No items found.
Issue

Vol 131 No 1482: 21 September 2018

PDF

Issue Summary

SUMMARY

Comparing initial and follow-up responders to a New Zealand patient experience survey

Michael Thomson, Megan Pledger, Richard Hamblin, Jackie Cumming, Essa Tawfiq

Researchers are concerned that surveys might not accurately represent populations they are interested in if people who respond to surveys are different to those who do not respond. We investigated whether there was any indication of such biases in a hospital inpatient experience survey, by conducting follow-up interviews with non-responders and comparing them to initial responders. We found no evidence of differences between initial and follow-up responders in terms of how they reported their hospital experience, despite younger age-groups and Maori being more associated with non-response than other groups. The results suggest respondents to follow-up have similar experiences of inpatient care in New Zealand to initial responders.

SUMMARY

Medical students, sensitive examinations and patient consent: a qualitative review

Phillipa J Malpas, Warwick Bagg, Jill Yielder, Alan F Merry

Medical students in year 5 of their training at the University of Auckland are required to submit an ethics eeport (ER) for assessment. They are asked to critically reflect on the ethical (as opposed to the clinical, legal or social) dimension of a case or situation they have been involved in over the past two years. In 2016, 218 ERs were submitted. Analysis of 21 ERs identified both positive and negative experiences by medical students of ethical practices, including some examples of medical students disclosed observing or performing sensitive examinations on patients without the patients knowledge or consent. This paper reports on our findings and suggests some recommendations to support ethical practice.

SUMMARY

Intergenerational changes in adolescents physical fitness and weight in New Zealand

Helena M McAnally, Lesley M Reeves, Judith L Sligo, Robert J Hancox

Fitness was measured at the age of 15 using an exercise cycle in both the Dunedin Study participants and their children at the same age. We found that the current generation were less fit than their parents had been and were more likely to be overweight. The decline in fitness was greater among girls than boys, although both sexes were less fit than parents had been at 15. These intergenerational changes in fitness and weight may have negative implications for the quality of long-term health.

SUMMARY

Epidemiology of melanoma in situ in New Zealand: 2008 2012

Sam Rice, Lifeng Zhou, Richard Martin

Melanoma in situ (MIS) is associated with excellent outcomes, however many of those untreated will go on to develop invasive melanoma with worse outcomes. In this study, there were increasing numbers of people diagnosed with MIS, while numbers of people diagnosed with invasive melanoma remained steady. Overall, men were significantly more likely to be affected compared to women. Public education campaigns may be showing an effect with increasing prevention and earlier detection of MIS. It is hoped earlier detection and improved treatments will decrease the chances of death and disability from melanoma.

SUMMARY

Who operated on me? What patients understand about surgical trainees

Jessica A Savage, Robert de Villiers, Jeremy W Simcock

The majority of patients in New Zealand underestimate how long it takes for a doctor to be trained as a surgeon, and are often unknowledgeable about the terms used to denote a doctor's level of training. We learnt that while 61% of patients believe it is important to know the level of training of their doctor, only 39% of post-operative patients can correctly identify this. The study identifies that 75% of patients expecting that their surgery will be performed by a consultant. However, 68% of procedures during the study period were performed by doctors undergoing surgical training. In our population, 85% of patients report being willing to have a trainee take part in their surgery. There is no current national guidance on how the trainee should be introduced to help the patient identify them. Since this study, we have made changes within our hospital to aid patients in identifying the level of training of their surgeon.

SUMMARY

Distinctive features of polycythaemia vera in New Zealand Polynesians

Merit Z Hanna, Maggie L Kalev-Zylinska, Sharon R Jackson, Gordon Royle, Hilary Blacklock

We analysed clinical features of polycythaemia vera in 88 New Zealand patients treated at Middlemore Hospital, including 36 Polynesians and 49 Europeans. Polycythaemia vera is a chronic but incurable disorder characterised by increased numbers of red cells in the blood. We found that Polynesian patients had some distinctive features of this disease that were inferior compared with European patients. Our findings suggest a difference in disease mechanisms in Polynesians. Further epidemiological and genetic studies may elucidate the cause.

SUMMARY

Perioperative ischaemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation after temporary cessation of anticoagulation for elective surgery

Yuanye Xu, Mohana Maddula

Patients with a condition known as atrial fibrillation (AF) are at risk of developing blood clots which may cause strokethey are therefore usually on blood thinners. These blood thinners are usually stopped temporarily before surgery. There are evidence-based guidelines available that help doctors to make decisions around when to stop and when to start blood thinners. Unfortunately, there are cases where management of blood thinners in this context is not optimal, and patients suffer the devastating consequence of a stroke.

ALL ARTICLES
SUMMARY

An ethical dilemma: informed consent, balancing patient dignity and medical student participation in sensitive examinations

Rebecca Pascoe, Jessica Campbell

Comparing initial and follow-up responders to a New Zealand patient experience survey

Michael Thomson, Megan Pledger, Richard Hamblin, Jackie Cumming, Essa Tawfiq

Medical students, sensitive examinations and patient consent: a qualitative review

Phillipa J Malpas, Warwick Bagg, Jill Yielder, Alan F Merry

Prevention of Venereal Disease

Weight and fitness changes across generations: better evidence can help prioritise better public health interventions

James Stanley, Christine Cleghorn

Primum non nocere: first do no harm: reponse to Phillida Bunkle

Linda Bryder

“If government can’t stop the smokes, no way we can stop selling them”: why retailers want Government to act

Emmanuel Badu, Erin Fowler

Clarification on maternal alcohol consumption

Chris Bullen

Cerebellar dysmetria treated using a wrist band

Karim M Mahawish

Under-utilisation of β-blockers in patients with acute coronary syndrome and comorbid chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Intergenerational changes in adolescents physical fitness and weight in New Zealand

Helena M McAnally, Lesley M Reeves, Judith L Sligo, Robert J Hancox

Epidemiology of melanoma in situ in New Zealand: 2008 2012

Sam Rice, Lifeng Zhou, Richard Martin

Who operated on me? What patients understand about surgical trainees

Jessica A Savage, Robert de Villiers, Jeremy W Simcock

Lack of perspective in health funding research criticised

Eileen Goodwin, Elspeth McLean

Distinctive features of polycythaemia vera in New Zealand Polynesians

Merit Z Hanna, Maggie L Kalev-Zylinska, Sharon R Jackson, Gordon Royle, Hilary Blacklock

Perioperative ischaemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation after temporary cessation of anticoagulation for elective surgery

Yuanye Xu, Mohana Maddula

SUMMARY

Comparing initial and follow-up responders to a New Zealand patient experience survey

Michael Thomson, Megan Pledger, Richard Hamblin, Jackie Cumming, Essa Tawfiq

Researchers are concerned that surveys might not accurately represent populations they are interested in if people who respond to surveys are different to those who do not respond. We investigated whether there was any indication of such biases in a hospital inpatient experience survey, by conducting follow-up interviews with non-responders and comparing them to initial responders. We found no evidence of differences between initial and follow-up responders in terms of how they reported their hospital experience, despite younger age-groups and Maori being more associated with non-response than other groups. The results suggest respondents to follow-up have similar experiences of inpatient care in New Zealand to initial responders.

SUMMARY

Medical students, sensitive examinations and patient consent: a qualitative review

Phillipa J Malpas, Warwick Bagg, Jill Yielder, Alan F Merry

Medical students in year 5 of their training at the University of Auckland are required to submit an ethics eeport (ER) for assessment. They are asked to critically reflect on the ethical (as opposed to the clinical, legal or social) dimension of a case or situation they have been involved in over the past two years. In 2016, 218 ERs were submitted. Analysis of 21 ERs identified both positive and negative experiences by medical students of ethical practices, including some examples of medical students disclosed observing or performing sensitive examinations on patients without the patients knowledge or consent. This paper reports on our findings and suggests some recommendations to support ethical practice.

SUMMARY

Intergenerational changes in adolescents physical fitness and weight in New Zealand

Helena M McAnally, Lesley M Reeves, Judith L Sligo, Robert J Hancox

Fitness was measured at the age of 15 using an exercise cycle in both the Dunedin Study participants and their children at the same age. We found that the current generation were less fit than their parents had been and were more likely to be overweight. The decline in fitness was greater among girls than boys, although both sexes were less fit than parents had been at 15. These intergenerational changes in fitness and weight may have negative implications for the quality of long-term health.

SUMMARY

Epidemiology of melanoma in situ in New Zealand: 2008 2012

Sam Rice, Lifeng Zhou, Richard Martin

Melanoma in situ (MIS) is associated with excellent outcomes, however many of those untreated will go on to develop invasive melanoma with worse outcomes. In this study, there were increasing numbers of people diagnosed with MIS, while numbers of people diagnosed with invasive melanoma remained steady. Overall, men were significantly more likely to be affected compared to women. Public education campaigns may be showing an effect with increasing prevention and earlier detection of MIS. It is hoped earlier detection and improved treatments will decrease the chances of death and disability from melanoma.

SUMMARY

Who operated on me? What patients understand about surgical trainees

Jessica A Savage, Robert de Villiers, Jeremy W Simcock

The majority of patients in New Zealand underestimate how long it takes for a doctor to be trained as a surgeon, and are often unknowledgeable about the terms used to denote a doctor's level of training. We learnt that while 61% of patients believe it is important to know the level of training of their doctor, only 39% of post-operative patients can correctly identify this. The study identifies that 75% of patients expecting that their surgery will be performed by a consultant. However, 68% of procedures during the study period were performed by doctors undergoing surgical training. In our population, 85% of patients report being willing to have a trainee take part in their surgery. There is no current national guidance on how the trainee should be introduced to help the patient identify them. Since this study, we have made changes within our hospital to aid patients in identifying the level of training of their surgeon.

SUMMARY

Distinctive features of polycythaemia vera in New Zealand Polynesians

Merit Z Hanna, Maggie L Kalev-Zylinska, Sharon R Jackson, Gordon Royle, Hilary Blacklock

We analysed clinical features of polycythaemia vera in 88 New Zealand patients treated at Middlemore Hospital, including 36 Polynesians and 49 Europeans. Polycythaemia vera is a chronic but incurable disorder characterised by increased numbers of red cells in the blood. We found that Polynesian patients had some distinctive features of this disease that were inferior compared with European patients. Our findings suggest a difference in disease mechanisms in Polynesians. Further epidemiological and genetic studies may elucidate the cause.

SUMMARY

Perioperative ischaemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation after temporary cessation of anticoagulation for elective surgery

Yuanye Xu, Mohana Maddula

Patients with a condition known as atrial fibrillation (AF) are at risk of developing blood clots which may cause strokethey are therefore usually on blood thinners. These blood thinners are usually stopped temporarily before surgery. There are evidence-based guidelines available that help doctors to make decisions around when to stop and when to start blood thinners. Unfortunately, there are cases where management of blood thinners in this context is not optimal, and patients suffer the devastating consequence of a stroke.

Latest Issue

Vol 136 No 1576: 26 May

Previous Issue

Vol 136 No 1575: 12 May 2023

All Issues

2010 - Present

Archive

1999 - 2009
No items found.
No items found.
Contact UsPrivacy