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Aim To examine the impact of extended trading permits (ETPs) for licensed hotels in Perth, Western Australia on impaired driver breath alcohol levels (BALs) between July 1993 and June 1997. Design Forty-three hotels obtained ETPs allowing later closing hours and 130 maintained standard closing time (controls). Impaired driver BALs were linked to ‘last place of drinking’ hotels. Before and after period BALs of drivers who last drank at ETP or non-ETP hotels were compared by time of day of apprehension and sex, controlling for age. Findings Impaired female drivers apprehended between 10.01 p.m. and 12 midnight (before closing time) had significantly lower BALs after drinking at ETP hotels. Male drivers aged 18–25 years and apprehended between 12.01 and 2.00 a.m. after drinking at ETP hotels had significantly higher BALs than drivers who drank at non-ETP hotels. Conclusions At peak times for alcohol-related offences, late trading is associated with higher BALs among those drinkers most at risk of alcohol-related harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compares the measures of alcohol consumption to variations in rates of alcohol-related harm across the state of Western Australia. Estimation of total and rates of alcohol consumption; Alcohol-related morbidity; Regression analyses with restricted controls for sociodemographic variation; Key demographic, alcohol consumption and harm variables.

A household survey of 1160 Western Australian adults was used as a basis for exploring drinkers' reports about the settings in which they drank alcohol and theft experiences of alcohol related harm. Of the 873 drinkers identified, 7.9% had experienced some form of acute alcohol related harm over the previous 3 months. Violent incidents were the most common of these and drink-driving offences the least. Such harm was significantly more likely among drinkers who variously drank 'heavily' were male, single, under 25 years of age and/or who drank on licensed premises. Regression analyses revealed that even when demographic characteristics of the drinkers were controlled for licensed premises were significantly more likely to be the settings used prior to harm occurring. Barstaff continuing to serve 'obviously intoxicated' customers was the most powerful predictor of harm. Premises which offered discounted drinks or permitted crowding also tended to be those where intoxication was permitted but these variables were not directly associated with an increased risk of harm. These findings lend further weight to the view that prevention efforts should focus on licensed drinking environments and, in particular, the practice of continuing to serve obviously intoxicated customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A measure of the risk of licensed premises having customers involved in road traffic accidents and drink-driving offences was utilized in order to identify seven 'High Risk' and eight 'Low Risk' premises in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia. This measure, or 'Risk Ratio, was defined as the ratio of incidents of alcohol-related harm to an estimate of on-premises alcohol sales for a particular establishment. A study was conducted to test the hypothesis that a High Risk status would be associated with greater levels of customer intoxication. Interviews concerning drinking behavior and breathalyzer readings were collected from 74.2% of 414 customers exiting from the chosen premises between 8 p.m. and midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. High Risk premises had three times more customers whose readings were in excess of 0.15 mg/ml (p < 0.01). The proportion of customers with BAL's above 0.15 correlated strongly with the premises' Risk Ratio (r = 0.63, p < 0.01). There were also significantly more patrons from High than from Low Risk establishments who were rated as appearing moderately or severely intoxicated but refused to be interviewed or breath-tested. It is argued that these results support the need for strategies which aim to reduce very high levels of intoxication on licensed premises in order to reduce alcohol-related accidents, injuries and offences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in 1987 to measure the difference in caries experience in schoolchildren between a fluoridated (0.8 mg/L F-) and a non-fluoridated region (0.1-0.4 mg/L F-). 3436 children aged 5-15 yr were examined. Children in the non-fluoridated region had a higher caries experience than those in the fluoridated region. Mean differences were 1.06 dfs (95% CI = 0.66 to 1.47, P less than 0.001) and 0.48 DFS (95% CI = 0.23 to 0.72, P less than 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounding factors (fluoride tablet consumption, socioeconomic status, number of fissure-sealed surfaces, and mobility between regions) the relative risk of not being caries-free in the non-fluoridated region compared with the fluoridated region was 1.43 (95% CI = 1.21-1.70, P less than 0.0001) for the primary dentition and 1.39 (95% CI = 1.18-1.63, P less than 0.0001) for the permanent dentition.

A prospective study was undertaken to determine the annual incidence of trauma to the anterior permanent teeth of children enrolled in the Western Australian School Dental Service. The population comprised 66,500 6-12-yr-old children. 1.66 children and 2.05 teeth per 100 children received trauma. Of the children incurring trauma the incidence per 100 erupted teeth was 11.7. 80.5% of children traumatised one tooth only per incident, but 35% of all teeth that were traumatised involved trauma to two or more teeth. 88% of all traumatised teeth were central incisors. Girls received proportionately more trauma to the maxillary dental arch than did boys. Fracture involving both the enamel and the dentine was the most commonly recorded class of trauma (42.7% of cases). There was no obvious pattern to the overall distribution of trauma through the week or the year. Approximately one-third of all traumata occurred at school, one-third at home, and the remainder elsewhere. Trauma to the maxillary dental arch occurred most frequently at home, while trauma to more than one tooth (multiple trauma) occurred most commonly at school. Trauma incidence resulting from falling or being pushed was almost twice as high among girls as among boys. Bicycle accidents caused a higher than average rate of multiple trauma and of pulpal exposure.

An epidemiological survey of the oral health needs of 1144 elderly patients was conducted in hospitals and nursing homes in Western Australia. Patients were categorised as being either totally dependent (requiring intensive nursing care) or partially dependent (requiring nursing supervision). Of all patients the mean age was 80.2 yr, 70% were women, 74% were edentulous, and 70% needed some form of prosthetic care. Of all dentate patients 56% needed dental scaling (and 17% needed complex periodontal treatment), 47% needed some restorative treatment (with a mean need per patient of 1.1 coronal restorations and 0.4 radicular restoration), and 29% needed one or more dental extractions (with a mean need of 1.4 extractions per patient). Partially dependent patients had statistically significant higher needs for prosthetic work than did totally dependent patients, while the converse applied to extraction needs, but in all other aspects the needs of the two categories of patient did not differ significantly.