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dc.contributor.authorAitken, C.
dc.contributor.authorDwyer, Robyn
dc.contributor.authorSpelman, T.
dc.contributor.authorPower, R.
dc.date.accessioned2017-01-30T12:40:51Z
dc.date.available2017-01-30T12:40:51Z
dc.date.created2016-09-12T08:37:00Z
dc.date.issued2009
dc.identifier.citationAitken, C. and Dwyer, R. and Spelman, T. and Power, R. 2009. Is handedness associated with health outcomes for people who inject illicit drugs?. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy. 16 (5): pp. 471-477.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/24072
dc.identifier.doi10.1080/09687630802562988
dc.description.abstract

Approximately 10% of the global population is left-handed. Much research has been directed at handedness and health, with reports of left-handers suffering higher rates of numerous health conditions, accidents, injuries and ultimately, significantly reduced lifespans. Most previous research focused on 'well' or general-population samples; no previous investigations of the effects of handedness on injecting drug users' (IDUs) health are known. Aim: To investigate associations between handedness and health outcomes among IDUs-a marginalized population subgroup with significantly worse health than average. Methods: A total of 346 self-identified left- (9.5%) or right-handed current IDUs were recruited in the Australian states of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria in late 2006 and interviewed about their health and behaviour. Findings: Many socio-demographic, health status and injury occurrence variables were evaluated univariately, but only two were significantly associated with handedness. Left-handers were significantly less likely to report recent scarring or bruising, and significantly more likely to report accidentally penetrating an artery; these variables were also significantly and independently associated (negatively and positively, respectively) with handedness in binary logistic regression. Conclusions: The lack of biological plausibility of the aforementioned variables' associations with handedness, and the contradiction in their directions of association, suggest that left-handedness among IDUs is not associated with significantly worse health outcomes. © 2009 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved.

dc.publisherInforma Healthcare
dc.titleIs handedness associated with health outcomes for people who inject illicit drugs?
dc.typeJournal Article
dcterms.source.volume16
dcterms.source.number5
dcterms.source.startPage471
dcterms.source.endPage477
dcterms.source.issn0968-7637
dcterms.source.titleDrugs: Education, Prevention and Policy
curtin.departmentNational Drug Research Institute (NDRI)
curtin.accessStatusFulltext not available


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