As injury prevention researchers, one of the eternal struggles we must overcome is how to use our research to inform both practice and policy. Needless to say that my heart was gladdened today when I read an evidence-based protocol for a study designed to reduce alcohol-related injuries in the Northern Territory of Australia.

You would be hard-pressed to find someone, young or old, who cannot give an example of one or more of the downsides of drinking alcohol to excess, ranging from the dreaded hangover next day, to death as a result of a car crash. Trauma arising from violence, and alcohol-fuelled violence specifically, is problematic for Australia’s indigenous population. Piloting of the motivational care planning intervention corresponded to improved health and wellbeing of the participants, including reduced substance use.

The process of developing and implementing the evidence-based intervention, including key persons, training and resources are summarised in the protocol, and the expected process and outcome evaluations are described. Seeing such a publication leaves me feeling hopeful that other injury prevention researchers – including myself – will also be able to translate research findings into evidence-based practice and policy.

Read more of this well-written study protocol at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3570309/