Issue 313 - 14 November 2024

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

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Article Access

For articles that aren't open access, contact your Health NZ district 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.

Māori Innovation

Ngā Kaupapa Wawata me Uara: a narrative review exploring Tiriti o Waitangi-centred population health programmes in Aotearoa New Zealand
Globally, Indigenous Peoples experience widespread health inequities. Treaties provide a potential framework to uphold Indigenous rights and progress health equity. Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Māori language version of the Treaty of Waitangi) established the relationship between Māori, the Indigenous people of Aotearoa (New Zealand), and the British Crown. Grounded in Kaupapa Māori theory, this literature review, published in The International Indigenous Policy Journal, used an Indigeneity-Grounded Analysis (IGA) policy lens to identify four characteristics of Tiriti-centred population health programmes: whanaungatanga (relationships), pro-equity actions, Te Ao Māori (Māori worldviews), and accountability.

Te Mauri—whānau mana motuhake: supportive care for whānau Māori living with cancer
This article, published in AlterNative, describes the origins and development of Te Mauri (the life essence), a unique Māori (Indigenous people of New Zealand) public health and well-being programme aimed at addressing critical gaps in knowledge about supportive cancer care for whānau (families) living with cancer in Aotearoa (New Zealand).

Health Equity (New Zealand)

Perceptions Toward Using Artificial Intelligence and Technology for Asthma Attack Risk Prediction: Qualitative Exploration of Māori Views
This article, published in JMIR Formative Research, explores the perceptions of Māori communities in New Zealand regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies for predicting asthma attack risks.

Equity of access to pathological diagnosis and bronchoscopy for lung cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand
This study, published in The New Zealand Medical Journal, investigates equity of access to pathological diagnosis and bronchoscopy for lung cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Health Equity (International)

Enablers and barriers of community health programs for improved equity and universal coverage of primary health care services: A scoping review
Community health programs (CHPs) are integral components of primary health care (PHC) systems and support the delivery of primary care and allied health and nursing care services. CHPs are necessary platforms for delivering health services toward universal health coverage (UHC). There are limited prior studies on comprehensive evidence synthesis on how CHPs strengthen community health systems for the demand and supply of PHC services. Therefore, this scoping review, published in BMC Primary Care, synthesised existing evidence on the interlinkage between CHPs and the community health system and beyond for delivering and utilising PHC services toward UHC.

Nutrition & Physical Activity (New Zealand)

A Mediterranean dietary pattern intervention does not improve cardiometabolic risk but does improve quality of life and body composition in an Aotearoa New Zealand population at increased cardiometabolic risk: A randomised controlled trial
The aim of this randomised controlled trial, published in Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism, was to test if a New Zealand food-based Mediterranean diet with behavioural intervention improves cardiometabolic health and wellbeing.

Quality Improvement (International)

Improving adverse drug event reporting by healthcare professionals
Adverse drug events, encompassing both adverse drug reactions and medication errors, pose a significant threat to health, leading to illness and, in severe cases, death. Timely and voluntary reporting of adverse drug events by healthcare professionals plays a crucial role in mitigating the morbidity and mortality linked to unexpected reactions and improper medication usage. The objective of this Cochrane Review was to assess the effectiveness of different interventions aimed at healthcare professionals to improve the reporting of adverse drug events.

Emergency Department Services (International)

Clinical practice guidelines for person-centred handover practices in emergency departments: a scoping review
The objective of this review, published in BMJ Open, is to examine the available information on clinical practice guidelines for person-centred and current handover practices between emergency care practitioners (ECPs) and healthcare professionals in emergency departments (EDs).

Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes (New Zealand)

Long-term patient outcomes from a multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitation programme with integrated nurse specialist support: A retrospective cohort study
Cardiac rehabilitation programmes, while demonstrating benefits, face challenges in universal adoption, particularly in New Zealand. This study, published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies, evaluates the long-term impact of cardiac rehabilitation participation and attendance on survival and readmission rates in the Auckland Health District.

South Asian Muslim individuals' lived experiences of Type 2 Diabetes healthcare - 'I just want someone to actually break it down for me'
Type 2 Diabetes is highly prevalent across Aotearoa New Zealand, and South Asian people have a disproportionately high burden of disease. This research, published in Psychology & Health, aimed to improve understanding of South Asian Muslim people's experiences navigating New Zealand's diabetes healthcare to promote cultural responsiveness and equitable outcomes.

Primary Health Care (New Zealand)

Understanding the context of positive experiences of primary care for transgender and gender diverse adults: An email interview study in Aotearoa New Zealand
Past research has demonstrated that transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people often have negative experiences of healthcare. Exploratory research is needed to provide in-depth understanding of the healthcare experiences of TGD people. Primary care is a crucial element of healthcare, but past research has tended to overlook what contributes specifically to positive experiences of primary care for TGD adults. The aim of this study, published in the International Journal of Transgender Health, was to explore positive experiences of TGD adults when engaging with primary care in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Primary Health Care (International)

Shared decision-making with patients with complex care needs: a scoping review
This article, published in BMC Primary Care, conducts a scoping review on shared decision-making (SDM) with patients who have complex care needs. The study examines how factors like multimorbidity, mental health issues, and social vulnerability influence healthcare decisions. It highlights the collaborative nature of SDM between patients and professionals, noting the specific challenges in follow-up care for these patients.

Opportunities of integrated care to improve equity for adults with complex needs: a qualitative study of case management in primary care
People living in precarious socio-economic conditions are at greater risk of developing mental and physical health disorders, and of having complex needs. This places them at risk of health inequity. Addressing social determinants of health (SDH) can contribute to reducing this inequity. Case management in primary care is an integrated care approach which could be an opportunity to better address SDH. The aim of this study, published in BMC Primary Care, is to better understand how case management in primary care may address the SDH of people with complex needs.

Primary Mental Health (International)

Implementation outcomes from a randomized, controlled trial of a strategy to improve integration of behavioral health and primary care services
Integrating behavioural health services in primary care is challenging; a toolkit approach to practice implementation can help. A recent comparative effectiveness randomized clinical trial examined the impact of a toolkit for improving integration on outcomes for patients with multiple chronic conditions. Some aspects of behavioural health integration improved; patient-reported outcomes did not. This report, published in BMC Health Services Research, evaluates the implementation strategy (Toolkit) using Proctor’s (2011) implementation outcomes model.

Oral Health (New Zealand)

Dentists' perceptions of providing care to community-dwelling older people
This study, published in Gerodontology, explored the attitudes of New Zealand (NZ) general dental practitioners (GDPs) towards older adults living within the community and the barriers and difficulties caring for their oral health needs.

Oral Health (International)

Assessment of teledentistry in improving access to dental care: a systematic review
Teledentistry has emerged as a promising approach to improving access to dental care, particularly for underserved populations. This systematic review, published in the Australian Dental Journal, aims to evaluate the effectiveness of teledentistry interventions in enhancing access to dental care.

Key Ministry of Health Publications

Special Patients and Restricted Patients: Guidelines for Regional Forensic Mental Health Services
Regional forensic mental health services are responsible for the care and treatment of special patients and restricted patients within the legislative framework of the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 and the Criminal Procedure (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act 2003. Regional forensic mental health services have a focus on recovery and rehabilitation, but also need to maintain safety and security for tāngata whaiora and the public. These guidelines are intended to foster consistent decision-making by clinicians, facilitate the administration of matters relating to special patient leave, and provide transparency around the processes used in reaching decisions about special patients.

Ministry of Health Consultations & Events

Unlocking the potential of active ageing - Long-term Insights Briefing publication consultation
The Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora is seeking written feedback on the proposed topic of its Long-term Insights Briefing by Monday 2 December 2024. The proposed Long-term Insights Briefing (LTIB) topic is: Unlocking the Potential of Active Ageing - creating health-promoting and supportive environments to empower older people and enhance their contributions to society.

Health Sector Initiative

Nurse-led screening programme helps identify children with heart issues
A new nurse-led approach for offering heart scans to siblings of children recently diagnosed with acute rheumatic fever at Kidz First Children’s Hospital in Counties Manukau aims to address health workforce shortages and improve rheumatic fever services.

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.