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Issue

Vol 129 No 1430: 19 February 2016

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Issue Summary

SUMMARY

Psychological impact of the Canterbury earthquakes on university staff

Caroline Bell, Frances Carter, Joseph Boden, Tim Wilkinson, Jan McKenzie, Anthony Ali

This study shows that psychological symptoms following a disaster are common, but in a retrospective survey (completed 18 months after the earthquakes) most people report that these improve with time.A minority however continue to report difficulties which persist.The study gives insights into how different work roles for university staff were impacted and from this makes suggestions for how organisations may support staff over difficult times.

SUMMARY

Flexible sigmoidoscopy is the best approach for a national bowel screening programme

Brian Cox

A flexible sigmoidoscopy, done once in your life between 55 and 64 years of age, can reduce your risk of dying of bowel cancer by 33% and your chance of developing future bowel cancer by 43%. However, despite the very strong evidence that one-off flexible sigmoidoscopy screening is a much more effective screening test than the faecal occult blood test being used in the bowel screening pilot study, the Ministry of Health has failed to pursue this option. A national screening programme of one-off flexible sigmoidoscopy could be established within 12 months and recoup much of its initial cost within 10 years through savings in the total cost of treatment due to the reduction in bowel cancer incidence achieved.

SUMMARY

Evidence for a young adult-targeted tobacco control campaign stimulating cessation-related responses among adult smokers and recent quitters

Judy Li, Hayley Guiney, Darren Walton

Mass media campaigns are an effective tobacco control intervention. In New Zealand, smoking rates among young adults is higher than the rate among the overall adult population. In 2014, a new mass media campaign was launched, with young adults being the campaigns primary audience. Despite being a young adult-targeted tobacco control campaign, Stop Before You Start had positive impact on adult smokers.

SUMMARY

TPPA should not be adopted without a full, independent health assessment

Gay Keating, Josh Freeman, Alex Macmillan, Pat Neuwelt, Erik Monasterio

The secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPPA) was agreed in late 2015 and countries are now deciding whether or not they will formally join the treaty. The New Zealand Governments National Interest Analysis indicates that, in general, current health-relevant policies will continue; however, constraints will be placed on future governments developing new policies. Here we bring together several independent analyses of the released text of the TPPA, which reveal a concerning picture for health.

SUMMARY

Trialling a shaken baby syndrome prevention programme in the Auckland District Health Board

Patrick Kelly, Kati Wilson, Aqeela Mowjood, Joshua Friedman, Peter Reed

Shaken baby syndrome is a cause of death and serious injury to a significant number of New Zealand babies every year. We describe a simple educational program, delivered routinely to parents or caregivers by health professionals in the first weeks or months of a babys life, which may reduce the incidence of this condition. The program provides parents and caregivers with some simple strategies for coping with a crying baby as well as reinforcing the importance of never shaking a baby. The program was based on international scientific evidence, but modified significantly for the New Zealand context and trialled in the Auckland District Health Board over 18 months in 2010 and 2011.

SUMMARY

The role and potential of community-based cancer care for Māori in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Tania Slater, Anna Matheson, Cheryl Davies, Cheryl Goodyer, Maureen Holdaway, Lis Ellison-Loschmann

This is the first study to show how indigenous health providers contribute to cancer care and prevention in Aotearoa/New Zealand. A nationwide postal survey of Mori health provider organisations found that they deliver a wide range of cancer care programmes. These include cancer prevention services focussed on health promotion, as well as advocacy, information and support. The trust and long term relationships that Mori health providers have within their communities enables them to help people access mainstream cancer services such as screening, hospital care and cancer support services. This focus on supporting families rather than individuals is important throughout the cancer care journey.

SUMMARY

Assessing a hospital medication system for patient safety: findings and lessons learnt from trialling an Australian modified tool at Waitemata District Health Board

Jerome Ng, Penny Andrew, Marilyn Crawley, Wynn Pevreal, Jocelyn Peach

Medicines are one of the highest causes of preventable harm to patients. Improving medication systems is fundamental to making our hospitals safer for patients. The widely endorsed Medication Safety Self-Assessment (MSSA00a9) tool was used to compare local hospital medication systems against ideal medication safety practices (i.e. gap analysis). Information obtained from the review highlighted areas in need for further improvement.

ALL ARTICLES
SUMMARY

Charge

Psychological impact of the Canterbury earthquakes on university staff

Caroline Bell, Frances Carter, Joseph Boden, Tim Wilkinson, Jan McKenzie, Anthony Ali

Anti-androgen contraceptive pills and higher risk of venous thromboembolism

Irene Braithwaite, Philippa Shirtcliffe, Mark Weatherall, Richard Beasley

Flexible sigmoidoscopy is the best approach for a national bowel screening programme

Brian Cox

Evidence for a young adult-targeted tobacco control campaign stimulating cessation-related responses among adult smokers and recent quitters

Judy Li, Hayley Guiney, Darren Walton

Editorial: February 1916

TPPA should not be adopted without a full, independent health assessment

Gay Keating, Josh Freeman, Alex Macmillan, Pat Neuwelt, Erik Monasterio

We respond to Dr Gordon Purdie’s Viewpoint, 20 November 2015

Mary Wyatt, on behalf of the Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, RACP

Trialling a shaken baby syndrome prevention programme in the Auckland District Health Board

Patrick Kelly, Kati Wilson, Aqeela Mowjood, Joshua Friedman, Peter Reed

Excise, electronic cigarettes and nicotine reduction to reduce smoking prevalence in New Zealand by 2025

Murray Laugesen, Randolph C Grace

The role and potential of community-based cancer care for Māori in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Tania Slater, Anna Matheson, Cheryl Davies, Cheryl Goodyer, Maureen Holdaway, Lis Ellison-Loschmann

Sweet outcome for a rare inflammatory condition

Salah Abdel Jalil, Owais Abdul-Kafi, James Smith, Ala Abdel Jalil

Assessing a hospital medication system for patient safety: findings and lessons learnt from trialling an Australian modified tool at Waitemata District Health Board

Jerome Ng, Penny Andrew, Marilyn Crawley, Wynn Pevreal, Jocelyn Peach

SUMMARY

Psychological impact of the Canterbury earthquakes on university staff

Caroline Bell, Frances Carter, Joseph Boden, Tim Wilkinson, Jan McKenzie, Anthony Ali

This study shows that psychological symptoms following a disaster are common, but in a retrospective survey (completed 18 months after the earthquakes) most people report that these improve with time.A minority however continue to report difficulties which persist.The study gives insights into how different work roles for university staff were impacted and from this makes suggestions for how organisations may support staff over difficult times.

SUMMARY

Flexible sigmoidoscopy is the best approach for a national bowel screening programme

Brian Cox

A flexible sigmoidoscopy, done once in your life between 55 and 64 years of age, can reduce your risk of dying of bowel cancer by 33% and your chance of developing future bowel cancer by 43%. However, despite the very strong evidence that one-off flexible sigmoidoscopy screening is a much more effective screening test than the faecal occult blood test being used in the bowel screening pilot study, the Ministry of Health has failed to pursue this option. A national screening programme of one-off flexible sigmoidoscopy could be established within 12 months and recoup much of its initial cost within 10 years through savings in the total cost of treatment due to the reduction in bowel cancer incidence achieved.

SUMMARY

Evidence for a young adult-targeted tobacco control campaign stimulating cessation-related responses among adult smokers and recent quitters

Judy Li, Hayley Guiney, Darren Walton

Mass media campaigns are an effective tobacco control intervention. In New Zealand, smoking rates among young adults is higher than the rate among the overall adult population. In 2014, a new mass media campaign was launched, with young adults being the campaigns primary audience. Despite being a young adult-targeted tobacco control campaign, Stop Before You Start had positive impact on adult smokers.

SUMMARY

TPPA should not be adopted without a full, independent health assessment

Gay Keating, Josh Freeman, Alex Macmillan, Pat Neuwelt, Erik Monasterio

The secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPPA) was agreed in late 2015 and countries are now deciding whether or not they will formally join the treaty. The New Zealand Governments National Interest Analysis indicates that, in general, current health-relevant policies will continue; however, constraints will be placed on future governments developing new policies. Here we bring together several independent analyses of the released text of the TPPA, which reveal a concerning picture for health.

SUMMARY

Trialling a shaken baby syndrome prevention programme in the Auckland District Health Board

Patrick Kelly, Kati Wilson, Aqeela Mowjood, Joshua Friedman, Peter Reed

Shaken baby syndrome is a cause of death and serious injury to a significant number of New Zealand babies every year. We describe a simple educational program, delivered routinely to parents or caregivers by health professionals in the first weeks or months of a babys life, which may reduce the incidence of this condition. The program provides parents and caregivers with some simple strategies for coping with a crying baby as well as reinforcing the importance of never shaking a baby. The program was based on international scientific evidence, but modified significantly for the New Zealand context and trialled in the Auckland District Health Board over 18 months in 2010 and 2011.

SUMMARY

The role and potential of community-based cancer care for Māori in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Tania Slater, Anna Matheson, Cheryl Davies, Cheryl Goodyer, Maureen Holdaway, Lis Ellison-Loschmann

This is the first study to show how indigenous health providers contribute to cancer care and prevention in Aotearoa/New Zealand. A nationwide postal survey of Mori health provider organisations found that they deliver a wide range of cancer care programmes. These include cancer prevention services focussed on health promotion, as well as advocacy, information and support. The trust and long term relationships that Mori health providers have within their communities enables them to help people access mainstream cancer services such as screening, hospital care and cancer support services. This focus on supporting families rather than individuals is important throughout the cancer care journey.

SUMMARY

Assessing a hospital medication system for patient safety: findings and lessons learnt from trialling an Australian modified tool at Waitemata District Health Board

Jerome Ng, Penny Andrew, Marilyn Crawley, Wynn Pevreal, Jocelyn Peach

Medicines are one of the highest causes of preventable harm to patients. Improving medication systems is fundamental to making our hospitals safer for patients. The widely endorsed Medication Safety Self-Assessment (MSSA00a9) tool was used to compare local hospital medication systems against ideal medication safety practices (i.e. gap analysis). Information obtained from the review highlighted areas in need for further improvement.

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