In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the authors investigated the effect of reducing saturated fat intake and replacing it with carbohydrate, polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fat and/or protein on mortality and cardiovascular morbidity.

Dr Peter Saxton, Director of the Gay Men's Sexual Health Research Group (GMRG) at the University of Auckland, is celebrating the group's two year anniversary.

The GMRG was established in 2013 with seeding grants from the New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) and UniServices Ltd. It aims to promote research into HIV and sexual health among gay, bisexual, takataapui, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in New Zealand.

Dr Saxton received a HRC Emerging Researcher First Grant in 2010 while at the University of Otago for an investigation into undiagnosed HIV in a community sample of gay men. The study found that 21 per cent of those infected were not aware that they had HIV. The paper from this study was highly accessed and the findings received widespread news coverage when they were released in 2012 (e.g. New Zealand Herald,One News).

Dr Saxton rates the HIV behavioural research programme as one of the group's significant achievements to date. It has the largest database of sexual partnering among gay and bisexual males in New Zealand, and is well regarded internationally.

The Gay Auckland Periodic Sex Survey (GAPSS) and Gay men’s Online Sex Survey (GOSS) are anonymous repeat cross-sectional programmes that monitor trends in HIV risk behaviours among gay, bisexual, takataapui, and other men who have sex with men in New Zealand.

The surveys are funded by the Ministry of Health and undertaken collaboratively by the University of Auckland, the University of Otago’s AIDS Epidemiology Group, and the New Zealand AIDS Foundation.

Read more about the GMRG on the University of Auckland's website.

A UK population-representative sample of greater than or equal to 50 year-olds (n=6965) was surveyed using the Awareness and Beliefs about Cancer measure. These analyses examine six items on cancer beliefs (e.g., ‘cancer can often be cured’), and four on help-seeking barriers (e.g., ‘I would be too embarrassed’).
results: Smokers were more likely to hold pessimistic cancer beliefs than never-smokers or former-smokers on four of six items. For example, 34% agreed ‘a cancer diagnosis is a death sentence’, compared with 24% of non/former-smokers (P<0.001).

More smokers (18%) than non/former-smokers (11%) would not want to know if they had cancer (P<0.01). The only barrier to symptomatic help-seeking differing by smoking status was ‘worry about what the doctor might find’ (36% vs 28%, P<0.01). Associations were independent of demographics, self-rated health and cancer experience.

The authors conclude that smokers held more pessimistic and avoidant beliefs about cancer, which could deter early-detection behaviour. A better understanding of these beliefs is needed to increase engagement in early diagnosis by this high-risk group.

This is an open access article and is available to read in free full text at:  http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/bjc.2015.148

Quaife, S.L., et al. (2015). Smoking is associated with pessimistic and avoidant beliefs about cancer: results from the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership. British Journal of Cancer, 112, 1799–1804

The committee concludes that this streamlined set of measures could provide consistent benchmarks for health progress across the nation and improve system performance in the highest-priority areas.

The report can be read for free online at:  http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2015/Vital-Signs-Core-Metrics.aspx

New Zealand parents who turn down vitamin K for their newborns are more than 14 times more likely to not get their children immunised, a new University of Otago study has found.

The Department of Women’s and Children’s Health researchers suggest that this newly revealed link pinpoints a small, but easily identifiable, group of families to whom targeted early education about the benefits of immunisation could be offered.

Their findings are published in the international Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health.

Vitamin K in newborns is given to prevent vitamin K deficiency, which can in rare instances lead to severe bleeding and death. It is usually administered by intramuscular injection, but can also be given orally.

The researchers’ study of the medical records of 3,575 babies born in Dunedin in 2010 and 2011 found that of those 3% of parents who declined vitamin K for their babies, 17% went on to turn down all early childhood immunisations. These immunisations are scheduled for 6 weeks, 3 months, 5 months and 15 months.

In comparison, of those who consented for vitamin K to be given, only 1.2% declined subsequent immunisation.

Five per cent of children whose parents opted for oral vitamin K (4.8% of the study group) did not have any subsequent vaccinations. These parents were also more likely to be late for immunisations at 6 weeks of age, a lack of timeliness that puts infants at greater risk of catching diseases such as whooping cough.

Additionally, children whose parents declined vitamin K were more than five times as likely to have completed only some of their vaccinations.

Study lead author Dr Ben Wheeler says the findings strongly suggest that parental decision-making around vitamin K is a good predictor of wider choices about having a child immunised or not.

“From a public health perspective, this is an important insight. It highlights how pregnancy and the newborn period is a critical time for education and support to promote public health initiatives. Maintaining high immunisation rates in New Zealand is vital to ensure our children do not fall prey to sometimes deadly infectious diseases that we thought we’d left behind,” Dr Wheeler says.

Targeted education and support for parents who decline Vitamin K injections could potentially be offered at an early stage to better inform their choices and hopefully improve immunisation coverage, he says.

Twenty-seven randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions with children (aged 5-12) or adolescents (aged 13-18) and families to deter tobacco use were included. 

Based on their analysis, the authors conclude that "there is moderate quality evidence that family-based interventions can prevent children and adolescents from starting to smoke. Intensive programs may be more likely to be successful than those of lower intensity. There is also evidence to suggest that adding a family-based component to a school intervention may be effective. As the interventions and settings in the review differed considerably, it is important that family-based programmes continue to be evaluated".

This article can be read in free full text at:  http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004493.pub3

Thomas, R.E., et al. (2015). Family-based programmes for preventing smoking by children and adolescents. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2, CD004493.

The authors combined data from focus groups and individual user experience. Adults with type 2 diabetes were recruited through website advertisements and posters displayed at local GP practices and diabetes groups.

Participants used a risk calculator that provided individualised estimates of cardiovascular risk. Risk information was presented using natural frequencies, visual displays, and a range of formats. 

Thirty-six participants contributed data. Users demonstrated a range of complex cognitive and emotional responses, which might explain the lack of change in health behaviours demonstrated in the literature.

The authors conclude that cardiovascular risk calculators for people with diabetes may best be used in conjunction with health professionals who can guide the user through the calculator and help them use the resulting risk information as a source of motivation and encouragement.

This is an open access article that can be read in free full text at: http://dx.doi.org/10.3399/bjgp15X683953

Nolan, T., et al. (2015). Patient reactions to a web-based cardiovascular risk calculator in type 2 diabetes: A qualitative study in primary care. British Journal of General Practice, 1 March [Epub before print].

Postgraduate researcher Karen Page who is studying with Massey’s College of Health wants to find out why New Zealand’s vaccination rate is much lower than other countries like Australia and the UK.

She has discovered that vaccination rates in high decile schools are 20 per cent lower than in low decile schools in the catchment area of the Whanganui District Health Board and would like to extend this research to the rest of the country".

To read the full news story on the Massey University website, go to:  http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/about-massey/news/article.cfm?mnarticle_uuid=7A6CFC8E-B77E-EE4D-4392-266C02A17699

When compared with other cancer survivors, CRC survivors reported higher percentages of obesity and lack of physical activity; however, they had lower levels of current smoking. Adjusted results show that CRC survivors were significantly more likely to report lack of physical activity, fair/poor health, and other chronic health conditions compared with persons without a cancer diagnosis. Conversely, CRC survivors reported lower levels of current smoking than persons without cancer.

To read the full abstract, and for information on how to access the full text, go to: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25736006 or contact your local, DHB or organisational library for assistance.

Rohan, E. A., et al. (2015). Health behaviors and quality of life among colorectal cancer survivors. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 13 (3), 297-302.

The results indicated that "... the amount of income that is available for cigarette purchases has a large effect on cigarette consumption, but only at high prices".

To read the full abstract, and for information on how to access the full text, go to: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntu139 or contact your DHB library, or organisational or local library for assistance.

Koffarnus, M.N., et al. (2015). Effects of experimental income on demand for potentially real cigarettes. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 17(3), 292-298

Based on the results they conclude that "smoking is largely unchanged since 1993 among those with indicators of longstanding mental disorders or recent psychoactive medication usage, although declines have been observed among those without such indicators of mental disorder".

To read the full abstract, and for information on how to access the full text, go to: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntu173 or contact your DHB library, or organisational or local library for assistance.

Szatkowski, L. & McNeill, A. (2015). Diverging trends in smoking behaviors according to mental health status. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 17(3), 356-360.

See also: Trends in smoking among adults with mental illness and association between mental health treatment and smoking cessation (U.S.)

In this study, the authors investigated factors related to women’s intention to return to smoking, using data from a randomised controlled trial to prevent postpartum return to smoking.

The data used was for 382 women who smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetimes and at least 5 cigarettes a day prior to becoming pregnant. Forty-three percent had a strong intention of returning to smoking. "Factors independently associated with intending to return to smoking were: stating they did not want to be currently pregnant ..., reporting being abstinent for fewer days ..., being less concerned about the harmful effects of smoking to themselves ..., viewing quit as temporary ..., and self-identifying selves as smokers". The authors conclude that "although some factors related to intention to return to smoking were unchangeable, it might be possible to attempt to change women’s attribution of why they quit to be more permanent and to have them change their self-identity to be a “nonsmoker” from a “smoker who is not currently smoking.".

To read the full abstract, and for information on how to access the full text, go to: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntu270 or contact your DHB library, or organisational or local library for assistance.

Pollack, K.I., et al. (2015). Predictors of pregnant quitters’ intention to return to smoking postpartum. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 17 (6):742-745

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the first federally-funded national tobacco education campaign, “Tips From Former Smokers” (Tips), in 2012. This study used quitline data from 20 U.S. states and the District of Columbia to investigate changes in quitline caller characteristics, including demographics and smoking-related behaviors before and during the  campaign.

Based on the results, they conclude that "the Tips campaign increased the reach of quitline services to the general population of smokers, with increases across all demographic and tobacco use groups, but particularly among those who were uninsured. Such campaigns have the potential to increase access to cessation services for the uninsured".

To read the full abstract, and for information on how to access the full text, go to: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntu271 or contact your DHB library, or organisational or local library for assistance.

Zhang, L., et al. (2015). Changes in quitline caller characteristics during a national tobacco education campaign. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 5 January [Epub before print].

The target audience for the campaign was the general population of adults in the state, aged 18–54 years, with messages targeting both smokers and nonsmokers. The advertising was placed on TV, radio, print, and outdoor media. Some of the ads were co-branded with the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline. The long-term aims of the campaign were to increase smoking cessation, decrease overall tobacco use among Oklahomans, and reduce the likelihood that Oklahomans would begin smoking. Self-efficacy to either quit or not initiate tobacco use was encouraged through repetition of the brand/tagline.Counter-marketing in tobacco control plays an important role in increasing smoking cessation, reducing overall tobacco use, and reducing exposure to secondhand smoke.

A 2-year longitudinal population-based study of 4,001 Oklahomans aged 18–54 years was conducted to evaluate campaign-related changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. 

Overall campaign awareness was 81%. Exposure to Tobacco Stops With Me doubled quit attempts among tobacco users and increased knowledge about the harm of secondhand smoke. Tobacco non-users exposed to the campaign were 1.5 times more likely to help someone quit using tobacco than those not exposed, report that tobacco is a serious problem in Oklahoma, believe that tobacco companies should not be allowed to give away free samples or advertise at public events, and believe that smoking should be banned at public outdoor places. These findings were statistically significant after controlling for potential confounding variables.

This is an open access article and can be read in free full text at:  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2014.09.012

James, S. A., et al. (2015). Longitudinal evaluation of the Tobacco Stops with Me campaign. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 48(1, Suppl. 1).

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of behavioural interventions targeting diet, physical activity or smoking in low-income adults.

Thirty-eight studies reported in 42 papers were included, with over 1100 pregnant women represented - the majority drawn from disadvantaged groups.

"Four factors were identified that acted both as barriers and facilitators to women's ability to quit smoking in pregnancy and postpartum: psychological well-being, relationships with significant others, changing connections with her baby through and after pregnancy; appraisal of the risk of smoking". The authors discuss the implications of these findings.

This is an open access article and can be read in free full text at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jan.12580 

Flemming, K., et al. (2015). Qualitative systematic review: Barriers and facilitators to smoking cessation experienced by women in pregnancy and following childbirth. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 71(6), 1210-1226.

They reviewed the literature to explore whether CHWs are also effective in improving the health and the delivery of health care services to ethnic minority older adults in Western countries.

Seven studies were included. The effectiveness of the implementation of CHW programmes in older adults belonging to ethnic minorities is not univocal. In two studies, the authors found no significant differences. In five studies, they found some positive effects. They did not find negative effects in any of the studies.

For better interpretation of the results, effect ratios (ERs) were calculated as the number of positive findings divided by the total number of measured findings. Substantial effects on the access to care and on health behaviour were found. The mean ER for health outcomes was considerably lower.

The authors conclude that there are indications that CHWs serve as a means of improving health care use and health behaviour and, to a lesser extent, health outcomes among ethnic minority older adults. Further research is required to draw more solid conclusions on the effectiveness of CHW interventions in this target group. 

This is an open access article and can be downloaded and read in full free text at:  http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12913-014-0497-1

Verhagen, I., et al. (2014). Community health worker interventions to improve access to health care services for older adults from ethnic minorities: A systematic review. BMC Health Services Research, 14:497.

Qualitative content analysis was conducted on relevant articles from six UK and three Scottish national newspapers, published between 1st January 2004 and 16th February 2014. A total of 116 articles were included.

Comparing the period of 2004–2007 and 2008–2014 there has been an approximately ten-fold increase in the number of articles reporting on the harms to children of second-hand smoke exposure in vehicles. Legislative action to prohibit smoking in vehicles carrying children was largely reported as necessary, enforceable and presented as having public support. It was commonly reported that whilst people were aware of the general harms associated with second-hand smoke, drivers were not sufficiently aware of how harmful smoking around children in the confined space of the vehicle could be.

The authors conclude that the increased news reporting on the harms of second-hand smoke exposure to children in vehicles and recent policy debates indicate that scientific and public interest in this issue has grown over the past decade. Further, advocacy efforts might draw greater attention to the success of public-space smoke-free legislation which has promoted a change in attitudes, behaviours and social norms. Efforts might also specifically highlight the particular issue of children’s developmental vulnerability to second-hand smoke exposure, the dangers posed by smoking in confined spaces such as vehicles, and the appropriate measures that should be taken to reduce the risk of harm.

This is an open access article and can be downloaded and read in free full text at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-1116

Hilton, S., et al. (2014). Newsprint coverage of smoking in cars carrying children: A case study of public and scientific opinion driving the policy debate. BMC Public Health, 14; 1116.

Participants were 32 people with at least one LTC (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, asthma and coronary heart disease) and 10 practitioners. Consultations between patients with LTCs and health-care practitioners were audio-recorded. Semi-structured interviews were completed with patients and practitioners, using stimulated recall. Patients were re-interviewed 3 months later. 

Behaviour change talk in consultations was rare and, when it occurred, was characterised by deflection and diffidence on the part of practitioners. Patient motivation tended to be unaddressed. While practitioners positioned behaviour change work as outside their remit, patients felt uncertain about, yet responsible for, this work. Practitioners raised concerns that this work could damage other aspects of care, particularly the patient–practitioner relationship.

The autors conclude that behaviour change work is often deflected or deferred by practitioners in consultations, who nevertheless vocalise support for its importance in interviews. 

This is an open access article and can be downloaded and read in free full text at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/hex.12304

Hunter, C., Chew-Graham, C. A., Langer, S., Drinkwater, J., Stenhoff, A., Guthrie, E. A. and Salmon, P. (2014). ‘I wouldn't push that further because I don't want to lose her’: A multiperspective qualitative study of behaviour change for long-term conditions in primary care. Health Expectations, 7 November [Epub before print].

They found that the intervention was effective in enhancing the self-efficacy of hospitalised patients to recognize and report acute deteriorating conditions.

To read the full abstract, and for information on how to access the full text, go to: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2014.07.003 or contact your DHB library, or organisational or local library for assistance.

See, M.T.A., et al. (2014). Effectiveness of a patient education intervention in enhancing the self-efficacy of hospitalized patients to recognize and report acute deteriorating conditions. Patient Education and Counseling, 97(1), 122–127.

Three interrelated categories are presented: (i) The vast amount of side effects and drug interactions commonly described in PILs provoke various emotional reactions in patients which (ii) lead to specific patient behavior of which (iii) consulting the GP for assistance is among the most common. Findings show that current description of potential risk information caused feelings of fear and anxiety in the reader resulting in undesirable behavioral reactions.

The authors conclude that future PILs need to convey potential risk information in a language that is less frightening while retaining the information content required to make informed decisions about the prescribed medication. Thus, during the production process greater emphasis needs to be placed on testing the degree of emotional arousal provoked in patients when reading risk information to allow them to undertake a benefit-risk-assessment of their medication that is based on rational rather than emotional (fearful) reactions.

This is an open access article and is available to read in free full text at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2296-15-163

Herber, O.R., et al. (2014). Patient information leaflets: Informing or frightening? A focus group study exploring patients’ emotional reactions and subsequent behavior towards package leaflets of commonly prescribed medications in family practices. BMC Family Practice, 15:163.

"As hypothesized, warning label salience was positively associated with thoughts about risks of smoking stimulated by the warnings ..., which in turn were positively related to increased worry about negative outcomes of smoking ...; increased worry in turn predicted stronger intention to quit ..., which was a strong predictor of subsequent quit attempts ....".

The authors conclude that "health warning labels seem to influence future quitting attempts primarily through their ability to stimulate thoughts about the risks of smoking, which in turn help to raise smoking-related health concerns, which lead to stronger intentions to quit ... By making warning labels more salient and engaging, they should have a greater chance to change behavior".

To read the full abstract, and for information on how to access the full text, go to: http://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/hea0000056 or contact your DHB library, or organisational or local library for assistance.

Yong, H-H., et al. (2014). Mediational pathways of the impact of cigarette warning labels on quit attempts. Health Psychology, 33(11), 1410-1420.

Twenty-two studies were included and most "... showed favorable behavior change effects on health-related product use ... By product category, median increases in desired behaviors ranged from 4.0 percentage points for condom promotion and distribution campaigns to 10.0 percentage points for smoking-cessation campaigns".

The authors conclude that "health communication campaigns that combine mass media and other communication channels with distribution of free or reduced-price health-related products are effective in improving healthy behaviors". 

Available in full text at: http://www.thecommunityguide.org/news/2012/HealthCommunicationCampaigns.html

Robinson, M.N., et al. (2014). Mass media health communication campaigns combined with health-related product distribution: A Community Guide systematic review. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 47(3), 360–371.

Health Psychology is the official scientific publication of APA's Division 38 (Health Psychology).

Sources include: Census, Health and Lifestyles Survey, the New Zealand Smoking Monitor, and the Youth Insights Survey. Users can browse a range of interactive graphs, filter analyses on key demographics, and search by regional breakdowns.

http://tcdata.org.nz/

Participants discussed health warning labels, plain packaging and anti-smoking television advertisements. The authors found that "highly emotive warnings delivering messages of negative health effects were most likely to capture the attention of the study participants; however, these warning messages did not prompt quit attempts and participants were sceptical about the effectiveness of cessation programmes such as telephone quitlines. Active avoidance of health warning messages was common, and many expressed false and self-exempting beliefs towards the harms of tobacco".

The authors discuss the implications of this research for development of message content and medium for disadvantaged smokers who consider themselves desensitised to warnings. 

To read the full abstract, and for information on how to access the full text, go to: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/her/cyu037 or contact your DHB library, or organisational or local library for assistance.

Guillaumier, A., et al. (2015). Tobacco health warning messages on plain cigarette packs and in television campaigns: A qualitative study with Australian socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers. Health Education Research, 30(1),57-66.

Using quitline data from 23 states, the authors found that the number of quitline callers and callers who received counseling and/or nicotine replacement therapies increased by 88.6% and 70.8% respectively. Greater numbers of callers reported having made 24-hour quit attempts or quitting for 7 or more days during the campaign. Higher campaign exposure was positively associated with quit attempts and quitting for 7 or more days among persons from states with higher tobacco control funding. 

This article is available to read in full text at: http://ntr.oxfordjournals.org/content/16/11/1478

Zhang, L., et al. (2014). Intermediate cessation outcomes among quitline callers during a national tobacco education campaign. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 16(11), 1478-1486.

Twenty studies were included. Based on their analysis of these studies, the authors conclude that the "... smoking status of doctors may affect their delivery of smoking cessation treatments to patients, with smokers being less likely than non-smokers or ex-smokers to advise and counsel their patients to quit but more likely to refer them to smoking cessation programmes".

To read the full abstract, and for information on how to access the full text, go to: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/add.12680 or contact your DHB library, or organisational or local library for assistance.

Duaso, M.J., et al. (2014). Do doctors’ smoking habits influence their smoking cessation practices? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Addiction, 109,(11), 1811–1823.

The authors identified 74 randomised trials of smoking cessation with follow-up of at least six months, where at least one arm tested a print-based self-help intervention. Based on the results of their analysis, they conclude that "standard, print-based self-help materials increase quit rates compared to no intervention, but the effect is likely to be small". They found no evidence of an additional benefit when they were used alongside other interventions such as advice from a healthcare professional. They do note that "materials that are tailored for individual smokers are more effective than non-tailored materials, although the absolute size of effect is still small".

This review is available to download and read in free full text at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001118.pub3

Hartmann-Boyce J, Lancaster T, Stead LF. Print-based self-help interventions for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 6, CD001118.

New Zealand Red Cross Refugee Services is urging New Zealand’s health agencies to plan, advocate for and address the health needs of former refugees.

To mark World Refugee Day New Zealand Red Cross has released two reports on the health and wellbeing of former refugees and on refugee youth experiences. Both will be launched at an event at Parliament tomorrow, Thursday, 19 June.

The health and wellbeing report finds that New Zealand’s former refugee community has benefited from intensive education about New Zealand’s healthcare system.

The report was based on a pilot health education project that ran from 2012 to 2013 in Wellington and Manawatu. The project worked with 167 families (358 individuals) from the Colombian, Myanmar and Bhutanese former refugee communities.

The project recorded a decrease in the numbers of people who said they smoked cigarettes, and an increased awareness of the symptoms of meningitis.

Before the project started just 44% of those involved said they had any knowledge of cancer screening. This later increased to 96%. Knowledge of sexual health and reproductive services increased from 20% to 93%.

“It was very positive for our family to get to know about the services available for us in this new country,” says Jenny, a former Colombian refugee living in Wellington.

National Refugee Services manager Molly Kennedy says the report helps Red Cross understand what New Zealand can do to provide the best possible start for new refugees.

“This report should be essential reading for any agency working with refugees in New Zealand, particularly health professionals ,” she says. @NZRedCross facebook.com/newzealandredcross

“Red Cross will be working with refugee communities and service providers to implement the report’s recommendations.”

The second report on refugee youth found that service providers need cultural information to ensure they understand refugees’ journeys.

It found that former refugee youth (12-24 years) struggle to understand New Zealand culture and the education system, find it hard to get work and that most youth had experienced bullying.

“Over the last year we have run a number of successful youth projects, including sports days and anti-bullying programmes,” Mrs Kennedy says.

“There are a number of suggestions in the report where Red Cross can make a difference, and we are excited to work with other agencies to make these happen. Red Cross is committed to helping refugees of all ages settle successfully in New Zealand,” she says.

Red Cross Refugee Services helps empower people from refugee backgrounds to achieve their goals and contribute to their new home in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

World Refugee Day is celebrated globally on June 20.

To read the two reports in full go to:

• https://www.redcross.org.nz/about-us/publications/

• https://www.redcross.org.nz/what-we-do/in-new-zealand/refugee-services/resources/

The goal of this study was to test the relationship between experiencing pain and self-reported motivation to quit smoking, recent difficulty quitting, and current abstinence self-efficacy. Analysis found that smokers who reported past-month pain, also reported lower confidence in their ability to remain abstinent and experienced greater difficulty during their most recent quit attempt. Smokers in pain also endorsed greater motivation to quit and were more than twice as likely to be classified in the contemplation/preparation stages, relative to pain-free smokers.

To read the full abstract and for information on how to access the full text, go to: http://ntr.oxfordjournals.org/content/16/9/1272 or contact your local, DHB or organisational library for assistance.

Despite the compelling evidence supporting cardiovascular medications in the secondary prevention of coronary artery disease, many patients discontinue treatment. In this systematic review and synthesis, the authors sought to understand from a patient perspective the factors that promote medication persistence.

Examines the direct and indirect effects of social anxiety in regard to a range of smoking processes among 466 treatment-seeking smokers. Social anxiety was found to be directly and robustly associated with perceived barriers to smoking cessation and problems experienced during past quit attempts. Social anxiety was also associated with greater nicotine dependence and smoking inflexibility.

To read the full abstract, and for information on how to access the full text, go to: http://ejhp.bmj.com/content/21/4/238.abstract or contact your DHB library, local or organisational library for assistance.

Jala, Z. S., et al. (2014). Pharmacy care and adherence to primary and secondary prevention cardiovascular medication: A systematic review of studies. European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 21, 238-244.

Strategies that appear to improve medicines use include self-monitoring and self-management programmes, simplified dosing regimens and directly involving pharmacists in medicines management. Other strategies, such as delayed antibiotic prescriptions, practical management tools (eg. reminders, packaging), education or information combined with other strategies (eg. self-management skills training, counselling), and financial incentives, may also have some positive effects, but their effects are less consistent.

To read this Cochrane Review in full text, go to: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007768.pub3/full

Ryan, R., et al. (2014). Interventions to improve safe and effective medicines use by consumers: An overview of systematic reviews. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 4, doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007768.pub3.

To read the full abstract, and for access to a free full text version of the article, go to: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/14/407/abstract

Lehmann, B. A., et al. (2014). "I don't see an added value for myself": A qualitative study exploring the social cognitive variables associated with influenza vaccination of Belgian, Dutch and German healthcare personnel. BMC Public Health, 14, 407, doi:10.1186/1471-2458-14-407.

Using data from a subset of the Diabetes MILES – Australia study, this paper examines whether economic hardship is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus self-management behaviours.

Results found that smokers who do not want to quit, who are in good health, whose friends and family are not trying to get them to quit, and who do not report receiving helpful advice to quit from a health professional, are more likely to report never having tried to quit.

To read the full abstract, and for access to a free full text version of the article, go to: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/14/346/abstract

Sharma, A., & Szatkowski, L. (2014). Characteristics of smokers who have never tried to quit: Evidence from the British Opinions and Lifestyle Survey. BMC Public Health, 14, 346.

Palmer, C. K., et al. (2104). Reasons for non-uptake and subsequent participation in the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme: A qualitative study. British Journal of Cancer, 110, 1705–1711.

To read the full abstract and for information on how to access the full text, go to: http://ntr.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2014/04/01/ntr.ntu011.abstract or contact your local, DHB or organisational library for assistance.

Cougle, J. R., et al. (2014). Multiple facets of problematic anger in regular smokers: Exploring associations with smoking motives and cessation difficulties. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 16 (6), 881-885.

Systematic review of the characteristics and efficacy of mobile phone interventions to improve medication adherence. Secondary aims were to explore participants’ acceptability and satisfaction with mobile phone interventions and to evaluate the selected studies in terms of study rigour, impact, cost and resource feasibility, generalisability and implications for nursing practice and research. The literature search produced 29 quantitative research studies related to mobile phones and medication adherence. The studies were conducted for prevention purposes as well as management of acute and chronic illnesses. All of the studies used text messaging. While eighteen studies found significant improvement in medication adherence, the authors contend that more long-term studies characterised by rigorous research methodologies, appropriate statistical and economic analyses and the test of theory-based interventions are needed to determine the efficacy of mobile phones to influence medication adherence.

To read the full abstract and for information on how to access the full text, go to: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jan.12400/abstract or contact your local, DHB or organsational library for assistance.

Park, L. G., Howie-Esquivel, J., & Dracup, K. (2014). A quantitative systematic review of the efficacy of mobile phone interventions to improve medication adherence. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 70(9), 1932-1953.

To read the full abstract and for information on how to access the full text, go to: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/wvn.12030/abstract or contact your local, DHB or organsational library for assistance.

Jones, K. R., Lekhak, N., & Kaewluang, N. (2014). Using mobile phones and short message service to deliver self-management interventions for chronic conditions: A meta-review. Worldviews on Evidence-based Nursing, 11, 81–88.

UK population-based study of 867 newly diagnosed diabetes patients aged between 40 and 69 years that examines whether improvements in health behaviours are associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Ten studies were included, involving a total of 113,988 participants (ranging from n=10 to n=107,907). Interventions included commercial online health social network websites (n=2), research health social network websites (n=3), and multi-component interventions delivered in part via pre-existing popular online social network websites (Facebook n=4 and Twitter n=1).

Nine of the 10 included studies reported significant improvements in some aspect of health behaviour change or outcomes related to behavior change. Effect sizes for behaviour change ranged widely, but in general were small in magnitude and statistically non-significant. Engagement and fidelity were relatively low, with most studies achieving 5-15% fidelity.

The authors conclude that, to date, there is very modest evidence that interventions incorporating online social networks may be effective; however, this field of research is in its infancy. Further research is needed to determine how to maximise retention and engagement, whether behaviour change can be sustained in the longer term, and to determine how to exploit online social networks to achieve mass dissemination. Specific recommendations for future research are provided.

This is an open access article and can be read in free full text at:  http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/jmir.2952

Maher CA, Lewis LK, Ferrar K, Marshall S, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Vandelanotte C. (2014). Are health behavior change interventions that use online social networks effective? A systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 16(2), e40.

Dr Michael Lane, from the School of Psychology, says the purpose of this research is to identify and understand which behaviours help doctors to establish partnerships which motivate health-behaviour change. 

This research will identify a library of interactions which can be used to identify the behaviour important to the formation of these partnerships.

Dr Lane is recruiting 20 patients from the Manawatū to complete an interview about positive experiences with their GP. Anybody over the age of 18 can participate.

To read the full story, go to:  http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/about-massey/news/article.cfm?mnarticle_uuid=FEE93F1E-DA06-0839-61BE-F1C89C0D89E3

The brochures are being released as part of the Open for better care campaign.

Available to download at:  http://open.hqsc.govt.nz/infections/publications-and-resources/publication/1286/

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has today launched a brochure which gives patients information about avoiding infections after surgery.

“While it is not common, some patients will develop an infection following an operation,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“The brochure Preventing infection after surgery explains what Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) are, and what patients can do to help prevent them.

“International research suggests that up to five per cent of surgeries can result in a person suffering from a SSI.

“SSI rates in New Zealand are now being collected as part of the Surgical Site Infection Improvement Programme, with data on hip and knee replacements due to be released later this year.

“Patient safety is a priority, and while the data is being collected we’re getting on with the job of reducing the number of SSIs in our hospitals.

“These infections can be really nasty. They can cause emotional and financial stress, serious illness, longer hospital stays, long-term disabilities and even death.

“The brochures are being released as part of the Open for better care campaign, which is currently focusing on ways to prevent and reduce SSIs.

“The Open campaign is being coordinated by the Health Quality & Safety Commission, and is a mature approach to healthcare which encourages the sector to identify and learn from incidents which cause patient harm.”

The brochure is being distributed to hospitals around New Zealand and is also available to download from the Open for better care website http://open.hqsc.govt.nz/infections/publications-and-resources/publication/1286

"If not accessed at home a computer at a general practitioner's practice was seen as beneficial in accessing the PCEHR. Respondents felt that access to their health record would help them make decisions about their own health and improve their communication with healthcare providers. The majority of respondents were in favour of the PCEHR although some expressed concerns about the security of their PCEHR".

To read the full abstract, and for information on how to access the full text, go to:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2013.12.001 or contact your DHB library, or organisational or local library for assistance.

Kerai, P., et al. (2014). A pilot study on the views of elderly regional Australians of personally controlled electronic health records. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 83(3), 201-209.

The guidance includes a range of approaches for people aged 16 and over, from single interventions delivered as the opportunity arises to planned, high intensity interventions that may take place over a number of sessions.

The guidance aims to help tackle a range of behaviours including alcohol misuse, poor eating patterns, lack of physical activity, unsafe sexual behaviour and smoking. These behaviours are linked to health problems and chronic diseases (such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer). This means interventions that help people change have considerable potential for improving health and wellbeing.

Access to the full text of this guidance is available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph49

N.B. This guidance was developed for use in England.

Tony Ryall, Jo Goodhew media release, 20 November, 2013

The government is investing an extra $1.6 million into getting the healthy eating message out to Waitemata and Central Auckland’s hardest-to-reach new mums and their families.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says local community health groups and Waitemata and Auckland District Health Boards are working together to encourage families, who are not well linked into health services, to access antenatal, postnatal and infant healthcare.

“One of the ways they will be achieving this is by texting them. Pregnant women and young mothers who have registered for the free service will receive text messages encouraging them to take up healthy and safe lifestyle choices during their pregnancy and postnatal period.

“This will be similar to successful text messaging used for smoking cessation which can double quit rates and has been implemented as a Ministry of Health funded national service,” says Mr Ryall.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew says that being overweight during pregnancy and childbirth not only leads to significant problems for mums, such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, but also has significant adverse health outcomes for the child.

“There will be group education programmes at places like marae and churches on topics such as breastfeeding support, shopping on a budget, healthy cooking methods and fun ways to exercise.

“Evidence also suggests the elders of a family or community can have significant influence on the dietary and lifestyle choices made by younger mums – and that they don’t always do so correctly. So radio adverts will run on radio stations to make sure they understand the benefits of healthy eating and exercise for mums and babies,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Mr Ryall says the $1.6 million over two years is just one in a series of investments in Healthy Families that the government is making to help Kiwi families give their children a healthy start.

“Recent international research and advice from the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor Professor Sir Peter Gluckman suggests that preconditions for overweight and obesity are set very early.

“This is why the government is focussing on improving women’s health during their pregnancy and their postnatal period by promoting healthy eating and physical activity for mums, and good nutrition for infants and toddlers,” says Mr Ryall.

Funding for the health promotion programme is from within the Ministry of Health’s existing budget. The $1.6 million announced is initially over two years and the project will be fully evaluated for potential further roll out.

Based on 26 studies, representing over 640 women, the authors identify overarching themes, and conclude that "...  cutting down figured centrally as both a method of quitting and, for persistent smokers, a method of harm reduction. While pregnant women were aware that official advice was to quit abruptly, cutting down was seen as a positive behaviour change in often-difficult domestic circumstances, and one that health professionals condoned".

To read the full abstract, and for information on how to access the full text, go to: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12080 or contact your DHB library, or organisational or local library for assistance.

Graham, H., Flemming, K., Fox, D., Heirs, M. and Sowden, A. (2014), Cutting down: insights from qualitative studies of smoking in pregnancy. Health & Social Care in the Community, 22(3), 259–267.