Papers by Susan Broomhall
Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine, 2017
Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the association between home visit programs an... more Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the association between home visit programs and emergency preparedness among elderly vulnerable people in New South Wales, Australia. Method: The study used data acquired from an intervention program run by emergency agencies and consisted of 370 older people. Seven emergency outcome measures were examined by adjusting for key demographic factors, using a generalized estimating equation model, to examine the association between home visit programs and emergency preparedness. Results: The study revealed that knowledge demonstrated by participants during visits and post home visits showed significant improvements in the seven emergency outcome measures. The odds of finding out what emergencies might affect one's area were significantly lower among older participants who were born outside Australia and those who were women. Discussion: The findings suggest that the intervention via home visits and periodic reminders post these visits may be a useful intervention in improving emergency preparedness among older people, especially among men and those who were born outside of Australia. In addition, other reminders such as safety messaging via mobile or landline telephone calls may also be a supplementary and useful intervention to improve emergency preparedness among older people.
Preventive Medicine Reports, 2017
In most industrialised countries, the majority of fire-related deaths and injuries occur in the h... more In most industrialised countries, the majority of fire-related deaths and injuries occur in the home. Australia has implemented fire prevention programs and strategies, including the use of smoke alarms, to minimise this burden. The number of reported house fires has declined over the past decade. However, there is a growing recognition that unreported fires are important in the estimation of total fire hazards and their associated injuries. This current study used data from the 2014 New South Wales (NSW) Population Health Survey, a yearly telephone survey, consisting of 14,732 survey respondents. Univariate and multiple binary logistic regression models were conducted to examine predictors of residential fire and (un)willingness to call the fire service in the event of a residential fire. The proportion of respondents who experienced residential fires in NSW was 10% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.3, 10.8). The proportion of respondents who were willing to call the fire service was 3.1% (95% CI: 2.7%, 3.6%) and that of respondents unwilling to call was 6.9% (95% CI: 6.3%, 7.6%). Multivariate analyses revealed that respondents spoke another language in addition to English were significantly less likely to have experienced a home fire (odds ratio [OR] = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.32, 0.65, p b 0.001) and significantly less likely to call the fire service (OR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.21, 0.54, p b 0.001), compared with those who only spoke English at home. The results in this study will inform Fire & Rescue NSW's ongoing development of appropriate interventions and awareness-raising programs about residential fire prevention.
Journal of Risk Research, 2017
Traumatic events such as fire can result in fatality, injury, and loss of property; even a minor ... more Traumatic events such as fire can result in fatality, injury, and loss of property; even a minor fire can interrupt the normal flow of people's lives. During the years 2009-2013, urban and regional New South Wales (NSW) experienced an annual average of 4329 residential structural fires with 593 injuries and 22 fatalities at an annual cost of $656 million dollars. In 2014, Fire and Rescue NSW piloted a program called Home Fire Safety Checks (HFSC), aimed at high-risk households. In total, 228 homes in 8 suburbs received safety checks, including having smoke alarms installed, having batteries changed in smoke alarms, and being provided with fire blankets and fire safety information. The pilot study design enabled detailed economic evaluation of the program, including both development costs and ongoing costs for a full roll-out. Analysis of the cost of fire within NSW, combined with measurements of the success of similar programs internationally, demonstrates the program's cost effectiveness. Savings per dollar spent exceed $12 if the program includes 1% of high-risk homes and obtains a 0.75% reduction in number of fires. These results demonstrate that a full roll-out of the HFSC program warrants ongoing funding. External factors affecting program delivery include community acceptance and willingness to participate in the program, particularly very high-risk individuals, and ongoing behavioral change. In addition, HFSC faces the same ongoing funding challenges other preventative community programs face in a period of tightening state budgets.
Journal of Safety Research, 2016
In 2014, Fire & Rescue New South Wales piloted the delivery of its home fire safety checks progra... more In 2014, Fire & Rescue New South Wales piloted the delivery of its home fire safety checks program (HFSC) aimed at engaging and educating targeted top "at risk" groups to prevent and prepare for fire. This pilot study aimed to assess the effectiveness of smoke alarms using a cluster randomized controlled trial. Methods: Survey questionnaires were distributed to the households that had participated in the HFSC program (intervention group). A separate survey questionnaire was distributed to the control group that was identified with similar characteristics to the intervention group in the same suburb. To adjust for potential clustering effects, generalized estimation equations with a log link were used. Results: Multivariable analyses revealed that battery and hardwired smoking alarm usage increased by 9% and 3% respectively among the intervention group compared to the control group. Females were more likely to install battery smoke alarms than males. Respondents who possessed a certificate or diploma (AOR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.00-1.70, P = 0.047) and those who were educated up to years 8-12 (AOR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.06-1.64, P = 0.012) were significantly more likely to install battery smoke alarms than those who completed bachelor degrees. Conversely, holders of a certificate or diploma and people who were educated up to years 8-12 were 31% (AOR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.52-0.93, P = 0.014) and 24% (AOR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.60-0.95, P = 0.015) significantly less likely to install a hardwired smoke alarm compared to those who completed bachelor degrees. Conclusions: This pilot study provided evidence of the benefit of the HFSC in New South Wales. Practical Applications: Fire safety intervention programs, like HFSC, need to be targeted to male adults with lower level of schooling even when they are aware of their risks.
Optimising service quality of NSW fire brigades and Campbelltown Hospital emergency service facility using operational statistics
Visions of Futuristic Methodologies Proceedings of the International Srilankan Statistical Conference Held in Kandy Sri Lanka 28 30 December 2004, 2015
In the past, researches have used statistical, operational research or simulation techniques, in ... more In the past, researches have used statistical, operational research or simulation techniques, in finding solutions to improve management systems. In contrast to these procedures, we introduce a new way of integrating operations research and statistics to build an Operational Statistics Model and simulate the system for forecasting. In spite of many attempts, made in the past to improve several management processes using operations research and/or statistical techniques, the outcomes have been far from being satisfactory. The distributional assumptions made of the input data of these processes, contributes heavily to this drawback. This new approach and its effectiveness have been illustrated by developing two Decision Support Systems to improve service quality of 1. NSW Fire Brigades and 2. Campbelltown Hospital Emergency Service Facility, Campbelltown, Australia. In this study we set out the process in developing a Decision Support System tool to monitor and understand the characteristics of management systems in detail to find cost effective solutions to service quality improvements. Objective is to design a decision support system to assist in improving service quality of Campbelltown Hospital Emergency Service Facility and The NSW Fire Brigades. In order to achieve these goals, one needs to identify the fields or characteristics, which influences the speed in which the system can respond to emergency calls. Our main target in the Hospital Emergency Service application is to reduce the waiting times of patients and to maintain the benchmarks of waiting times set out by the management. Our main target in the Fire Brigades application is that the observed number of incidences, which falls within the benchmark of 10 min. response time, will fall well below the expected frequencies. Further we focus on ensuring that the benchmarks associated with flame confinement, is also been met
Books by Susan Broomhall
The Art of Peace: Creating the Harmonic Humanity, 2023
World peace is something we have all wanted but was seemingly unachievable. Now, however, through... more World peace is something we have all wanted but was seemingly unachievable. Now, however, through a global humanity awakening, our aspiration for a harmonious society is within our reach.
Through the irony of paradox, this book theorises that by understanding what we do not want we can establish what we do want. If peace is what we want, surely this can be created by practising the polar opposite of war?
Using psychospiritual philosophy and quantum psychology, Susan Broomhall is part of the global community currently co-creating heaven on earth. It is Susan’s belief that global peace and harmony and the co-creation of the new humanity is assured – if everyone trusts in themselves as creators of peace.
While each individual is contributing to the rich and diverse tapestry of humanity, not everyone understands what this means. This book reveals ‘how to’ create a harmonic new humanity through the art of peace.
World peace starts with you.
Bullying & Harassment: Understanding the Psychological & Behavioural Tactics of the Toxic Leadership Stronghold, 2022
Toxic leaders have dark personality traits that drive them to be the 'top-dog'. They use bullying... more Toxic leaders have dark personality traits that drive them to be the 'top-dog'. They use bullying and harassment as a strategy to manipulate people and circumstances to keep their top-dog position. Creating chaotic and dysfunctional environments enables them to control you. Well, that's the premise at least. In societies based on a hierarchal system, there is always a leader at the top, calling the shots, whether you like it or not. So how does the top-dog keep their position and everyone else in line? This book sets out a methodical and logical explanation of each of more than 76 different tactics used by toxic leaders that form a pattern of bullying. Translating complicated and complex social and psychological concepts into plain English, this book uses real life scenarios to explain how toxic leaders manipulate people and circumstances to maintain control over them. Susan Broomhall is a social scientist with a major in psychology specialising in behavioural analysis and research. With over 30 years practical in-field experience, she has used her own experiences of being a target of bullying to bring to light her knowledge of the toxic leadership stronghold. Toxic leaders are a problem but people are good problem solvers. Sometimes, all we need is a little more understanding of the problem that needs to be solved.
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Papers by Susan Broomhall
Books by Susan Broomhall
Through the irony of paradox, this book theorises that by understanding what we do not want we can establish what we do want. If peace is what we want, surely this can be created by practising the polar opposite of war?
Using psychospiritual philosophy and quantum psychology, Susan Broomhall is part of the global community currently co-creating heaven on earth. It is Susan’s belief that global peace and harmony and the co-creation of the new humanity is assured – if everyone trusts in themselves as creators of peace.
While each individual is contributing to the rich and diverse tapestry of humanity, not everyone understands what this means. This book reveals ‘how to’ create a harmonic new humanity through the art of peace.
World peace starts with you.