage of heavy drinkers were not. Of the measures we examined, per capita consumption was the strongest indicator of alcohol problems.
- Published
- 2000
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
14. Do increased levels of drug abuse treatment lead to fewer drug-related problems?
- Author
-
Smart RG, Mann R, and Suurvali H
- Subjects
- Adult, Crime statistics & numerical data, Cross-Sectional Studies, Humans, Incidence, Ontario epidemiology, Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care, Social Problems statistics & numerical data, Substance-Related Disorders epidemiology, Health Services Accessibility statistics & numerical data, Illicit Drugs, Psychotropic Drugs, Social Problems prevention & control, Substance Abuse Treatment Centers supply & distribution, Substance-Related Disorders prevention & control
- Abstract
It has been argued that increased levels of treatment for drug abuse are effective in reducing the levels of drug problems. During the 1980s in Ontario levels of treatment increased considerably. More treatment facilities were opened, and the number of drug abuse cases increased by a factor of about seven. It was expected that drug-related problems (mortality, morbidity, and convictions) would decrease, as happened for alcohol problems when alcohol treatment levels increased. However, the results were inconsistent. Hospital separations for drug problems decreased in the late 1970s and then increased in the 1980s. However, deaths from drug psychoses and drug dependency showed an opposite trend. Convictions for cocaine offences increased while those for narcotics, LSD, and hallucinogenic drugs showed a substantial decline from the early 1980s to the present. Significant negative correlations (suggestive of a beneficial impact) were found between treatment rates and three drug-problem measures (deaths rates from drug psychoses and drug dependence, other drug-related deaths, and convictions under the Food and Drug Act); however, a significant positive correlation was found between treatment rates and Narcotic Control Act convictions. Thus, although some of the predicted negative relationships between treatment rates and drug problems were observed, the correlations did not provide a consistent picture of the effects of increased drug treatment. More research is needed to identify better indicators of drug problems and monitor the factors that influence them.
- Published
- 1997
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
Catalog
Discovery Service for Jio Institute Digital Library
For full access to our library's resources, please sign in.