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Variation in the use of medicines by ethnicity during 2006/07 in New Zealand: a preliminary analysis
Authors: Metcalfe S et al
Summary:
These researchers sought to determine differential dispensing of
medicines by ethnicity in New Zealand, using anonymised prescription medicines
dispensing claims data from the financial year 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007.
In needs-adjusted analyses, prescription dispensing (script) rates overall for
Māori were similar to those of non-Māori in a small number of areas that included
substance use disorders, hepatitis B/C treatments and anti-rheumatoid agents.
However, the data suggest important and potentially remediable differences that
need to be addressed. Differences in dispensing included areas of high health
need such as heart disease, infections, diabetes, mental health and respiratory
disease, where dispensing was 19–37% lower overall for Māori than for non-
Māori, with a net difference of nearly 1 million scripts. Importantly, Māori were
both less likely to access medicines, and then after first dispensing had fewer
subsequent scripts.
Reference: N Z Med J 2013;126(1384):14-41
Abstract
Māori nurses and smoking: what do we know?
Authors: Gifford H et al.
Summary:
Outcomes are reported from an analysis of a national webbased
survey that explored the smoking behaviours and attitudes to smoking
cessation held by 410 Māori registered and student nurses, as well as other
health workers. The overall prevalence rate for smoking was 21.5% – 32% for
Māori nursing students and 20% for Māori nurses. Among smokers, 75% of
nurses smoke <10 cigarettes per day, 84% smoked outside their homes, and
almost 20% indicated they were considering quitting within the next month.
The majority who had attempted to, or had, quit did not use the range of
smoking cessation interventions available. Māori nurses see the value in
smoking cessation for improving their own and other’s health, although many
did not necessarily see themselves as effective in supporting Māori with
smoking prevention and cessation.
Reference: N Z Med J 2013;126(1384):53-63
Abstract