Lifestyle Issues

Research continues within the department on the effects of unhealthy lifestyle choices. Below are some samples of studies already published or still ongoing

Drugs and Alcohol

Cognitive behavioural coping skills therapy in cocaine using methadone maintained patients: a pilot randomised controlled trial Catherine D. Darker, Brion Sweeney, Haytham El Hassan, Alan Kelly, Bobby P. Smyth and Joe Barry Heroin Addict Relat Clin Probl 2012; 14(3): 101-110 Further Information
Psychosocial interventions for benzodiazepine harmful use, abuse or dependence (Protocol) Darker CD, Sweeney BP, Barry JM, Farrell MF The Cochrane Library 2012, Issue 2 Further Information
Non-attendance at counselling therapy in cocaine-using methadone-maintained patients: lessons learnt from an abandoned randomised controlled trial C. Darker, B. Sweeney, H. El Hassan, A. Kelly, S. O’ Connor, B. Smyth & J. Barry Ir J Med Sci DOI 10.1007/s11845-011-0803-4 Further Information
Brief interventions are effective in reducing alcohol consumption in opiate-dependent methadone-maintained patients: Results from an implementation study. Catherine D. Darker, Brion P. Sweeney, Haytham O. El Hassan, Bobby P. Smyth, Jo-Hanna H. Ivers & Joe M. Barry Drug and Alcohol Review (2011) DOI: 10.1111/j.1465-3362.2011.00349.x Further Information
A National Evaluation of ‘The National Drug Rehabilitation Framework’. Joe Barry & Jo-Hanna Ivers Ongoing Further Information
Pathways to Rehabilitation: a cohort study of Opiate-dependent Patients Post-detoxification Jo-Hanna Ivers, Joe Barry, Thomas Frodl & Brion Sweeney Ongoing Further Information
A qualitative study of the perceived impact of a community mobilisation intervention to reduce alcohol consumption amongst amateur sportsmen Catherine D. Darker, Jo-Hanna Ivers, Anne O’Farrell, Rosaleen Dolan, Nazih Eldin and Shane P. Allwright (In Press Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, Cambridge Press). Further Information
A feasibility study of alcohol intake in pregnancy in the primary care setting Tom O’Dowd, Joe Barry, Aisling Ni Shuilleabhain, Catherine Darker IJMS in press Further Information
Evaluation of an Alcohol Intervention Programme in a sporting setting: a controlled trial. Shane Allwright, Anne O’Farrell, Susan Kenny, (HSE-NE) O'Farrell A. Alcohol Intervention Programme in a sporting setting: a cluster randomised trial to evaluate a setting-based alcohol intervention programme in the GAA [dissertation]. Dublin; University of Dublin, 2010. Anne O'Farrell, Shane Allwright, Susan Kenny, Gerry Roddy, Nazih Eldin, Alcohol use among amateur sportsmen in Ireland, BMC Research Notes, 3, (1), 2010, p313- Further Information
All Ireland Bar Workers Study Shane Allwright, Gillian Paul, Alan Kelly (In collaboration with teams from UCC, NUIG, SJH and Western Investing for Health Partnership Northern Ireland) Allwright S, Paul G, Greiner B, Mullally B, Pursell L, Kelly A, Bonner B, D’Eath M, McConnell B, McLaughlin J, O’Donovan D, O’Kane E, Perry I. Legislation for smoke-free workplaces and health of bar workers in Ireland: before and after study. BMJ 2005; 331(7525):117-1120. Further Information

Physical Exercise

The systematic development of a brief intervention to increase walking in the general public using an "extended" Theory of Planned Behaviour     Further Information
Promotion of physical activity in primary care: knowledge and practice of general practitioners and physiotherapists Emer M. Barrett & Catherine D. Darker & Juliette Hussey J Public Health DOI 10.1007/s10389-012-0512-0 Further Information