New Zealand Medical Journal

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A low or intermediate aortic dissection detection risk score coupled with a negative D-dimer has been proposed as a reliable rule-out strategy for acute aortic syndrome (AAS) in the emergency department. Locally, its use has crept into the work-up of patients with suspected AAS. This opinion piece offers a word of caution-the stakes are high for missing AAS. Although the rule-out strategy does show exciting potential, it remains to be validated, especially for Australasian patients. Patients with suspected AAS should continue to be investigated with timely advanced imaging such as contrast-enhanced computed tomographic aortography...

AIMS: Routinely collected health data can provide rich information for research and epidemiological monitoring of different diseases, but using the data presents many challenges. This study aims to explore the attitudes and preferences of people aged 55 and over regarding the use of their de-identified health data, and their concerns and comfort in different scenarios. METHODS: An anonymous online survey was conducted with people aged 55 and over currently engaged with health services in a New Zealand health district during June-October 2022...

AIM: To explore the importance of health workforce training, particularly in newly regulated healthcare practices such as assisted dying (AD). This study aims to analyse the socio-demographic factors associated with health professionals' completion of the e-learning module and attendance at the two webinars provided by the New Zealand Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora (MH) and whether completion of the e-learning module and webinars supported health professionals' understanding of the End of Life Choices Act 2019...

AIMS: To explore socio-demographic characteristics of non-attenders at diabetic retinal screening. METHODS: A retrospective, register-based cross-sectional analysis of 10,275 participants invited to diabetic retinal screening in Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) between May 2011 and June 2020 was performed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association of age, sex, type of diabetes, ethnicity and socio-economic deprivation with non-attendance at diabetic retinal screening...

AIMS: The use of electronic cigarettes (EC) among young people has escalated in Aotearoa and in other jurisdictions where they are available commercially. The rise in vaping among young people for lifestyle reasons rather than for smoking cessation is of concern, given the growing evidence of the harmful effects of vaping. Specifically, there is little known about how young people in Aotearoa perceive the effect of vaping on their oral health. This study aims to explore how young people in Aotearoa perceive risks of vaping on oral health...

AIMS: Non-traumatic dental presentations (NTDPs) commonly present to emergency departments (EDs) and may receive orthopantomograms (OPGs, plain X-rays), opiates and antibiotics. "Choosing Wisely" is an international healthcare campaign that aims to reduce unnecessary and low-value patient care. This study aims to identify low-value management of NTDPs. METHODS: Presentations to the Christchurch Hospital ED with dental pain or dental abscess in 2020 were included...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Aotearoa New Zealand currently excludes potential blood donors who lived in the United Kingdom (UK) for 6 months or more between 1980 and 1996. This action is due to the potential for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) following blood transfusions from preclinical vCJD cases, who themselves mostly developed disease from the consumption of cattle with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) during this period, or from those incubating the misfolded prion proteins that cause disease. This donor exclusion policy led to 10% of New Zealand's active blood donors in 2000 being excluded, and it remains today despite periodic shortages of some blood products...

AIMS: Endometrial cancer is the commonest gynaecological cancer in New Zealand. Some women have their diagnosis of endometrial cancer prompted by an abnormal cervical cytology screening test. When high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV) testing becomes the primary test for cervical screening, this avenue of incidental diagnosis will be reduced. Therefore, our aims were to estimate the proportion of women whose diagnosis of endometrial cancer follows incidental detection on routine cervical cytology, and to understand the clinicopathologic characteristics of these cases...

AIM: To assess local compliance with Routine Antenatal Anti-D Prophylaxis (RAADP) guidelines and to determine if its administration is equitable in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. METHODS: A retrospective 6-month audit of people birthing in Wellington maternity units. Rhesus-negative people were identified and electronic heath records reviewed. RESULTS: Two hundred and nine out of 1,881 (11%) of people birthing were Rhesus-negative. Two hundred and five people were included in the audit...

AIMS: Examine the access to the Bay of Plenty rehabilitation service for Indigenous Māori patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Identify structural aspects of the rehabilitation service which promote or restrict access for Māori. METHODS: All patients who underwent TKA in publicly funded Bay of Plenty hospitals in 2021 were retrospectively supplied with a survey. Participants were asked to self-report demographic information and to complete a structured record of the duration, type, and location of their pre and post-operative rehabilitation...

AIMS: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of vicarious racism experienced by children (0-14 years) in Aotearoa New Zealand and investigate the association between vicarious racism and diagnosed child mental health conditions. METHODS: Adult and child 2016/2017 New Zealand Health Survey data were merged to create child-caregiver dyads. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between the caregiver experiences of racism (exposure) and diagnosed child mental health conditions (outcome), adjusting for confounders and exploring potential pathway variables...

AIMS: Oncology stakeholders' view on shared decision making (SDM) in Aotearoa New Zealand is not well described in the literature. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of patients, clinicians and other cancer care stakeholders on shared decision making, and how and why shared decision making in cancer care can be viable and appropriate for patients and healthcare providers. METHODS: Non-random, purposive sampling, combined with advertisement and snowball recruitment identified patient, whānau and healthcare provider participants for qualitative interviews...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.