Issue 258 - 4 August 2022

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 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 Innovation

Hapū Ora (pregnancy wellness): Māori research responses from conception, through pregnancy and ‘the first 1000 days’ – a call to action for us all
The aim of this article, published in the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, was to describe a body of Māori translational research responses that challenge colonialised systems.

Health Equity (New Zealand)

Prioritizing indigenous health equity in health registers: an environmental scan of strategies for equitable ascertainment and quality data
Cerebral palsy (CP) registers serve as instrumental tools to support development of care pathways, preventative strategies, and health gains. Such health gains, however, are not always universal, with Indigenous health inequities common. To support Indigenous health, health registers need complete, consistent, and high-quality data. The aim of this study, published in Global Health Research and Policy, was to identify perceived barriers to the ascertainment of Indigenous peoples on health registers and to collate strategies supporting comprehensive ascertainment and achievement of high-quality Indigenous data.

Hospital Productivity (International)

Effects of Lean Interventions Supported by Digital Technologies on Healthcare Services: A Systematic Review
Despite the increasing utilization of lean practices and digital technologies (DTs) related to Industry 4.0, the impact of such dual interventions on healthcare services remains unclear. This study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, aimed to assess the effects of those interventions and provide a comprehensive understanding of their dynamics in healthcare settings.

Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes (International)

Behavioral Counseling Interventions to Promote a Healthy Diet and Physical Activity for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Adults Without Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke, is the leading cause of death in the US. A large proportion of CVD cases can be prevented by addressing modifiable risk factors, including smoking, obesity, diabetes, elevated blood pressure or hypertension, dyslipidemia, lack of physical activity, and unhealthy diet. Adults who adhere to national guidelines for a healthy diet and physical activity have lower rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality than those who do not; however, most US adults do not consume healthy diets or engage in physical activity at recommended levels. This recommendation, by US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), is published in JAMA.

Primary Mental Health (New Zealand)

The effectiveness of ūloa as a model supporting Tongan people experiencing mental distress
This article, published in the International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, is based on a larger research project, which investigates the effectiveness of a culturally appropriate model, namely ūloa, when working with Tongan people.

Primary Mental Health (International)

Protective Factors against Self-Harm and Suicidality among Australian Indigenous Adolescents: A Strengths-Based Analysis of the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children
Understanding and encouraging social and emotional well-being (SEWB) among Indigenous adolescents is vital in countering the impacts of colonisation and intergenerational trauma. As self-harm and suicidality are considered markers of poor SEWB among Indigenous communities, the authors of this study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, aimed to identify the individual-level and community-level factors protecting Indigenous adolescents from self-harm and suicidality.

Coping Strategies to Enhance the Mental Wellbeing of Sexual and Gender Minority Youths: A Scoping Review
Robust population-based research has established that sexual and gender minority youths (SGMYs) are at an increased risk of mental ill-health, but there is a dearth of literature that seeks to explore how to best support SGMY mental wellbeing. This scoping review, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, aims to identify findings related to coping strategies and/or interventions for building resilience and/or enhancing the mental wellbeing of SGMYs.

Factors affecting the sustainability of community mental health assets: A systematic review
Resources and activities offered by Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations could play a key role in supporting communities with their mental health. Whilst policy makers have become increasingly interested in using such asset-based approaches to improve mental health and well-being, the sustainability of these approaches remains underresearched. In this review, published in Health & Social Care in the Community, explored the factors affecting the sustainability of community mental health assets.

Increased Immunisation (International)

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Inequity in Routine Childhood Vaccination Coverage: A Systematic Review
Routine childhood vaccination coverage rates fell in many countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the impact of inequity on coverage is unknown. This review, published in Vaccines, synthesised evidence on inequities in routine childhood vaccination coverage.

Weight Management (New Zealand)

Caregiver Perception of Weight Status in 5-Year-Old Children From a Community of High Socioeconomic Deprivation in New Zealand
Early childhood obesity is highly prevalent in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). Little is known about caregiver perception of children's weight status among those living in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation, particularly Māori and Pacific children. The aim of this study, published in Frontiers in Public Health, was to explore caregiver perception of weight status among children starting school in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation.

Replacing Sedentary Time with Physically Active Behaviour Predicts Improved Body Composition and Metabolic Health Outcomes
Discretionary leisure time for health-promoting physical activity is limited. This study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, aimed to predict body composition and metabolic health marker changes from physical activity reallocation using isotemporal substitution analysis.

Key Ministry of Health Publications

Report on Maternity web tool
The Report on Maternity web tool provides health statistics about women giving birth, their pregnancy and childbirth experience and the characteristics of live-born babies in New Zealand. The focus is on births from 2009 to 2020 

Evaluation of the Māori Influenza and Measles Vaccination Programme: In Pursuit of Māori Health Equity
The Māori Influenza and Measles Vaccination Programme (MIMVP) is a Ministry of Health programme. This report evaluates the programme’s performance for 2021, and makes a series of recommendations about how the programme could be enhanced in the future. 

Ministry of Health Consultations & Events

Ethical Guidance for a Pandemic
The National Ethics Advisory Committee – Kāhui Matatika o te Motu (NEAC) is an independent advisor to the Minister of Health. NEAC has developed an update to its 2007 publication ‘Getting Through Together: Ethical Principles for a Pandemic’. The updated publication is called ‘Ethical Guidance for a Pandemic: Whakapuāwaitia e tatou kia puāwai tātoui’. This online survey is seeking your feedback on the draft publication. This survey closes 20th September 2022.

Proposed warning and advisory statement for ocular decongestants used for eye redness and/or minor eye irritation: Do not use in children under 12 years of age
This Medsafe consultation seeks your feedback on a proposed new warning and advisory statement for the package labelling of ocular decongestants. These are medicines that provide temporary relief of redness and/or minor irritation in the eyes through narrowing of swollen blood vessels. This consultation closes 22nd August 2022.

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.