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Issue

Vol 129 No 1447: 16 December 2016

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Issue Summary

SUMMARY

Elective surgical outcomes of patients in Christchurch, New Zealand

Jessica Taylor, Liane Dixon, Rebecca Pascoe, Bruce Dobbs, Ross Kennedy, Frank Frizelle

The aim of this study was to determine mortality after elective surgery at a total community level with inclusion of all patients undergoing elective surgery in Christchurch, within a calendar month. By day 30, after surgery 11 (0.2%) patients had died and by day 90 after surgery 27 (0.6%), patients had died, with the vast majority of deaths being due to progression of the underlying disease. This study shows a similar if not lower mortality than what has previously been reported for elective surgical procedures in other studies.

SUMMARY

Medicines information in New Zealand: current services and future potential

Chlo\u00eb Campbell, Caroline Morris, Rhiannon Braund

Formal medicines information services are available in six hospitals, but the full potential of such services is yet to be realised in New Zealand. A nationally coordinated medicines information service that encompassed current health strategy goals patient driven, whole team integration and the use of smart systems could provide efficient, effective support across the health system for clinical problem-solving, continuing education and knowledge translation activities, contributing positively to the safe and effective use of medicines.

SUMMARY

Key informant views on biobanking and genomic research with Māori

Maui Hudson, Kim Southey, Lynley Uerata, Angela Beaton, Moe Milne, Khyla Russell, Barry Smith, Phillip Wilcox, Valmaine Toki, Melanie Cheung, Waiora Port

With the growing use of genomic sequencing technologies, and moves towards developing large scale biobanks, Mori concerns about the ethical use of human samples for research projects has become a topical issue. This paper describes the key issues identified as part of a project looking at Mori views on biobanking and genomic research, and suggests a range of strategies to enhance Mori participation and build public trust in these activities.

SUMMARY

Modifiable lifestyle factors that could reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer in New Zealand

Ann Richardson, James Hayes, Chris Frampton, John Potter

Aspects of our lifestyle can increase the risk of bowel cancer. By combining the results of international research and the prevalence of risk factors in New Zealand, it is possible to estimate the impact of reducing our exposure to these risk factors. If obesity, alcohol consumption, smoking and consumption of red and processed meats could be reduced, and physical activity could be increased among New Zealanders, it would reduce the risk of bowel cancer considerably.

SUMMARY

Financing the Canterbury Health System post-disaster

Matthew Reid, Ramon Pink

After the Canterbury earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, the Canterbury Health System continued in its journey to be more patient-centred and joined up. However, continuing to improve health services in Canterbury has been difficult because of higher costs from the earthquakes, higher health needs in the population and a model of health funding that hasnt taken into account the effects of earthquake. This article argues that there is a need for a health funding strategy at the Ministry of Health after disasters that factor in a disasters effects on the population, the difficulty of predicting the movement of people and the extra costs from disruption. This would create some stability in unstable times and allow, but would require, departure from the normal ways of funding health.

SUMMARY

Auckland: city of syphilis?

Sunita Azariah

One hundred and fifty-two cases of infectious syphilis were managed by the Auckland Regional Sexual Health Service in 2015, which is the largest number reported in recent decades. The majority of cases were diagnosed in gay or bisexual men but cases in heterosexuals have also increased significantly. Syphilis is a serious infection that may cause complication such as damage to the nervous system or miscarriage or still-birth if a woman is infected during pregnancy. As syphilis often does not cause symptoms it is recommended that tests for syphilis should always be included when screening people for sexually transmitted infections. Control of this syphilis outbreak requires provision of resource for a dedicated public health response, including regular screening of those at risk, timely treatment to reduce onward transmission, rigorous contact tracing and close follow-up of treated individuals to check for possible re-infection.

ALL ARTICLES
SUMMARY

Choose Wisely is more always better?

Deborah Read, Derek Sherwood, Sue Ineson, for the Council of Medical Colleges

How 'modifiable' are 'modifiable risk factors' for cancer?

Christopher GCA Jackson, Diana Sarfati

Elective surgical outcomes of patients in Christchurch, New Zealand

Jessica Taylor, Liane Dixon, Rebecca Pascoe, Bruce Dobbs, Ross Kennedy, Frank Frizelle

Half a Century's Progress

TABLE - A case of bariatric surgery during pregnancy

Sarah Mavor, Melanie Lauti, Andrew D MacCormick

The safety and efficacy of benzbromarone in gout

Medicines information in New Zealand: current services and future potential

Chlo\u00eb Campbell, Caroline Morris, Rhiannon Braund

Key informant views on biobanking and genomic research with Māori

Maui Hudson, Kim Southey, Lynley Uerata, Angela Beaton, Moe Milne, Khyla Russell, Barry Smith, Phillip Wilcox, Valmaine Toki, Melanie Cheung, Waiora Port

Modifiable lifestyle factors that could reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer in New Zealand

Ann Richardson, James Hayes, Chris Frampton, John Potter

Delayed recovery of adipsic diabetes insipidus (ADI) caused by elective clipping of anterior communicating artery and left middle cerebral artery aneurysms

Jeffrey Tan, Samuel Ndoro, Uchenna Okafo, Aoife Garrahy, Amar Agha, Danny Rawluk

Response to Combating antimicrobial resistance demands nationwide action and global governance

Lance Gravatt

Financing the Canterbury Health System post-disaster

Matthew Reid, Ramon Pink

Auckland: city of syphilis?

Sunita Azariah

Urinary alkalisers for cystitis fact or fiction?

Lance Gravatt

Global governance is a key part of the solution to antimicrobial resistance (response to Gravatt)

Joshua Freeman, Nick Wilson, Scott Metcalfe, Peter Murray, Michael Baker

SUMMARY

Elective surgical outcomes of patients in Christchurch, New Zealand

Jessica Taylor, Liane Dixon, Rebecca Pascoe, Bruce Dobbs, Ross Kennedy, Frank Frizelle

The aim of this study was to determine mortality after elective surgery at a total community level with inclusion of all patients undergoing elective surgery in Christchurch, within a calendar month. By day 30, after surgery 11 (0.2%) patients had died and by day 90 after surgery 27 (0.6%), patients had died, with the vast majority of deaths being due to progression of the underlying disease. This study shows a similar if not lower mortality than what has previously been reported for elective surgical procedures in other studies.

SUMMARY

Medicines information in New Zealand: current services and future potential

Chlo\u00eb Campbell, Caroline Morris, Rhiannon Braund

Formal medicines information services are available in six hospitals, but the full potential of such services is yet to be realised in New Zealand. A nationally coordinated medicines information service that encompassed current health strategy goals patient driven, whole team integration and the use of smart systems could provide efficient, effective support across the health system for clinical problem-solving, continuing education and knowledge translation activities, contributing positively to the safe and effective use of medicines.

SUMMARY

Key informant views on biobanking and genomic research with Māori

Maui Hudson, Kim Southey, Lynley Uerata, Angela Beaton, Moe Milne, Khyla Russell, Barry Smith, Phillip Wilcox, Valmaine Toki, Melanie Cheung, Waiora Port

With the growing use of genomic sequencing technologies, and moves towards developing large scale biobanks, Mori concerns about the ethical use of human samples for research projects has become a topical issue. This paper describes the key issues identified as part of a project looking at Mori views on biobanking and genomic research, and suggests a range of strategies to enhance Mori participation and build public trust in these activities.

SUMMARY

Modifiable lifestyle factors that could reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer in New Zealand

Ann Richardson, James Hayes, Chris Frampton, John Potter

Aspects of our lifestyle can increase the risk of bowel cancer. By combining the results of international research and the prevalence of risk factors in New Zealand, it is possible to estimate the impact of reducing our exposure to these risk factors. If obesity, alcohol consumption, smoking and consumption of red and processed meats could be reduced, and physical activity could be increased among New Zealanders, it would reduce the risk of bowel cancer considerably.

SUMMARY

Financing the Canterbury Health System post-disaster

Matthew Reid, Ramon Pink

After the Canterbury earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, the Canterbury Health System continued in its journey to be more patient-centred and joined up. However, continuing to improve health services in Canterbury has been difficult because of higher costs from the earthquakes, higher health needs in the population and a model of health funding that hasnt taken into account the effects of earthquake. This article argues that there is a need for a health funding strategy at the Ministry of Health after disasters that factor in a disasters effects on the population, the difficulty of predicting the movement of people and the extra costs from disruption. This would create some stability in unstable times and allow, but would require, departure from the normal ways of funding health.

SUMMARY

Auckland: city of syphilis?

Sunita Azariah

One hundred and fifty-two cases of infectious syphilis were managed by the Auckland Regional Sexual Health Service in 2015, which is the largest number reported in recent decades. The majority of cases were diagnosed in gay or bisexual men but cases in heterosexuals have also increased significantly. Syphilis is a serious infection that may cause complication such as damage to the nervous system or miscarriage or still-birth if a woman is infected during pregnancy. As syphilis often does not cause symptoms it is recommended that tests for syphilis should always be included when screening people for sexually transmitted infections. Control of this syphilis outbreak requires provision of resource for a dedicated public health response, including regular screening of those at risk, timely treatment to reduce onward transmission, rigorous contact tracing and close follow-up of treated individuals to check for possible re-infection.

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