Issue 241 - 4 November 2021
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. You can forward this newsletter to others who may be interested in receiving it. They can register and subscribe here. You can also access other recent issues of the digest
here. If you have any queries, please email us at library@health.govt.nz.
Article AccessFor 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.
Māori and Pacific peoples’ experiences of a Māori-led diabetes programme
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) disproportionately affects Māori and Pacific peoples in Aotearoa (New Zealand). Despite this, the lived experiences of T2DM and its management by Māori and Pacific peoples are scarcely acknowledged in health literature. The present study, published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, examines the lived experiences of T2DM by Māori and Pacific participants in the Mana Tū diabetes programme.
Health Equity (New Zealand)
Quality Improvement (New Zealand)
Quality Improvement (International)
Cancer Services (New Zealand)
Which demographic factors influence Pacific women’s attendance at colposcopy clinics in New Zealand?
The aim of this study, published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, was to examine the demographic factors associated with attendance at colposcopy clinics among Pacific women following a high-grade cytology in New Zealand. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Self-Sampling among Never-and Under-Screened Indigenous Māori, Pacific and Asian Women in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Feasibility Study
In Aotearoa, New Zealand, the majority of cervical cancer cases occur in women who have never been screened or are under-screened. Wāhine Māori, Pacific and Asian women have the lowest rate of cervical screening. Self-sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV-SS) has been shown to increase participation in cervical cancer screening. A whole-of-system approach, driven by evidence in the most effective delivery of HPV-SS, is required to mitigate further widening of the avoidable gap in cervical screening access and outcomes between groups of women in Aotearoa. This single-arm feasibility and acceptability study of HPV self-sampling, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, invited never- and under-screened 30–69-year-old women from general practices in Auckland, Aotearoa.
Cancer Services (International)
Music interventions for improving psychological and physical outcomes in people with cancer
Having cancer may result in extensive emotional, physical and social suffering. Music interventions have been used to alleviate symptoms and treatment side effects in people with cancer. This review includes music interventions defined as music therapy offered by trained music therapists, as well as music medicine, which was defined as listening to pre‐recorded music offered by medical staff. The objective of this Cochrane Review was to assess and compare the effects of music therapy and music medicine interventions for psychological and physical outcomes in people with cancer. Interventions to Improve the Preparedness to Care for
Family Caregivers of Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Preparedness for caregiving could balance the negative impacts of caregiving. The interventions aimed at increasing readiness among the caregivers are important during the illness period for both patients and their caregivers. The aims of this study, published in Cancer Nursing, were to review the interventions applied to the caregivers of cancer patients and to examine the effects of these interventions on the preparedness to care.
Emergency Department Services (International)
Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes (New Zealand)
A survey of nurses prescribing in diabetes care: Practices, barriers and facilitators in New Zealand and the United Kingdom
The aim of this study, published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing, was to compare diabetes-related prescribing practices, barriers and facilitators amongst nurse prescribers in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Evaluating diabetes care quality improvement strategies used by clinical teams in five primary care practices in New Zealand
This study, published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, aims to describe the level of implementation of six QI strategies for improving primary care of diabetes (self-management support, team changes, case management, patient education, electronic patient registers and patient reminders).
Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes (International)
Primary Health Care (New Zealand)
Primary Mental Health (New Zealand)
Primary Mental Health (International)
Weight Management (New Zealand)
Adult obesity management in New Zealand general practice: a review
Obesity is an important issue that leads to further health complications, increases the strain on the national health system and lowers quality of life. There is little available information on obesity management to guide best practice in general practice, despite 32% of New Zealand adults reported to be obese. The aim of this paper, published in the Journal of Primary Health Care, was to review obesity management in New Zealand general practice.
Weight Management (International)
Disability Services (International)
How can coproduction help to deliver culturally responsive disability support? A case study from Australia
How to improve access and quality of social services to respond to cultural diversity is receiving increased attention. Yet no approach to cultural responsiveness has been widely accepted. Coproduction has been championed in many service fields for better service outcomes and has the potential to inform practices for cultural responsiveness. This study, published in the Health & Social Care in the Community, explored how coproduction can be used to deliver culturally responsive social services.
Key Ministry of Health Publications
Mortality web tool
The Mortality web tool presents mortality and demographic data for selected causes of deaths registered in New Zealand from 1948–2018. Suicide web tool
The Suicide web tool presents data on confirmed suicides reported by the Ministry of Health, as well as data on suspected intentionally self-inflicted deaths reported by the Chief Coroner. Virtual Diabetes Register web tool
This web tool presents both estimated numbers of people registered as having diabetes, as well as the estimated prevalence of diabetes per 1000 people, across different demographic groups in the population. Standard of care: Administering assisted dying medication in New Zealand Aotearoa
This standard has been developed to ensure assisted dying services follow best
practice in administering medication in New Zealand Aotearoa. It covers the period of
service provision from when a service provider receives the medication from the
pharmacy through to the time that the person receiving the medication dies and the
service provider returns the medication kit. Contracted pharmacy services in-house
standard operating procedures and the Pharmacy Services Standard NZS 8134.7:2010
cover best practice in safely storing and transporting the medication. Other legal
requirements are outlined in Ngā whakaritenga ā-ture | Legal duties.
Health Consultations & EventsTransforming our Mental Health Law – a public discussion document
The Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 has not kept pace with the shift towards a recovery and wellbeing approach to care and has never been comprehensively reviewed. He Ara Oranga: Report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction highlighted these issues. Since 2019, we have been working on immediate, short-term improvements under the current legislation. This includes releasing new guidelines to improve people’s experiences under the current Mental Health Act and making amendments to the Act to eliminate indefinite treatment orders, better protect people’s rights and improve safety. We are now focusing on completely repealing and replacing the Mental Health Act and developing new mental health legislation for New Zealand. New legislation can support pae ora (healthy futures) by supporting self-determination and enhancing mana,
encouraging whānau involvement, and strengthening recognition of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Although the Mental Health Act is only used for a small proportion of people each year, it has significant impact on the lives of those who do experience it, and their family and whānau. We have heard why change is needed, and the next step is to get clear direction for what new mental health legislation in New Zealand should look like.
District Health Board Initiative
Counties Manukau Health celebrate a NZ first approach
CM Health announced a first in New Zealand approach that addresses barriers in a condition that can cause significant neonatal illness and even death. The “rhesus factor” is a protein on red blood cells and approximately 15% of the NZ population don’t have the protein. This can cause complications/issues during pregnancy some of which can be dire, even fatal. Recent work by a dedicated team has led to a treatment, a blood product, which can be delivered by community pharmacists free of charge on a Lead Maternity Carer prescription. This will help to address barriers such as cost and convenience, thereby reducing the risk of serious neonatal complications.
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.
|