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Ministry of Health Library

Health Improvement and Innovation Digest

Issue 187 - 28 March 2019

Welcome to the fortnightly Health Improvement and Innovation Digest (formerly the HIIRC digest). The Digest has links to key evidence of interest, with access to new content arranged by topic.

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If you have any queries, please email us at library@moh.govt.nz.

Have you heard about Grey Matter?

We'd like to introduce you to another newsletter that the Ministry of Health Library prepares.  The Grey Matter newsletter provides monthly access to a selection of recent NGO, Think Tank, and International Government reports related to health. Information is arranged by topic, allowing readers to quickly find their areas of interest.  If you'd like to subscribe to Grey Matter, email library@moh.govt.nz.

Article access

For articles that aren't open access, contact your DHB library, or organisational or local library for assistance in accessing the full text. If your organisation has a subscription, you may be able to use the icon under full text links in PubMed to access the full article.

Quality Improvement (New Zealand)

Patient, family and whānau escalation: Kōrero mai projects – what we know so far
The Health Quality & Safety Commission’s Kōrero mai workstream, part of its patient deterioration programme, is in its early stages, with three sites testing patient, family and whānau escalation systems. The Commission asked those three sites – Southern Cross Hospital Christchurch, Canterbury District Health Board and Waitemata District Health Board – to explore the complexity of communication relating to escalation, and their findings are summarised in this brief paper.

Pre-eclampsia causing severe maternal morbidity – a national retrospective review of preventability and opportunities for improved care
The aim of this study, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, was to review cases of pre-eclampsia resulting in severe maternal morbidity, describing the maternal and neonatal outcomes and the potential preventability of severe maternal morbidity (SMM).

He Tamariki Kokoti Tau: Māori whānau experiences of neonatal intensive care units
He Tamariki Kokoti Tau is a Kaupapa Māori (by, with, and for Māori) qualitative longitudinal study that examines the experiences of whānau (families) of preterm Māori pēpi (babies) as they journey along the preterm care pathway. This study, published in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, aimed to give voice to the experiences, views and attributions of whānau, with the goal of service transformation to ensure that whānau are supported as they face the joys and challenges of parenting their precious taonga (newborn gift).


Quality Improvement (International)

Clinical practice guidelines for creating an acute care hospital-based antimicrobial stewardship program: a systematic review
The authors of this study, published in the American Journal of Infection Control, systematically reviewed published clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the development of acute care hospital-based antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs).


Disability Sector Quality Improvement (International)

Care coordination models improve quality of care for adults aging with intellectual and developmental disabilities
A significant gap remains between existing evidence-based care coordination techniques for the general population and those that have been successfully translated for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This study, published in the Journal of Disability Policy Studies, sought to understand the potential of care coordination to improve the lives of adults aging with IDD.


Hospital Productivity (International)

Implementation of influenza point-of-care testing and patient cohorting during a high-incidence season: a retrospective analysis of impact on infection prevention and control and clinical outcomes
During high-incidence influenza seasons, a robust infection prevention and control policy is imperative to reduce nosocomial transmission of influenza. The aim of this study, published in the Journal of Hospital Infection, was to assess the impact of influenza point-of-care testing (POCT) in an emergency department (ED) and patient cohorting on an influenza ward on infection prevention and control and clinical outcomes.


Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes (New Zealand)

Trends in cardiovascular management of people with diabetes by primary healthcare nurses in Auckland, New Zealand
The aim of this study, published in Diabetic Medicine, was to re-examine current work practices and evaluate time trends in the cardiovascular management of people with diabetes consulted by primary healthcare nurses in New Zealand.


Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes (International)

Mediterranean‐style diet for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease
The objective of this study, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, was to determine the effectiveness of a Mediterranean‐style diet for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Interventions to support return to work for people with coronary heart disease
The authors of this study, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, aimed to find and analyse the results of studies examining programmes to help people with heart disease return to work in order to determine if these programmes really help them return to work, and also if these programmes affect quality of life or have any unwanted effects.

Decision aids for people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus: an effectiveness rapid review and meta-analysis
The authors of this study, published in Diabetic Medicine, performed a rapid review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating patient decision aids (PtDAs) for people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Management of people with Type 2 diabetes shared between a specialized outpatient clinic and primary health care is noninferior to management in a specialized outpatient clinic: a randomized, noninferiority trial
This study, published in Diabetic Medicine, aimed to evaluate whether management of people with Type 2 diabetes shared between a specialized outpatient clinic and primary health care has noninferior HbA1c outcomes compared with mono-sectorial management in a specialized outpatient clinic.

Evidence-based diabetes care for older people with Type 2 diabetes: a critical review
Older people with diabetes can represent some of the more complex and difficult challenges facing clinicians. In this review, published in Diabetic Medicine, the authors attempted to explore what evidence there is to guide clinicians in a comprehensive scheme of treatment for older adults, often in a high-risk clinical state, in terms of glucose lowering, blood pressure and lipid management, frailty care and lifestyle interventions.


Primary Health Care (New Zealand)

Patient-centred care training needs of health care assistants who provide care for people with dementia
It is well documented that Health care assistants (HCAs) provide the most hands-on care to residents in aged care facilities, and play a critical role in the provision of care to dementia residents. This paper, published in Health and Social Care in the Community, reports the experiences of HCAs in caring for people at end-of-life, identifies the skills required for their work and examines the education provided against these skills.


Primary Mental Health (International)

Psychological interventions for parents of children and adolescents with chronic illness
The objective of this study, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, was to evaluate the efficacy and adverse events of psychological therapies for parents of children and adolescents with a chronic illness.

The role and competence of midwives in supporting women with mental health concerns during the perinatal period: a scoping review
Perinatal mental health problems are linked to poor outcomes for mothers, babies and families. Women often fall between the gap of maternity and mental health services. To address this, there is a call for reform in the way in which perinatal mental healthcare is delivered. This paper, published in Health and Social Care in the Community, explores the role and competence of midwives in delivering mental healthcare.


Increased Immunisation (International)

A stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial designed to improve completion of HPV vaccine series and reduce missed opportunities to vaccinate in rural primary care practices
The objective of this study, published in Implementation Science, was to test the effectiveness of a comprehensive team-based intervention to improve human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination completion rates and reduce missed opportunities to vaccinate in rural Oregon.


Childhood Obesity (New Zealand)

Management of childhood obesity: an audit of clinical practice in secondary care
Childhood obesity continues to be a major health issue for children world-wide, with well-recognised major health effects. This study, published in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, evaluated the prevalence of obesity in children presenting to secondary care in Southern New Zealand, as well as their clinical management.


Oral Health (International)

Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries
The objective of this study, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, was to determine and compare the effects of toothpastes of different fluoride concentrations (parts per million (ppm)) in preventing dental caries in children, adolescents, and adults.

The effect of mobile personalised texting versus non-personalised texting on the caries risk of underprivileged adults: a randomised control trial
In the Republic of Ireland (RoI), fluoridation has been effective and efficient for caries prevention at population level, regardless of income status; however, at individual level it still has limitations. This study, published in BMC Oral Health, aimed to compare personalised versus non-personalised text messaging on ‘chance of avoiding new cavities’ with the Cariogram, a computer-based caries risk assessment (CRA) model, in an economically disadvantaged adult population in the RoI.


Key Ministry of Health Publications

Epilepsy consumer experience survey 2018: report on findings from the survey
Epilepsy is considered a ‘hidden burden’ with a low profile in the health system, and limited understanding of how it affects those living with the condition and their families and whānau. The Ministry of Health is working with an advisory group to improve services to people living with epilepsy in New Zealand. To do this the Ministry developed a consumer survey to help understand what is important to people with epilepsy, and particularly how to ensure community and health services meet their needs. The Ministry wanted to understand what services worked well for people with epilepsy and those that they thought needed improvement.


The information available on or through this newsletter does not represent Ministry of Health policy. It is intended to provide general information to the health sector and the public, and is not intended to address specific circumstances of any particular individual or entity.

Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora
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Thorndon
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New Zealand

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