The principal scientific journal for the profession in New Zealand

Vol 136 No 1576: 26 May 2023

Time for action, not words: the urgent rebuilding of New Zealand’s mental health workforce

ARTICLE
Vol 136 No 1576: 26 May

Aotearoa New Zealand Deaf women’s perspectives on breast and cervical cancer screening.

Since the introduction of the cervical and breast screening programmes in Aotearoa New Zealand, mortality rates have dropped for cervical cancer and breast cancer. While both programmes track women’s engagement, neither capture details regarding Deaf women who are New Zealand Sign Language users.

ARTICLE
Vol 136 No 1576: 26 May

The incidence of juvenile onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis at Starship Children’s Hospital before and after a national HPV vaccination programme: a retrospective review

Juvenile onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JRRP) is a rare and often chronic disease. It is characterised by benign but potentially aggressive recurring laryngeal epithelial lesions caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), most likely by vertical transmission.

ARTICLE
Vol 136 No 1576: 26 May

The impact of COVID-19 restrictions on acute hospital presentations due to alcohol-related harm in Waitematā Auckland, New Zealand | OPEN ACCESS

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that this pandemic has led to a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression globally. With considerable additional mental health burden, it has been widely reported that alcohol sales and use have increased during this time.

ARTICLE
Vol 136 No 1576: 26 May

Hypospadias, cryptorchidism and breast cancer in children born to New Zealand servicemen who served in Malaya and may have had exposure to dibutyl phthalate: review of a previous study and updated review of international literature

New Zealand soldiers serving in the “Emergency” in Malaya in 1948–1960 painted the seams of their uniforms, made of cotton, with a liquid containing dibutyl phthalate (DBP) to prevent them being bitten by trombiculid mites (chiggers, e.g., Eutrombicula hirsti), which carry the scrub typhus pathogen (Orientia tsutsugamushi).

ARTICLE
Vol 136 No 1576: 26 May

Health professionals’ understanding and attitude towards the End of Life Choice Act 2019: a secondary analysis of Manatū Hauora – Ministry of Health workforce surveys

As of January 2023, Aotearoa New Zealand is among the 25 jurisdictions/countries that have legalised assisted dying (AD).

ARTICLE
Vol 136 No 1575: 12 May 2023

The impact of AI and ChatGPT on research reporting

Since the launch of ChatGPT, it has garnered the attention of many people worldwide, including biomedical researchers, as it appears to be able to substantially assist in the reporting process of biomedical research (article writing).

ARTICLE
Vol 136 No 1575: 12 May 2023

Psychosocial care in DHB-based stroke services in Aotearoa: a survey of current practice

Stroke is increasingly common in Aotearoa New Zealand. It is the third most common cause of death and disability, with around 9,000 New Zealanders being affected by stroke each year. Despite the incidence of strokes declining, as the population ages, the number of strokes is anticipated to increase, with a corresponding increase in the number of people living with stroke.

ARTICLE
Vol 136 No 1575: 12 May 2023

Evolution of sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer patients in a rural setting: 10 years’ experience

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is the standard axillary staging procedure for early breast cancer and is undertaken when a patient is clinically and radiologically lymph node negative. Dual localisation of SLN with both radioisotope and patent blue dye is superior to single agent and has a lower false-negative rate. Its universal uptake, however, is limited as it requires access to a nuclear medicine department or a radioactive licence.

ARTICLE
Vol 136 No 1575: 12 May 2023

Invasive group A streptococcal disease in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand: epidemiology, manifestations and impact

Group A streptococcus (GAS) can cause a range of clinical syndromes, including superficial infections such as pharyngitis and impetigo, post-streptococcal immunological complications such as acute rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis, and invasive infections. The direct costs of GAS-related disease in New Zealand have been estimated at almost 30 million NZD (2015 costs) per year.

ARTICLE
Vol 136 No 1575: 12 May 2023

Acute otolaryngological presentations in Northland, New Zealand: analysed with respect to geography and rurality

Rural patients face greater barriers to healthcare compared to those in urban centres. These include long travel distances, lack of access to transport, telecommunication, increased costs, higher levels of deprivation, and wider socio-economic factors.