The principal scientific journal for the profession in New Zealand

Scott Mitchell, Lesina Nakhid-Schuster, Michel Neeff

Adult cochlear implant recipients and meningitis in New Zealand: are patients receiving the recommended immunisations?

A cochlear implant (CI) consists of two parts: an external part, the processor, worn behind the ear like a hearing aid which communicates through the scalp via a magnetic coil with the implant proper, the receiver/stimulator, which includes an active electrode array which traverses through the mastoid, middle ear and enters the scala tympani of the inner ear through the round window or a drilled cochleostomy near to the round window.

Hannah Morton, Kevin C Pedley, Robin JC Stewart, Jane Coad

Vitamin D concentrations in New Zealanders with and without inflammatory bowel disease: do they differ?

Vitamin D (25(OH)D or calcidiol) is a fat soluble steroid that plays a major role in bone health through the regulation of serum calcium and phosphate concentrations.

James S Millar, Carlene MM Lawes, Bill Farrington, Penny Andrew, Peter Misur, Eileen Merriman, Matt Walker

Incidence of venous thromboembolism after total hip, total knee and hip fracture surgery at Waitemata District Health Board following a peer-reviewed audit

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a significant cause of potentially preventable morbidity and mortality following total hip arthroplasty (THA), total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and hip fracture surgery.

Andrew J Kerr, Sirisha Mitnala, Mildred Lee, Harvey D White

Utilisation and maintenance of high-intensity statins following acute coronary syndrome and coronary angiography: opportunities to improve care (ANZACS-QI 26)

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is one of the leading causes of death in New Zealand and worldwide. Over 15,000 patients are admitted to New Zealand hospitals with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) every year and the one-year case fatality is 20%.

Claire Budge, Melanie Taylor, Chiquita Hansen, Folole Fai, Materoa Mar

The role and measurement of patient activation in the management of long-term conditions in New Zealand

In this article we highlight the nature and utility of a construct called patient activation.

Gagan Gurung, Sarah Derrett, Robin Gauld

The role and functions of community health councils in New Zealand’s health system: a document analysis

The broader community can bring unique and valuable perspectives to the health system.

Matthew R Blakiston, Joshua T Freeman

Population-level exposures associated with MRSA and ESBL-E. coli infection across district health boards in Aotearoa New Zealand: an ecological study

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health threat, undermining the sustainability and safety of modern healthcare.

Michael O’Grady, Rebecca Firth, Ross Roberts

Intensive care unit utilisation post-oesophagectomy

Worldwide, oesophageal cancer is the sixth most common cancer, and the seventh most common cause of cancer-related mortality—responsible for 1 in 20 cancer deaths in 2018.

Deborah L Snell, K Anne Sinnott Jerram, Jennifer A Dunn, C Jean Hsieh, Gerben DeJong, Gary J Hooper

Use of rehabilitation after hip and knee replacement in New Zealand: a national survey

Long-term outcomes following primary hip and knee joint replacement are favourable with most patients experiencing positive functional outcomes over time.

Sukhbir K Sandhu, Vickie M Corbett, Lynne Chepulis, John Goldsmith, Priya Joseph, Sonya K Fraser, Joanna M McClintock, Ryan G Paul

The prevalence of microvascular complications in Waikato children and youth with type 1 diabetes has reduced since 2003

It is well known that good glycaemic control in type 1 diabetes (T1D) prevents, delays and slows the progression of microvascular complications such as diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy.

Erik Monasterio, Susanna Every-Palmer, Julie Norris, Jackie Short, Krishna Pillai, Peter Dean, James Foulds

Mentally ill people in our prisons are suffering human rights violations

Successive governments have ignored the effect that rapid growth in the prison population has had on health and equity in Aotearoa New Zealand.

David Murdoch, Michael Addidle, Hanna-Sofia Andersson, Brendan Arnold, Michelle Balm, Jackie Benschop, Bryan Betty, Mark Birch, Max Bloomfield, Cheryl Brunton, Andrew Burns, Stephen Chambers, Lynley Cook, Simon Dalton, Harvey Duncan, Juliet Elvy, Richard Everts, Joshua Freeman, Nigel French, Kate Grimwade, David Hammer, David Hayman, David Holland, Ben Hudson, Paul Huggan, Susan Jack, Rosemary Ikram, Matthew Kelly, Iain Lamont, Michael Maze, Gary McAuliffe, Stephen McBride, Sarah Metcalf, Susan Morpeth, Arthur Morris, Samantha Murton, Ramon Pink, Alan Pithie, Martin Pitout, Patricia Priest, Nigel Raymond, Kerry Read, Stephen Ritchie, Matthew Rogers, Philip Schroeder, Susan Taylor, James Taylor, Mark Thomas, Arlo Upton, James Ussher, Anja Werno, Siouxsie Wiles

Politicians: please work together to minimise the spread of COVID-19 | OPEN ACCESS

With COVID-19 now present in New Zealand, and the situation a genuine health emergency, it is essential our political leaders work together and use their influence to minimise the impact of the virus in our community.

Vol 133 No 1508: 17 January 2020

Disasters, policies and micronutrients: the intersect among ethics, evidence and effective action

Neville M Blampied, Roger T Mulder, M Usman Afzali, Oindrila Bhattacharya, Meredith Blampied, Julia J Rucklidge

We will address health system policy issues relating to the ethical approval process for health research and dissemination as well as the willingness of the health system to incorporate information from published health research into clinical practice.

Michael J Maze, Lutz Beckert

The 1918–1919 influenza epidemic in New Zealand: end of the century reflections

The influenza epidemic from 1918–1919 caused an estimated 9,000 deaths among New Zealanders, and disproportionately affected Māori.

Bridget H Robson, Lis Ellison-Loschmann, Mona Jeffreys, Fiona McKenzie

Cancer survival equity by 2030: a Treaty compliant systems approach required

The Waitangi Tribunal’s Inquiry into Health Services and Outcomes WAI2575 is underway and includes claims related to cancer outcomes for Māori.

Vol 132 No 1505: 8 November 2019

The primary healthcare claims to the Waitangi Tribunal

Over the past 40 years, primary healthcare policy in New Zealand has developed in a context of competing political, social, economic and professional forces.

Vol 132 No 1504: 25 October 2019

A measles epidemic in New Zealand: Why did this occur and how can we prevent it occurring again? | OPEN ACCESS

Nikki Turner

In 2019 New Zealand has seen an upsurge in measles cases

Nick Wilson, Lisa Te Morenga, Sally Mackay, Sarah Gerritsen, Christine Cleghorn, Amanda C Jones, Boyd Swinburn

Food taxes and subsidies to protect health: relevance to Aotearoa New Zealand

The hazardous and obesogenic food environment are very major contributors to health loss in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Vol 133 No 1508: 17 January 2020

Teeth or no teeth: exploring punitive measures for adults smoking in cars containing children in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Frank Houghton, Diane O’Doherty, Ben Houghton

Smoking remains the world’s leading causes of preventable mortality and morbidity. Alongside the human cost are the significant economic costs of smoking.

Mary Nowlan, Diana Murfitt, Nikki Turner

Age is not just a number—synopsis of the 5th New Zealand Influenza Symposium 2019

The 5th New Zealand Influenza Symposium took a focus on both the uptake of the influenza vaccine and long-term consequences of influenza.

Irene Kereama-Royal, Sara Jones, Elisa Lavelle Wijohn, Claire Doole, Elisabeth Burgess, Heather Came

Resisting ethnic inequities in advanced breast cancer: a call to action

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Aotearoa New Zealand. There are systemic ethnic inequities across the cancer continuum, from diagnosis and receiving treatment, through to mortality rates

John Horrocks, Nick Wilson

“Beasts”—New Zealand’s utility vehicles: their climate change emissions and macho marketing

“You’re Going to Need a Bigger Garage” reads an advertisement for the 2019 Ford Ranger Raptor in New Zealand Autocar magazine

Jason Gurney, Shelley Campbell, Chris Jackson, Diana Sarfati

Equity by 2030: achieving equity in survival for Māori cancer patients | OPEN ACCESS

The recent Cancer Care at a Crossroads conference, jointly convened by the University of Otago and Cancer Society of New Zealand

Taking BMI off the table

Lucy Carey

All four-year-olds in New Zealand are offered a B4 School Check—a health and development check which aims to identify and address any concerns before children start school

Jen-Li Looi, Toby Verryt, Peter McLeod, Christina Chan, James Pemberton, Mark Webster, Andrew To, Mildred Lee, Andrew J Kerr

Incidence of Takotsubo syndrome vs acute myocardial infarction in New Zealand (ANZACS-QI 45)

Takotsubo syndrome (TS) (also known as apical ballooning syndrome) is characterised by acute but usually rapidly reversible left ventricular (LV) dysfunction with distinct wall motion abnormalities, predominantly affecting postmenopausal women.

Rhys Ponton, Jason George

Pharmaceutical opioid changes risk overdose increase in New Zealand

In late 2019, a change was initiated to limit long acting (slow-release) morphine preparations available in New Zealand to one product, m-Eslon capsules. The previously funded slow-release tablets, Arrow Morphine LA, will no longer be available once existing supplies are exhausted (as of the beginning of March, both the 10mg and 100mg are no longer available).

Nutrition guidelines for dental care vs the evidence: is there a disconnect?—a response

Harriette Carr

The Ministry of Health considers that parts of the summary provided by the authors includes an incorrect interpretation of New Zealand’s dietary guideline advice, and a misrepresentation of the overall recommended eating pattern for New Zealanders.

Vol 133 No 1508: 17 January 2020

Response to Ben Gray: Sun protection policy in New Zealand

Bronwen McNoe, Anthony Reeder

We recently published findings from an ecological study of school sun protection policies.1 In a critique of our publication

Jennifer B Kidd, Jonathan Jarman

Vaping in Taranaki Schools: A need for policies to prohibit the use and possession of vaping devices in schools

The number of people vaping worldwide is rising dramatically and this trend is also seen in New Zealand youth

On the health effects of radiofrequency radiation

Robin Kelly

As a concerned general practitioner of 38 years standing, I have been following the ongoing debate about the potential harm to patients of both existing non-ionising radiofrequency radiation (RFR)

J Mark Elwood, Andrew W Wood

Animal studies of exposures to radiofrequency fields

We thank Dr Kelly for his interest in our paper on health effects of radiofrequency fields

Vol 132 No 1489: 1 February 2019

Mind That Child; A Medical Memoir

This a book that recounts the experience of the Auckland Starship’s paediatrician Dr Simon Rowley over his professional lifetime.

Vol 132 No 1488: 18 January 2019

Fat Off; the Right Way A clever and sustainable eating guide for weight loss and healthy living

Paul Anderson is a New Zealander who trained in general surgery and works part-time in Australia and part-time in New Zealand.

Vol 132 No 1488: 18 January 2019

The Art of Recovery: six personal journeys

As an editor you receive books for review, which are sent to suitable people following an email agreement to review.

Vol 131 No 1477: 22 June 2018

The Older Traveller: A guide for the health professional

When I found this book was returned from the initial reviewer without a review from the person who had “volunteered” to review it

Vol 131 No 1477: 22 June 2018

Black Flu 1918; The story of New Zealand s worst public health disaster

This is the account of the 1918 influenza pandemic.

Vol 130 No 1463: 6 October 2017

Governor William Hobson: his health problems and final illness

Yee Chen Lau

Captain William Hobson, our first governor, had a tumultuous year before his untimely death in 1842

Vol 130 No 1463: 6 October 2017

Not Our Problem