Liaison Officer Research Articles

Examining Press Conference and Press Release Accounts of Canadian Police Shootings

Little research examines the communication work that public police do following police shootings. Based on an analysis of 85 press releases, press conferences, and media interviews after police shootings in Canada spanning 2010–2020, we analyse narrative techniques used in police communications. Contributing to literature on police image management, we examine patterns in these communications, and we also identify silences and absences. We argue police press conferences and press releases after police shootings are less oriented toward misinformation or agenda-setting and more toward risk aversion. Sixty-two percent of communications in our sample used “euphemisms,” which obfuscate elements of use of force, while 31% of communications were “silent” and provided no justification for or information on the shootings. For these reasons, these communications may contribute to a sense of injustice felt by families of the victims of police shootings. Our findings may give pause to police administrators and media liaison officers who should consider what message such risk-averse communications send to families of victims, as well as to the public. In conclusion, we reflect on what these findings mean for literature on police image management.

A cluster-randomized trial study on effectiveness of health education based intervention (HEBI) in improving flood disaster preparedness among community in Selangor, Malaysia: a study protocol

BackgroundFlood disaster preparedness among the community seldom received attention. Necessary intervention must be taken to prevent the problem. Health Education Based Intervention (HEBI) was developed following the Health Belief Model, particularly in improving flood disaster preparedness among the community. The main objective of this study is to assess the effect of HEBI on improving flood disaster preparedness among the community in Selangor. This study aims to develop, implement, and evaluate the impact of health education-based intervention (HEBI) based on knowledge, skills, and preparedness to improve flood disaster preparedness among the community in Selangor.MethodA single-blind cluster randomized controlled trial will conduct at six districts in Selangor. Randomly selected respondents who fulfilled the inclusion criteria will be invited to participate in the study. Health education module based on Health Believed Theory will be delivered via health talks and videos coordinated by liaison officers. Data at three-time points at baseline, immediate, and 3 months post-intervention will be collected. A validated questionnaire will assess participants’ background characteristics, knowledge, skill, and preparedness on disaster preparedness and perception towards disaster. Descriptive and inferential statistics will be applied for data analysis using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25. Longitudinal correlated data on knowledge, skills, preparedness, and perception score at baseline, immediate post-intervention, and 6 months post-intervention will be analyzed using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE).DiscussionIt is expected that knowledge, skills, preparedness, and flood disaster perception score are more significant in the intervention group than the control group, indicating the Health Education Based Intervention (HEBI).Trial registrationThai Clinical Trial TCTR20200202002.

Messages for Good Practice: Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officers and Hospital Social Workers

ABSTRACT This article reports the findings of a study about the work of Aboriginal hospital liaison officers (AHLOs) and hospital social workers in Victoria. Guided by an Aboriginal Critical Reference Group, in-depth interviews were held with nine AHLOs, 10 social workers, and three Aboriginal health policy and program informants. Telephone focus groups held with study participants confirmed an analysis of the narratives of good practice and themes identified by participants. Focusing on the strengths of collaborative work, six key principles for good practice were defined. These principles relate to nonbiomedical knowledge and skills that non-Aboriginal social workers and AHLOs require to work well with Aboriginal patients. Implications for training and further research are discussed. IMPLICATIONS Similar elements of shared good practice between AHLOs and social workers were identified across a range of hospital types in Victoria suggesting that this is an important area of social work practice to understand and develop. The relationship and practice between AHLOs and social workers were previously underexplored, and the strengths and challenges of their working together practice have the potential to positively impact the hospital stay and health outcomes of Aboriginal patients. This study calls for opportunities to further strengthen and facilitate the ongoing, dynamic, and positive relationships between hospital social workers and AHLOs. Working together, they contribute to the creation of cultural safety and care for Aborignal patients and their families.

Methodologically materialising hate: Incorporating participatory design methods within qualitative research on crime and victimisation

The use of ‘design’ within qualitative research on crime and victimisation, and within the social disciplines more generally, has seen very little commentary or discussion. ‘Design’ is referred to throughout as the professional and scholarly practice rather than the ‘research design’, that is, the practical plan for the methods used to generate data. Design in this former sense has historically drawn on both arts and engineering to give form to garments, products and visual communication. This article presents a case study, followed by a reflective discussion, of a research project in which research through design methods were used to construct two focus groups involving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people and police liaison officers as part of a hate crime project. Participants were asked to design reporting devices that would respond to hateful behaviour. Through the design process, participants materialised their own experiences of hate and embodied emotional responses to those experiences. The authors argue that there are methodological, ideological and practical benefits for incorporating research through design methods within qualitative research on crime and victimisation. Design offers a way of critically and creatively reimagining how research methods are understood and utilised, challenging how criminological methodologies traditionally operate.

Incident command system: Situation unit leader and county public health liaison roles during the federal medical station, Santa Clara, during the COVID-19 response

Federal medical stations (FMS) and alternative care sites are used to provide surge capability and capacity for short-term inpatients with healthcare needs that cannot be accommodated or provided for in a general shelter or general acute care facilities. In March and April 2020, an FMS was deployed to support the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in the ‘hotspot’ of Santa Clara County, CA. This paper describes how the flexibility of the incident command system allowed for the positions of situation unit leader and liaison officer to be combined at the FMS, supporting the effectiveness and efficiency of the FMS through comprehensive situational awareness, information-sharing and collaboration. This method of combining closely related roles is not suitable for all healthcare emergencies, but as this paper demonstrates, it is well worth considering in circumstances where competences and capacity align.

International Police Liaison Officers: An Examination of the Experiences of New Zealand Police International Liaison Officers

AbstractSince the early 1970s, international police liaison officers have been a pivotal resource in building and maintaining relationships and cooperation between the police and other law enforcement organizations. Their role and their contribution to investigating transnational crime and terrorism have not been examined. This research includes a survey of 18 serving police officers, who were, or had been appointed to international liaison posts, by the New Zealand Police. The participants claimed that their role was to establish networks, gather information and intelligence followed by undertaking inquiries in relation to criminal and drug investigations. To a lesser extent, the participants thought that the purpose of their role was to counter terrorism, undertake immigration inquiries, and to attend social events.

Deployment of combined technologies to smallholder farmers in Kenya: TAAT Clearinghouse technical report series 002

Deployment of combined technologies to smallholder farmers in Kenya: TAAT Clearinghouse technical report series 002

II. FINDS REPORTED UNDER THE PORTABLE ANTIQUITIES SCHEME

The Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) was established in 1997 as an initiative to record archaeological objects found by members of the general public. Initially set up in pilot form, in 2003 it was extended to the whole of England and Wales. Surveys of Roman period finds recorded by the PAS have been published in Britannia from 2004 onwards. This 18th annual report first briefly summarises the general character of Roman finds reported in 2020. As last year, we no longer present artefact and PAS record numbers in detail by county, since consistent regional differences in artefact frequencies recorded by the PAS are well documented in the first 16 reports. The majority of the report comprises the publication of significant individual and groups of artefacts recorded by Finds Liaison Officers (FLOs).

Cross-Cultural Interpreting With Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Patients.

The aim of this study is to investigate ways in which interpreting practice in health care settings can be further developed to better facilitate communication with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. Data used include 15 hours of transcribed audio recording from semi-structured interviews with interpreters and Aboriginal Liaison Officers who discuss their perceived experiences of interpreting in medical settings. They offer insights into how language is used to resolve communication differences that may confound the interpreting process and in doing so identify roles interpreters assume and discourse patterns that emerge in interpreting practice. As evidenced through the findings, provisions need to be made for cultural differences. Interpreters report they have to "unpack" medical terminology and explain such terminology and related concepts in tangible terms to ensure patient understanding. Other strategies include talking about taboo topics using culturally appropriate terms, avoiding certain question-answer routines, and being aware of nonverbal aspects of communication.

Zero Healthcare-Associated COVID-19

Background: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic tests the healthcare system in many ways. The scarcity of resources poses challenges to infection prevention (IP) practices. We describe our experience in managing such scarcity in our care of COVID-19 patients in the hospital as well as community settings. Methods: The hospital pandemic plan traditionally included only plans for healthcare delivery management within the hospital. However, on March 25, 2020, a decision was made by the Ministry of Health to set up swab isolation (SIFs) and community care facilities (CCFs) to meet the growing demand for isolation beds for migrant workers infected by COVID-19. The CCFs were located in convention halls and resort centers and the SIFs were located in facilities previously functioning as hotels. Mobile medical teams were activated to run clinics at the dormitories housing 200,000 migrant workers. The IP team of an acute- and tertiary-care hospital in Singapore was activated to oversee IP measures at facilities managed by medical teams from the hospital, with the goal of zero healthcare-associated COVID-19 cases among staff. Two IP leaders were set up to oversee the IP program at 8 dormitories, 4 SIFs, and 2 CCFs. In total, 12 IP staff and 15 infection prevention liaison officers (IPLOs) were deployed from 2 acute-care hospitals and 3 specialty centers to conduct training in hand hygiene and the use of personal protective equipment, and to conduct daily audits of compliance to practice guidelines. Education on personal hygiene was also given to patients in these facilities in at least 7 languages. In the SIFs and dormitories, IPLOs were recruited to perform daily audits and feedback to the IP team on issues related to IP at the sites. Results: Since our first COVID-19 patient on January 23, 2020, there has been no report of healthcare-associated COVID-19 within the hospital nor among the medical, administrative, and support service staff working in the external operation facilities. Daily audits showed an average of 99.4% compliance to IP guidelines. Conclusions: IPLOs or IP champions play a significant role in ensuring compliance to IP guidelines. This compliance allows the IP professional to focus on the evaluation of the IP program, managing IP consultations, and planning and implementation of the IP program in nontraditional healthcare settings. The key success factors of the program included the ability to contextualize the planning and implementation of IP programs in various settings, strong leadership support, cohesive teamwork, and effective communication at various levels.Funding: NoDisclosures: None

A Study on How to Expand the Role of MILITARY Mobilization Forces in the Event of a National Disaster -Focusing on the Local Government and Regional Reserve Forces-

Purpose: This pater proposes a plan to expand the role of Regional Reserve Forces(RRF) as a key mobilization force for regional defense, in the event of a national disaster, and to more effectively support the disaster re-sponse of the local community. It also proposes a desirable policy direction for the advancement of cooperative governance of local communities on disasters toward international cooperative security against non-traditional threats. Method: Firstly, it analyzed laws and regulations related to disaster and RRF, and then reviewed the reality of the organization and formation of Regional Defense Battalions(RDB), Local Government’s Disaster & Safety Countermeasures Headquarters(DSCHQ), Defense Integrated Disaster Management Information System(DID-MIS), and compensation costs, etc. In addition, the analysis of Disaster Mobilization cases and the opinions of experts were reflected. Results: ‘The disaster mobilization of RRF must be clearly and concretely presented in relevant laws and reg-ulations. Mobilization requirements give flexibility to mobilize from the beginning of the disaster, but the dead-line must be strictly specified. If Part-time Reservist are employed as liaison officers, disaster officers, and military affairs cooperation officers of local governments, it is possible to expect not only the disaster management of local governments but also the development of the Regional Integrated Defense System(RIDS). Conclusion: One of the important missions of the reserve forces is to protect the lives and property of the people from disasters and to support the local community. The disaster management of local governments in the future will require more military support. Therefore, the disaster management should be given high priority to national policy. Furthermore, a disaster management agenda that can lead the international community should be drawn up, and the role and contribution of the RRF to the international community should be sought.

Considering difference: clinician insights into providing equal and equitable burns care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children

ObjectiveTo better understand issues driving quality in burn care related to equity of outcomes and equality of provision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. MethodsSeventy‐six interviews with team members who provide care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in six paediatric burn units across five Australian jurisdictions were completed. Interface research methodology within a qualitative design guided data collection and analysis. ResultsThree themes were identified: i) Burn team members who identify the requirement to meet the specific needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and deliver differential care; ii) Burn team members who believe in equal care, but deliver differential care based on the specific needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children; and iii) Burn team members who see little need for provision of differential care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and rather, value the provision of equal care for all. ConclusionBurn team members conflate equitable and equal care, which has implications for the delivery of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Equitable care is needed to address disparities in post‐burn outcomes, and this requires clinicians, healthcare services and relevant system structures to work coherently and intentionally to reflect these needs. Implications for public healthChanges in health policy, the embedding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander liaison officers in burn care teams and systems that prioritise critical reflexive practice are fundamental to improving care.

Joint international military exercises of NATO countries... within the implementation of programs supporting peace and security in Ukraine

This article considers the issue of annexation of the Ukrainian Crimea peninsular territory by the RussianFederation and further deployment of the secessionist movement in the southeastern regions of Ukraine thatsubsequently developed into a military conflict in the east of Ukraine. The research analysed the directionsand character of the cooperation between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Alliance military units. Thelevel of practical interaction within the framework of existing NATO-Ukraine bilateral partnership programs,including military trainings, was also identified. The chronology of transformation of organizational formsof Ukrainian army’s presence in the east of Ukraine from the Anti-Terrorist Operation to the Joint ForcesOperation and the role of NATO in this process were also considered. The elements of the North AtlanticAlliance’s influence on the reform of the Ukrainian army were identified directly following the requirementsand standards defined by the Organization. The role of NATO’s Liaison Office, located in Kyiv, Ukraine, andthe Center for Security and Information Processing was outlined. Particular attention was paid to the issueof counteracting cybercrimes and protecting the state’s information systems from external influences. Inparticular, reference was made to the protection of the state’s critical infrastructure elements (nuclear powerplants, strategic state-owned enterprises, etc.), including electronic registers of citizens e-lists and the state’sbanking system databases. The activities of the NATO Cybercrime Operations Centers and the establishmentof similar institutions in Ukraine were also researched. The maritime component of cooperation betweenUkraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was analysed, taking into account the aggravation ofthe situation in Azov-Black Sea region during 2018, associated with the passage of Ukrainian warships of theAzov Fleet of the Naval Forces of Ukraine through the Kerch Strait which is under the control of the occupyingtroops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. As a result, so-called border conflicts were causedleading to the capture of Ukrainian warships and sailors by Russians in November 2018.

Culturally Informed, Codesigned, Supportive Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People With Cancer and Their Families

ABSTRACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience significant disparities in accessing cancer care and in cancer outcomes when compared with non-Indigenous Australians. Social workers and Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officers from an inner-city hospital partnered with local Aboriginal organisations to develop, implement, and evaluate a culturally informed model of supportive cancer care. The initiative adopted an “appreciative inquiry” approach and engagement with Indigenous stakeholders, drawing on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Quality Improvement Framework and Toolkit for Hospital Staff (AQIFTHS, 2015). Using a process of codesign, strategies were developed with consumers to address the social and cultural determinants of health across the cancer journey. The new evidence-based model of care incorporated culturally informed identification of needs, culturally appropriate engagement, and maintenance of respectful connections to develop codesigned care plans with tailored information and provide practical support and advocacy. Findings illustrate the complex challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with cancer as well as their strengths. AQIFTHS processes and model of care provide guidance for social workers and other health professionals seeking to partner with stakeholders to promote health equity and improve supportive cancer care in accordance with optimal care guidelines and national quality standards. IMPLICATIONS Supportive care needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with cancer are often complex and multifaceted, but links with community and culture are noted strengths. Social workers in Australian health settings have an important role in improving access and promoting a culturally responsive model of care for this population. Appropriate support can only occur when it is codesigned with the individual patient and their family members, Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officers, and community.

California's Stakeholder Matrix: A Liaison Tool for the first 96 hours of Response

ABSTRACT Research on crisis and risk communication continues to illustrate the need for and benefits of early and sustained stakeholder engagement during disasters, both natural and manmade. The California citizenry is deeply committed to environmental protection and expects to “engage” with their government on policy development and environmental solutions. Stakeholders expect a high-level of government transparency, driving the need for engagement even more during emergency responses such as oil spills. Within the Incident Command System (ICS), it is the responsibility of the Liaison Officer (LOFR) to coordinate and share information with stakeholders. A review of “After Action Reports” and “lessons learned” from oil spills, both nationally and within California, point to the continued need for strong stakeholder engagement by the LOFR and has become a priority of California's lead oil spill response agency, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR). Building off stakeholder engagement tools found in crises and risk communication literature and in Incident Command System job aids, OSPR crafted a stakeholder matrix that was readily scalable, easy to use, and easy to translate to Incident Commanders and other Command Staff during response. This matrix is a template of simple inputs, allowing stakeholders and engagement strategies to be identified, grouped, and prioritized. It is intended to be a planning tool for the first 24–96 hours, a precious time in a response. It is often too early to expect the LOFR to have completed a stakeholder engagement plan, yet this time is critical to initiating early stakeholder communication that will set the tone for the response. This matrix serves as the initial plan for the LOFR. This paper will describe the development of this tool, its evolution, and its use. It will also highlight feedback from exercises and response partners. It will describe the flexibility and scalability, and considerations for broader applications.

Editorial introductions.

Editorial introductions.

A Framework to Guide the Implementation of Best Practice Clinical Learning Environments in Community General Practice: Australia.

Clinical education/training is increasingly being expanded to community general practice settings (primary care clinics led by doctors). This plays an important role in developing a skilled “primary-care ready” workforce. However, there is limited information to guide the implementation of high-quality learning environments suitable for the range of general practices and clinical learners they oversee. We aimed to develop a consensus-based framework to address this. A co-design participatory action research method involved working with stakeholders to agree a project plan, collect and interpret data and endorse a final framework. As a starting point, an initial draft framework was adapted from an existing framework, the Best Practice Clinical Learning Environment (BPCLE) Framework. We gathered feedback about this from a national GP Supervisor Liaison Officer Network (SLON) (experienced GP clinical supervisors) during a 90-minute face-to-face focus group. They rated their agreement with the relevance of objectives and elements, advising on clear terminology and rationale for including/excluding various components. The resulting framework was refined and re-tested with the SLON and wider GP educational stakeholders until a final graphically designed version was endorsed. The resulting “GP Clinical Learning Environment” (GPCLE) Framework is applicable for planning and benchmarking best practice learning environments in general practice.

Using Analog Models based in Physical Systems for Technology Management Processes

The empirical management work done in research, development and innovation projects (R & D + I) conducted at the liaison and technology transfer office of a public Institute of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM, from Spanish), allowed us to identify discrete management processes. The objective of this work was to present some of these processes, through the elaboration of pragmatic analog models based in physical systems. Models presented can help students, novices and other professionals to understand the way in which these processes are carried out. This eventually will make their learning more efficient and improve the way in which they address the management problems. We conclude that by complementing the professional and individual empirical views with technical, organizational and societal perspectives, it is possible to obtain useful knowledge from building and developing analog models which represent reality. Finally, complementing the models with a good management theoretical dose will provide good technology management practitioners for all kind of institutions.

Enhanced Primary Health Care Intervention: Perceived Sustainability and Challenges Among Implementers.

Purpose:This study aimed to assess and explore perceived sustainability and challenges of the intervention among Health Care Providers (HCPs) who were involved.Methods:The study applied mixed-method embedded design to analyze both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative approach was used to evaluate sustainability perception from 20 intervention clinics via self-reported assessment form whereas qualitative data were obtained through in-depth interview (IDI) and focus group discussions (FGDs) 14 health care professionals participated in IDI session and were either care coordinators, liaison officers (LOs)/clinic managers, or medical officers-in-charge for the clinic’s intervention. Nine FGDs conducted comprised 58 HCPs from various categories.Results:HCPs from all the 20 clinics involved responded to each listed Enhanced Primary Healthcare (EnPHC) intervention components as being implemented but the perceived sustainability of these implementation varies between them. Quantitative feedback showed sustainable interventions included risk stratification, non-communicable disease (NCD) screening form, referral within clinics and hospitals, family health team (FHT), MTAC services and mechanisms and medical adherence status. Qualitative feedback highlighted implementation of each intervention components comes with its challenges, and most of it are related to inadequate resources and facilities in clinic. HCPs made initiatives to adapt based on clinical setting to implement the interventions at best level possible, whereby this seems to be one of the core values for sustainability.Conclusion:Overall perceptions among HCPs on sustainability of EnPHC interventions are highly influenced by current experiences with existing resources. Components perceived to have inadequate resources are seen as a challenge to sustain. It’s crucial for stakeholders to understand implications affecting implementation process if concerns raised are not addressed and allocation of needed resources to ensure overall successfulness and long term sustainability.

A quasi-experimental trial on effectiveness of health education module (IPVP) on intimate partner violence prevention among girls at shelter homes: A study protocol

BackgroundIntimate partner violence (IPV) is among major public health concerns and a violation of human rights. The global lifetime prevalence of physical and/or sexual IPV among all ever-partnered women was 30%. Statistics in Malaysia demonstrate that IPV constitutes the most common form of violence against women with a doubled number of reported cases in 10 years (from 2006 to 2016). Adolescents and young adults, particularly those exposed to prior abuse, are at high risk of experiencing IPV and will significantly benefit from early intervention programs. ObjectiveThe study aims to develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of health education module on knowledge and attitude on IPV, conflict resolution skills and the likelihood of help-seeking behaviour among girls at shelter homes. MethodA quasi-experimental pilot study will be conducted which involved six children's shelter homes in six states across Malaysia. Randomly selected respondents who fulfilled the inclusion criteria will be invited to participate in the study. Health education module based on Information-Motivation-Behaviour Theory will be delivered via recorded health talks and videos coordinated by liaison officers. Data at three-time points at baseline, immediate and three months post-intervention will be collected via a self-administered online survey. A validated questionnaire will be used to assess patients' demographic details, history of prior abuse, knowledge and attitude on IPV, conflict resolution skills and the likelihood of help-seeking behaviour. Descriptive and inferential statistics will be applied for data analysis using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25. Longitudinal correlated data on knowledge and attitude on IPV, conflict resolution skills and the likelihood of help-seeking behaviour at pre-intervention, immediate post and three months post-intervention will be analysed using Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM). OutcomeIt is expected that knowledge and attitude on IPV, conflict resolution skills and likelihood of help seeking behaviour score is greater in intervention group than control group, indicating the effectiveness of the health education module, IPVP.