Articles – Pacific Health/Health Trends & Statistics

1. Experiences of whanau/families when injured children are admitted to hospital: a multi-ethnic qualitative study from Aotearoa/New Zealand.
By Arlidge, Brooke; Abel, Sally; Asiasiga, Lanuola; Milne, Sharon L.; Crengle, Sue; Ameratunga, Shanthi N.
Ethnicity & Health. Apr 2009, Vol. 14 Issue 2, p169-183. 15p
Abstract: Several quantitative studies in the international literature have described disparities in the provision of and access to health services for a variety of health conditions among 'minority' populations. This New Zealand qualitative study aimed to explore and describe the experiences of indigenous Maori and Pacific families (both minority populations) and Pakeha (New Zealand European) families when their children were admitted to hospital for an unintended injury.

2. Indigenous health in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific.
By Anderson, Ian; Crengle, Sue; Leialoha Kamaka, Martina; Chen, Tai-Ho; Palafox, Neal; Jackson-Pulver, Lisa.
Lancet. 5/27/2006, Vol. 367 Issue 9524, p1775-1785. 11p
Abstract: We survey Indigenous health issues across the Pacific with a case study approach that focuses on Australia, New Zealand, Hawai'i, and US Associated Micronesia. For each case study, we provide an overview of the Indigenous population, its colonial history, and current health and social outcomes. In the discussion that follows, we flag some of the key policy initiatives that have been developed to address Indigenous health disadvantage, albeit within the context of continuing debates about Indigenous rights and policy

3. Colorectal cancer screening disparities in Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: which groups are most vulnerable?
By Lee, Hee Yun; Lundquist, Melissa; Ju, Eunsu; Luo, Xianghua; Townsend, Aloen.
Ethnicity & Health. Dec 2011, Vol. 16 Issue 6, p501-518. 18p
Abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant cause of mortality among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), yet studies have consistently reported lower CRC screening rates among AAPIs than among non-Latino Whites and African Americans. Moreover, existing research tends to aggregate AAPIs as one group when reporting CRC screening, masking the disproportionate burden in cancer screening that exists across AAPI groups. Methods. This study examines differences in CRC screening rates in both aggregated and disaggregated AAPI groups as compared with non-Latino Whites

4. Do New Zealand's immigrants have a mortality advantage? Evidence from the New Zealand Census-Mortality Study.
By Hajat, Anjum; Blakely, Tony; Dayal, Saira; Jatrana, Santosh.
Ethnicity & Health. Oct2010, Vol. 15 Issue 5, p531-547. 17p
Abstract: To examine all-cause mortality differentials among New Zealand's (NZ) immigrant population. Unlike other studies that use the total non-migrant population as the reference group, we use NZ-born populations of the same ethnic group for comparison purposes. Our study intends to answer two questions: first, do immigrants have a mortality advantage relative to their NZ-born counterparts of the same ethnicity? Second, does an immigrant mortality advantage, if one exists, decline as duration of residence increases?

Articles – RCN – Nursing Management Journal

5. Safety in more than just numbers
Nursing Management (2014) 21, 8, 20-21
Gillian Leng outlines the benefits of new guidelines to ensure safe nursing and midwifery staffing levels

6. Ward rounding study will find out if quality of care is improved
Nursing Management (2015). 21, 9, 7-7.
The effectiveness of the intentional rounding system, championed by prime minister David Cameron, is being investigated in a £450,000 study.

7. Numeracy and literacy skills are letting candidates down
Nursing Management  (2015). 21, 9, 8-9.
A large London trust is rejecting more than half of band 5 nurses who apply for nursing posts because they fail basic numeracy and literacy tests, Nursing Management’s survey reveals.

8. What leaders need to know about patient safety collaboratives
Nursing Management (2015). 21, 9, 11-11.
If we are truly to transform the NHS, to make it the safest health and care system in the world, we must put patients first in everything we do, hear the voice of patients and carers and empower them to become partners in care. Organisations must also assess and improve safety culture, build transparency by encouraging staff to speak up and capitalise on learning. To do all this, effective leadership is crucial

9. Vantage point - Managing change well
Nursing Management (2015). 21, 9, 13-13.
I wouldn’t call myself a Luddite but when it comes to sorting my smartphone or tablet I turn to one of my sons. So, while I was excited to hear that the trust had been awarded a multimillion pound grant as part of the Safer Hospital, Safer Wards initiative, I was sceptical about whether the IT could deliver.

10. Double-checking high-risk medications in acute settings: a safer process
Nursing Management (2015) 21, 9, 16-22
There is a need to reduce medication errors, and one way of achieving this for high-risk medications is by double-checking. This article reports the results of a literature review, undertaken as part of an MSc, which examined safe processes for double-checking. The article discusses three themes that emerged from the review: the evidence and processes of double-checking, supportive safety measures and human factors. The review concluded that two people double-checking the entire process enhances and strengthens practice, and that clinical settings and contexts are important to safety in medication administration.

11. Educating nursing students in clinical leadership
Nursing Management (2015). 21, 9, 23-28.
One of the goals of nursing education is to develop caring and responsible nurses with clinical reasoning skills who are capable of improving outcomes in complex healthcare systems. Using the Model of Situated Learning in Nursing Leadership, generalist entry graduate nursing students at Rush University in Chicago, part of a large academic medical centre with Magnet recognition for excellence in nursing practice, are educated using a curriculum based on the clinical nurse leader (CNL) competencies. This article presents a case study that demonstrates how the model is used to provide experiences for learning the CNL role.

12. Organisational commitment in nurses: is it dependent on age or education?
Nursing Management (2015) 21, 9, 29-36.
In hospitals in the United States, the ratio of nurses to patients is declining, resulting in an increase in workloads for the remaining nurses. Consequently, the level of commitment that these nurses have to their jobs is important. Outside health care, employees from different generations working for a variety of organisations differ in their levels of organisational commitment, but this information has not been available for nurses. This study, carried out in the state of Alabama, looks at whether nurses from different generations differ in their levels of organisational commitment, and also whether there are any differences in organisational commitment between licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs).

Articles – RCN: Nursing Older People journal

13. Transforming dementia care in an NHS trust
Nursing Older People (2015). 27, 1, 18-23
Abstract: Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust was one of nine trusts selected to take part in the RCN development programme transforming dementia care in hospitals during 2013. The programme aimed to improve the experience of care for people with dementia and their carers in hospital. This article outlines a two-day training programme delivered to staff on two pilot wards with a larger cohort of adults with dementia than other wards in Manor Hospital. The programme has led to a noticeable cultural change and significantly improved care and management of patients with cognitive impairment and/or dementia on the two pilot wards. As a result, the training programme has been implemented more widely across the hospital

14. Healthcare assistants’ attitudes towards older people and their knowledge about ageing
Nursing Older People (2015). 27, 1, 24-30.
Abstract: Aim To examine healthcare assistants’ (HCAs) attitudes towards older people in long-term care settings and their knowledge of ageing.
Method  A survey was conducted with a convenience sample of HCAs in three long-term care settings in the Republic of Ireland.
Results Overall, positive attitudes towards older people were found and there was a relationship between greater knowledge about ageing and more positive attitudes.

16. Beliefs of students about growing older and perceptions of working in gerontology
Nursing Older People (2015) 27, 1, 33-37
Abstract: Most studies recommend education to enable individuals to develop accurate knowledge about the ageing process and interest in working with older people. There is a discrepancy in the literature as to whether health and social care workers hold positive or negative attitudes towards older people. As attitudes are strongly linked with perceptions of working with older people, this article presents a review of the literature and discussion on attitudes of health and social care students to ageing and perceptions of working with older people

17. Blueprint to put humanity back into care homes
Nursing Older People (November 2014). 26, 10, 8-9.
Abstract: Over the years there has been a great deal of focus on what is wrong with care homes for older people. Cases of neglect and abuse have hit the headlines, while substandard care is sadly still far too common

18. Legal implications of restrictive physical interventions in people with dementia
Nursing Older People (November 2014). 26, 10, 24-29.
Abstract: Dementia care environments are now home to thousands of people who have complex mental and physical health needs. Many of these people have lost capacity or have fluctuating capacity to make decisions about their care. There can be times when restrictive physical interventions are necessary to protect a person’s wellbeing and to administer required treatment and care. However, nurses working in care settings may not be aware of their rights and liabilities, and those of care staff, when such interventions are used for therapeutic purposes.

19. Staff’s views on managing symptoms of dementia in nursing home residents
Nursing Older People (November 2014). 26, 10, 31-36.
Abstract: Aim To identify the most common and distressing behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in nursing homes and to identify staff preferences regarding its behavioural management

Conferences

20. ICN Conference in Seoul Korea (19-23 June 2015)
Four sessions are the responsibility of the ICN eHealth Programme team: Main Session for eHealth (20 June), ICNP Consortium meeting (21 June), ICNP Workshop (22 June), and the Telenursing Network meeting (1200 – 1320, Saturday 20 June
More information: Claudia C. Bartz cbartz@uwm.edu
Website: http://www.icn2015.ch/en/

21. 2015 HiNZ Conference
Date:  19-22 October 2015
Venue: Christchurch, Wigram Air Force Museum.  

22. Midwifery Challenges: CPD Conference
Mercure Hotel Brisbane
Date 18 - 19 May 2015
More information: https://www.ausmed.com.au/course/the-midwifery-conference

23. Behavioural phenotypes from the bench to bedside: translation of basic science to clinical practice - 18th SSBP International Research Symposium
Date: 4th – 5th September 2015
Venue: London, UK
More information: http://www.ssbpconference.org/

24. Alcohol and Cancer Conference
Alcohol Action NZ will be joining with the Cancer Society of NZ
Date: Wednesday 17 June 2015
Venue:  Te Papa
http://www.alcoholaction.co.nz/?p=433

News – National

25. Prevention is key to the future of health care
12 February 2015
Jodie Oliver-Baxter & Lynsey Brown, PHCRIS
PHCRIS researchers, Dr Jodie Oliver-Baxter and Dr Lynsey Brown, recently released a RESEARCH ROUNDup review of preventive care in a primary health care (PHC) setting with a particular focus on time, resources and strategies in an Australian context
Click here to view the full report.

26. Balanced diet still 'key to good health'
Marlborough Express - 12/02/2015
A Marlborough dietitian says a balanced diet is the key to good health after new studies blamed sugar and carbohydrates, rather than cholesterol and saturated fats, for unhealthy diets
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/66082010/Balanced-diet-still-key-to-good-health

27. Saturated fat may not be the enemy
Stuff- February 11 2015
Butter, cream and chocolate lovers, rejoice - saturated fats may not be the enemy we've made them out to be. While it is not quite an invitation to embark on a diet of pizza and ice cream sundaes, New research from the BMJ - formerly the British Medical Journal - claims that decade-old advice restricting dietary fat intake may be completely unfounded.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/teach-me/66037105/saturated-fat-may-not-be-the-enemy

News – international

28. The government is missing the point with its health pricing ideas
The Age - February 15, 2015
Rosemary Calder
Unless we focus on reducing preventable illness and improve how chronic diseases are managed, we will never address the root of our escalating health costs
http://www.theage.com.au/comment/the-government-is-missing-the-point-with-its-health-pricing-ideas-20150215-13egnz.html

29. Labor to spend $40 million on nurse-led health centres to relieve pressure on Emergency Departments
The Age - February 15, 2015
NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley will pledge $40 million to establish four walk-in medical centres staffed by nurses to relieve pressure on emergency departments. In a move set to be opposed by the Australian Medical Association, Labor's election promise will see 45 nurses staff the centres in western Sydney, Wollongong and the Central Coast