Janine Nip, James Stanley, Jane Zhang, Andrew Waa, Jude Ball, El-Shadan Tautolo, Ellie Johnson, Thomas K Agar, Anne Ck Quah, Geoffrey T Fong, Richard Edwards
{"title":"Support for and likely impacts of endgame measures in the Smokefree Aotearoa Action Plan: findings from the 2020-2021 International Tobacco Control New Zealand (EASE) surveys.","authors":"Janine Nip, James Stanley, Jane Zhang, Andrew Waa, Jude Ball, El-Shadan Tautolo, Ellie Johnson, Thomas K Agar, Anne Ck Quah, Geoffrey T Fong, Richard Edwards","doi":"10.26635/6965.6526","DOIUrl":"10.26635/6965.6526","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>In February 2024, the Aotearoa New Zealand Government repealed legislation to mandate very low nicotine cigarettes (VLNCs), greatly reduce the number of tobacco retailers and disallow sale of tobacco products to people born after 2008 (smokefree generation). We investigated acceptability and likely impacts of these measures among people who smoke or who recently (≤2 years) quit smoking.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We analysed data from 1,230 participants from Wave 3 (conducted in late 2020 and early 2021) and 615 participants from Wave 3.5 (conducted in June/July 2021) of the New Zealand arm of the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Policy Evaluation Project. Data were weighted to represent the national population of people who smoke and who recently quit smoking.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Support (excluding \"Don't know\" responses) was 82.7% (95% confidence interval 77.9, 86.6) for a smokefree generation, 75.0% (95% CI 71.4, 78.3) for mandated VLNCs and 35.2% (95% CI 31.7, 38.9) for retailer reduction. Support was mostly similar by ethnicity, gender, age and evidence of financial hardship, but was higher among people who had recently quit smoking. Around half of the participants who smoked anticipated quitting completely, switching to vaping or cutting down the amount they smoke if mandated VLNCs or substantial retailer reductions were introduced. If VLNCs were mandated, 19% of people who smoked stated they would carry on smoking like they do now and find a way to get the cigarettes or tobacco they want to smoke.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Support for and anticipated actions in response to the smokefree legislation measures call into question the Government's decision to repeal them.</p>","PeriodicalId":48086,"journal":{"name":"NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL JOURNAL","volume":"138 1608","pages":"40-83"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143030052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Andrea Teng, James Stanley, Jeremy Krebs, Christopher Gca Jackson, Jonathan Koea, Nina Scott, Dianne Sika-Paotonu, Jeannine Stairmand, Chunhuan Lao, Ross Lawrenson, Jason Gurney
{"title":"Projected increases in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2020-2044.","authors":"Andrea Teng, James Stanley, Jeremy Krebs, Christopher Gca Jackson, Jonathan Koea, Nina Scott, Dianne Sika-Paotonu, Jeannine Stairmand, Chunhuan Lao, Ross Lawrenson, Jason Gurney","doi":"10.26635/6965.6500","DOIUrl":"10.26635/6965.6500","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The prevalence of diabetes has been increasing in Aotearoa New Zealand by approximately 7% per year, and is three times higher among Māori and Pacific peoples than in Europeans. The depth of the diabetes epidemic, and the expansive breadth of services required for its management, elevate the need for high-quality evidence on the projected future burden of this complex disease.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this manuscript we have projected the prevalence of diabetes (type 1 and type 2 combined) out to 2040-2044 using age-period-cohort modelling. National-level data from central government on diabetes prevalence (Virtual Diabetes Register) were used to describe recent diabetes prevalence trends (2006-2019) by age group, calendar period and birth cohort, with these trends used to project diabetes prevalence out from 2020 to 2044.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Aotearoa New Zealand will experience a significant increase in the absolute volume of prevalent diabetes, rising by nearly 90% to more than 500,000 by 2044. The age-standardised prevalence of diabetes will increase from around 3.9% of the population (268,248) to 5.0% overall (502,358). The prevalence and volume of diabetes diagnoses will increase most drastically for Pacific peoples, most notably Pacific females for whom diabetes prevalence is projected to increase to 17% of the population by 2044.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The increases in the future burden of diabetes mellitus projected here will heighten pressure on health services. Immediate action is required to reduce new cases of diabetes and other obesity-related illnesses. Fiscal policies to prevent these diseases, coupled with population-level interventions to more effectively manage and control diabetes, are effective tools for reducing disease burden.</p>","PeriodicalId":48086,"journal":{"name":"NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL JOURNAL","volume":"138 1608","pages":"94-106"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143029917","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rohil Chauhan, Daniel Harvey, Anand Segar, Steven White
{"title":"Delayed presentation of severe cervical myelopathy two years post-motorcycle accident: a case report.","authors":"Rohil Chauhan, Daniel Harvey, Anand Segar, Steven White","doi":"10.26635/6965.6709","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26635/6965.6709","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48086,"journal":{"name":"NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL JOURNAL","volume":"138 1608","pages":"129-131"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143029942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The effect of an educational intervention on high school students' knowledge about vaping-related risks and expressed desire to quit vaping.","authors":"Ben Wamamili, Philip Pattemore, John Pearson","doi":"10.26635/6965.6653","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26635/6965.6653","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>Electronic cigarette use (vaping) has increased rapidly among adolescents globally. Most electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) contain nicotine, which is addictive and can cause behaviour problems and mood dysregulation. We sought to assess whether an educational intervention increased knowledge about vaping-related health risks and desire to quit among high school students. We assessed whether the effects differed between in-person or online intervention.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The analysis included 332 students from four high schools in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Students were randomly assigned to an in-person or online group and completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires. Risk factors for smoking and vaping were assessed with logistic regression. Schools' socio-economic status was imputed from their Equity Index rank. Intervention effects were assessed with and without demographic covariates using mixed-effect linear regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Students attending schools in lower socio-economic areas and those with Māori ethnicity were at greater risk of smoking and vaping. Risk of smoking increased with year level; however, risk of vaping did not. There was significant improvement in responses to 3 out of 10 knowledge questions, and there was no evidence that post-intervention scores were affected by participant characteristics. The in-person group showed higher percentage improvements than the online group. Expressed desire to quit vaping increased from 61.7% to 68.8%; however, there was significantly greater desire to quit vaping in students from years 9 and 10 than years 11 and 12 (P=0.043).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our educational intervention improved the knowledge of high school students on vaping-related health risks and increased expressed desire to quit vaping.</p>","PeriodicalId":48086,"journal":{"name":"NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL JOURNAL","volume":"138 1608","pages":"13-23"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143030138","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
David Tipene-Leach, Shirley Simmonds, Marnie Carter, Helena Haggie, Virginia Mills, Mataroria Lyndon
{"title":"Cultural safety and the medical profession in Aotearoa New Zealand: a training framework and the pursuit of Māori health equity.","authors":"David Tipene-Leach, Shirley Simmonds, Marnie Carter, Helena Haggie, Virginia Mills, Mataroria Lyndon","doi":"10.26635/6965.6732","DOIUrl":"10.26635/6965.6732","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The concept of cultural safety, developed in the training of nurses over 30 years ago, was adopted by the Medical Council of New Zealand in 2019. We report on the journey of the Medical Council of New Zealand, Te ORA (the Māori Medical Practitioners Association) and the Council of Medical Colleges, and our increasing understanding of cultural competence and cultural safety in promoting best outcomes for Māori patients over the years. We describe in detail the key components of a cultural safety training framework as a tool for medical colleges' training of registrars and the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) of specialist medical practitioners. Finally, we discuss pathways forwards for cultural competence and cultural safety training that apply to a society with diverse cultural needs, noting that such training has been proposed as significant in shifting \"difficult to change\" Māori health inequities.</p>","PeriodicalId":48086,"journal":{"name":"NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL JOURNAL","volume":"137 1607","pages":"87-97"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142819836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Navneet N Lal, Gabrielle McDonald, Andrew Sise, Warwick Bagg, Zoe Bristowe, Paul Brunton, Chris Hendry, Bridget Kool, Damian Scarf, Susan Shaw, Collin Tukuitonga, Jonathan Williman, Denise Wilson, Peter Crampton
{"title":"Representation of Asian ethnic subgroups in Aotearoa's regulated health workforce pre-registration students.","authors":"Navneet N Lal, Gabrielle McDonald, Andrew Sise, Warwick Bagg, Zoe Bristowe, Paul Brunton, Chris Hendry, Bridget Kool, Damian Scarf, Susan Shaw, Collin Tukuitonga, Jonathan Williman, Denise Wilson, Peter Crampton","doi":"10.26635/6965.6640","DOIUrl":"10.26635/6965.6640","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To provide a socio-demographic profile of Asian students enrolled in their first year of a health professional programme in polytechnics and universities in Aotearoa New Zealand and to explore differences in enrolment rates (ERs) within Asian sub-groups and by socio-economic deprivation, citizenship status, urban/rural location and gender.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Ethnic group/sub-group and socio-demographic characteristics of students enrolling within 21 health professional programmes were collected and averaged over 5 years (2016-2020). Age- and ethnicity-matched denominator data from the 2018 Census were used to calculate yearly ERs and ratios (ERR) using generalised linear modelling with the European ethnic group as the reference.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The overall ER for Asian students was higher than for Europeans (ERs [95% confidence interval: 280 [269-292] per 100,000 population aged 18-29 per year vs 149 [144-154]). However, Indian, Chinese and Southeast Asian students were under-represented in occupational therapy (ERR: 0.33-0.67, p=<0.017), midwifery (ERR: 0.46-0.61, p=<0.002) and paramedicine (ERR: 0.23-0.29, p<0.001). There were proportionately fewer female Asian students compared with European students (68% vs 82%, p<0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This novel research provides detailed information on Asian sub-group representation in health professional programmes in Aotearoa. Taken in the context of known health needs of different Asian sub-groups, these data may facilitate health workforce planning and targeted policies within health professional programmes in order to better match the health workforce to population health needs.</p>","PeriodicalId":48086,"journal":{"name":"NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL JOURNAL","volume":"137 1607","pages":"48-66"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142819844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nicola J Lawrence, Bobbi B Laing, Joseph Tyro, Scott Babington, Marina Dzhelali, Adele Gautier, Dixon Grant, Prashanth Hari Dass, Michael Jameson, Carolyn Lauren, Jessica Maxwell, Ngapei Ngatai, Rix du Plessis, Charlie Stratton, Alvin Tan, Madison Williams, Michelle Wilson
{"title":"Process of development of decentralised clinical trial methodology for cancer clinical trials in Aotearoa New Zealand.","authors":"Nicola J Lawrence, Bobbi B Laing, Joseph Tyro, Scott Babington, Marina Dzhelali, Adele Gautier, Dixon Grant, Prashanth Hari Dass, Michael Jameson, Carolyn Lauren, Jessica Maxwell, Ngapei Ngatai, Rix du Plessis, Charlie Stratton, Alvin Tan, Madison Williams, Michelle Wilson","doi":"10.26635/6965.6628","DOIUrl":"10.26635/6965.6628","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To develop processes for the development of decentralised clinical trial methodology for Aotearoa New Zealand, focussing on equity of access to cancer clinical trials for Māori, Pacific people, vulnerable communities and those in rural settings.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A national steering committee supported by Te Aho o Te Kahu - Cancer Control Agency was formed to: guide the adaptation and implementation of overseas decentralised clinical trial models to suit the needs of Aotearoa New Zealand with an equity focus; provide high-level oversight and expertise for direction and development of policies, procedures and infrastructure compliant with ICH GCP R2; and implement a national strategy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twelve standard operating procedures were developed, as well as a supervision plan and a glossary. These were made freely available on the New Zealand Association of Clinical Research website.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Decentralised clinical trials offer a novel method of trial conduct that is patient- and whānau-centred. The model allows patients to remain in their local area with whānau and support networks, and their local treating team, increasing clinical trial accessibility and quality of care. This methodology has the potential to support improvement in research capabilities nationally and be utilised beyond oncology. It would benefit from significant investment in national clinical trial infrastructure.</p>","PeriodicalId":48086,"journal":{"name":"NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL JOURNAL","volume":"137 1607","pages":"12-21"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142819842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rebecca Lucas, Emma Tapp, Rumbi Chimwayange, Luiza Hermoso, Matthew R Blakiston
{"title":"A laboratory-developed extraction free real-time PCR for Group A Streptococcus in throat swabs: greater detection and faster results.","authors":"Rebecca Lucas, Emma Tapp, Rumbi Chimwayange, Luiza Hermoso, Matthew R Blakiston","doi":"10.26635/6965.6676","DOIUrl":"10.26635/6965.6676","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>This work describes the validation of an in-house extraction free real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of Group A Streptococcus (GAS) in throat swabs collected in gel amies.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Throat swabs received by the laboratory were prospectively tested by routine bacterial culture and an in-house PCR assay targeting the GAS SpeB gene with a multiplexed RNaseP internal control. Samples with discrepant culture/PCR results had additional testing using the commercial Xpert Group A Strep PCR assay (Cepheid). Post introduction of the in-house GAS PCR the comparative laboratory turn-around time between PCR and historic culture results was determined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 1,093 throat swabs included in the final analysis, GAS was detected by culture and GAS PCR in 262 (24.0%) and 319 (29.2%) respectively. The overall, positive and negative agreement of the GAS PCR with culture was 94.2%, 98.9% and 92.8% respectively. Of the 63 discordant samples, one (33.3%) of three culture positive/in-house PCR negative samples and 56 (93.3%) of 60 culture negative/in-house PCR positive samples were GAS positive on the Xpert Group A Strep assay. Median turn-around time from laboratory receipt to result decreased from 44 to 16 hours with the introduction of the GAS PCR into routine practice. Forty-five percent of samples came from European patients and 25% from persons aged over 30 years, suggesting over-testing in persons at low risk of GAS pharyngitis complications.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The in-house GAS PCR provided greater and faster detection of GAS from throat swabs compared to culture. However, throat swabbing for GAS needs to be better targeted to those populations at high risk of post-GAS pharyngitis complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":48086,"journal":{"name":"NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL JOURNAL","volume":"137 1607","pages":"34-38"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142819830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sophie Rees, Ammar Alsamarrai, Jessica Fulton, Jithendra B Somaratne
{"title":"Favourable outcome of acute myocarditis diagnosed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.","authors":"Sophie Rees, Ammar Alsamarrai, Jessica Fulton, Jithendra B Somaratne","doi":"10.26635/6965.6704","DOIUrl":"10.26635/6965.6704","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>Acute myocarditis (AM) is increasingly diagnosed in the era of more sensitive imaging techniques. The natural history of AM diagnosed on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) may be different to historic cohorts due to the detection of milder disease. This study aims to measure the outcome of patients with AM detected by cMRI.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively reviewed all cMRI studies performed over a 10-year period between 2012 and 2022. Patients with a diagnosis of AM based on cMRI criteria and clinical assessment were selected for inclusion.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>One hundred and ninety-six patients were included. The mean age was 42 years and 79% were male. Chest pain, fever or viral prodrome and dyspnoea were the most common presenting symptoms, and one patient presented with cardiac arrest. On cMRI, nine patients had left ventricular ejection fraction <40% and 174 patients had evidence of late gadolinium enhancement, most commonly affecting the basal inferolateral and inferior segments in a subepicardial and mid-wall distribution. Five patients required admission to intensive care unit (ICU). Important outcomes included the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias in 17, recurrent or chronic myocarditis in 15 and implantable cardioverter defibrillator insertion in five patients, respectively. After a median follow-up of 4.6 years, there were no cardiac-related deaths, and three patients died from malignancy-related causes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Patients with AM diagnosed by cMRI have a favourable medium-term outcome. Severe left ventricular dysfunction and ICU admission are rare. cMRI should be considered early in patients with suspected AM.</p>","PeriodicalId":48086,"journal":{"name":"NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL JOURNAL","volume":"137 1607","pages":"39-47"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142819840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}