The purpose of this study was to describe the relative frequency, pattern, and mechanism of surfing injuries. Descriptive data of surfing injuries was collected by using a Web site-based interactive multiple choice survey. Data was collected from May 1998 to August 1999. Completed surveys were obtained from 1,348 individuals reporting 1,237 acute injuries and 477 chronic injuries. Lacerations accounted for 42% of all acute injuries, contusions 13%, sprains/strains 12%, and fractures 8%. Thirty-seven percent of acute injuries were to the lower extremity, and 37% to the head and neck. Fifty-five percent of injuries resulted from contact with ones own board, 12% from another surfer's board, and 17% from the sea floor. Sixty-seven percent of acute surfing injuries are caused by board contact. Older surfers, more expert surfers, and those surfing large waves have a higher relative risk for significant injury. Equipment modifications are suggested that may decrease the risk for injury.
Personal control and responsibility are key themes in the therapeutic use of 'motivational interviewing'. This popular method of counselling has suggested that clients need to believe they have a significant degree of control over their behaviour if they are to make progress. Using a well validated psychological test on locus of control of behaviour, our research sought to establish whether active misusers really believed they had less personal control than non-misusers. To establish this a sample of misusers was tested and compared with three diverse, comparable groups. Possible confounding factors such as age, sex and class were controlled for. T tests established a significant difference between the active misusers and the other sampled groups. Further, a regression analysis of variance, calculated to explain the differing external scores offered no reasonable explanation as far as age, sex and class were concerned. Alternatively, self diagnosed substance misuse accounted for 23% of the variation in scores. We concluded, therefore, that high externality scores are a good indicator of active misusing behaviour and that beliefs about personal control are important to address, if one is to increase the chances of a positive client outcome.
Attempts to apply complexity theory to public management have focused on the dynamic systems environment. This accepts that in public systems there are many externalities, unstable processes, and indeterminate outcomes. Resulting practices have focused on system resilience, patterns of practice, and adaptability. This article revisits complex systems and theorizes public organizations as dynamic systems of public values. The rigour of such an original approach requires a juxtaposition of values with complexity theory. Theorizing value systems in public policy implies they are a key element of complexity and provides a significant development for understanding stable and unstable dynamics in public organizations
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