TY - JOUR
T1 - Drink and drug driving education in the Northern Territory
T2 - A qualitative study illustrating issues of access and inequity
AU - Wright, Cassandra J.C.
AU - Miller, Mia
AU - Wallace, Tessa
AU - Clifford, Sarah
AU - Black, Oliver
AU - Tari-Keresztes, Noemi
AU - Smith, James
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded by the Northern Territory Government Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics. CW is supported by an NHMRC Early Career Fellowship. SC is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Postgraduate Scholarship. We would like to acknowledge Anthony Merlino for his assistance in the fieldwork.
PY - 2022/8
Y1 - 2022/8
N2 - Objective: In the Northern Territory, people who commit drink driving offences are required to undertake an approved course or treatment to be eligible for a driver's licence, however, course uptake is low. We investigated barriers to program uptake. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 24 program attendees, course providers and government stakeholders. We used a framework analysis. Results: Program coverage in remote areas was limited, leading to inequitable access. The course cost affected uptake and exacerbated existing financial hardship. There were mixed views among government stakeholders on the program. While some held a view that offenders should ‘pay the price’, some also saw the user-pays model and high program cost as a clear barrier to accessibility. Conclusions: The data from this study demonstrate how the current delivery model for drink and drug driving education increases inequities for those in regional and remote areas, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Implications for public health: Moving away from the current user-pays model to a subsidised or free model may facilitate greater access. Online delivery may increase accessibility; however, consultation is required to ensure the program is delivered equitably with consideration of language, literacy, cultural factors and access to technology.
AB - Objective: In the Northern Territory, people who commit drink driving offences are required to undertake an approved course or treatment to be eligible for a driver's licence, however, course uptake is low. We investigated barriers to program uptake. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 24 program attendees, course providers and government stakeholders. We used a framework analysis. Results: Program coverage in remote areas was limited, leading to inequitable access. The course cost affected uptake and exacerbated existing financial hardship. There were mixed views among government stakeholders on the program. While some held a view that offenders should ‘pay the price’, some also saw the user-pays model and high program cost as a clear barrier to accessibility. Conclusions: The data from this study demonstrate how the current delivery model for drink and drug driving education increases inequities for those in regional and remote areas, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Implications for public health: Moving away from the current user-pays model to a subsidised or free model may facilitate greater access. Online delivery may increase accessibility; however, consultation is required to ensure the program is delivered equitably with consideration of language, literacy, cultural factors and access to technology.
KW - alcohol consumption
KW - drink driving
KW - equity
KW - health promotion
KW - rural health
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85130625106&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/1753-6405.13240
DO - 10.1111/1753-6405.13240
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85130625106
VL - 46
SP - 450
EP - 454
JO - Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
JF - Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
SN - 1326-0200
IS - 4
ER -