Engaging indigenous Maori and inward migrating Asian professionals into a  Pakeha (White European)-dominated Balint community in New Zealand

This inquiry began with two questions: How can the established predominately Pakeha/Caucasian (White European) Balint community in New Zealand more successfully engage both indigenous populations of both Maori and Pacifica origin into Balint work? And what is the existing Balint community doing to address the lack of Asian members of the Balint community in New Zealand, at a time when Asian health professionals are being recruited into the health sector at an increasingly high rate in comparison to White European entrants to the profession? These questions, and their preliminary answers presented here, invite the reader to reflect on both the challenges and opportunities in reaching out to groups different from our own. The author hopes readers may begin to see what can be done to allow new entrants to benefit from all that participation in Balint work offers while not losing sight of the uniqueness which each person can bring. It is hoped that sharing such questions and their subsequent explorations will help Balint leaders feel more confident in reaching out to a wider ethic and cultural mix within their local populations and encouraging them to enter the exciting world of the Balint group.

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Preoperative bariatric surgery programme barriers facing Pacific patients in Auckland, New Zealand as perceived by health sector professionals: a qualitative study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029525 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. e029525

Author(s):

Tamasin Taylor ◽

Wendy Wrapson ◽

Ofa Dewes ◽

Nalei Taufa ◽

Richard J Siegert

Keyword(s):

Bariatric Surgery ◽

New Zealand ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Health Sector ◽

Publicly Funded ◽

Attrition Rates ◽

Pacific Health ◽

Emotional Safety ◽

Minority Ethnic

Minority ethnic patient groups typically have the highest bariatric surgery preoperative attrition rates and lowest surgery utilisation worldwide. Eligible patients of Pacific Island ethnicity (Pacific patients) in New Zealand (NZ) follow this wider trend.ObjectivesThe present study explored structural barriers contributing to Pacific patients’ disproportionately high preoperative attrition rates from publicly-funded bariatric surgery in Auckland, NZ.SettingPublicly-funded bariatric surgery programmes based in the wider Auckland area, NZ.DesignSemi-structured interviews with health sector professionals (n=21) were conducted.Data were analysed using an inductive thematic approach.ResultsTwo primary themes were identified: (1) Confidence negotiating the medical system, which included Emotional safety in clinical settings and Relating to non-Pacific health professionals and (2) Appropriate support to achieve preoperative goals, which included Cultural considerations, Practical support and Relating health information. Clinical environments and an under-representation of Pacific staff were considered to be barriers to developing emotional safety, trust and acceptance of the surgery process with patients and their families. Additionally, economic deprivation and lower health literacy impacted preoperative goals.ConclusionsHealth professionals’ accounts indicated that Pacific patients face substantial levels of disconnection in bariatric surgery programmes. Increasing representation of Pacific ethnicity by employing more Pacific health professionals in bariatric teams and finding novel solutions to implement preoperative programme components have the potential to reduce this disconnect. Addressing cultural competency of staff, increasing consultancy times and working in community settings may enable staff to better support Pacific patients and their families. Programme structures could be more accommodating to practical barriers of attending appointments, managing patients’ preoperative health goals and improving patients’ health literacy. Given that Pacific populations, and other patients from minority ethnic backgrounds living globally, also face high rates of obesity and barriers accessing bariatric surgery, our findings are likely to have broader applicability.

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Commercial tobacco and indigenous peoples: a stock take on Framework Convention on Tobacco Control progress

Tobacco Control ◽

10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2018-054508 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (5) ◽

pp. 574-581 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Raglan Maddox ◽

Andrew Waa ◽

Kelley Lee ◽

Patricia Nez Henderson ◽

Genevieve Blais ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Tobacco Control ◽

Indigenous Peoples ◽

Tobacco Use ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Indigenous Populations ◽

High Rate ◽

Search Terms ◽

Study Selection ◽

Indigenous Participation

BackgroundThe health status and needs of indigenous populations of Australia, Canada and New Zealand are often compared because of the shared experience of colonisation. One enduring impact has been a disproportionately high rate of commercial tobacco use compared with non-indigenous populations. All three countries have ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which acknowledges the harm caused to indigenous peoples by tobacco.Aim and objectivesWe evaluated and compared reporting on FCTC progress related to indigenous peoples by Australia, Canada and New Zealand as States Parties. The critiqued data included disparities in smoking prevalence between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples; extent of indigenous participation in tobacco control development, implementation and evaluation; and what indigenous commercial tobacco reduction interventions were delivered and evaluated.Data sourcesWe searched FCTC: (1) Global Progress Reports for information regarding indigenous peoples in Australia, Canada and New Zealand; and (2) country-specific reports from Australia, Canada and New Zealand between 2007 and 2016.Study selectionTwo of the authors independently reviewed the FCTC Global and respective Country Reports, identifying where indigenous search terms appeared.Data extractionAll data associated with the identified search terms were extracted, and content analysis was applied.ResultsIt is difficult to determine if or what progress has been made to reduce commercial tobacco use by the three States Parties as part of their commitments under FCTC reporting systems. There is some evidence that progress is being made towards reducing indigenous commercial tobacco use, including the implementation of indigenous-focused initiatives. However, there are significant gaps and inconsistencies in reporting. Strengthening FCTC reporting instruments to include standardised indigenous-specific data will help to realise the FCTC Guiding Principles by holding States Parties to account and building momentum for reducing the high prevalence of commercial tobacco use among indigenous peoples.

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The Role of the Consumer in the Leadership and Management of Mental Health Services

Australasian Psychiatry ◽

10.1080/j.1440-1665.2005.02215.x ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 362-365 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Sarah Gordon

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

New Zealand ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Health Services ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Health Sector ◽

Consumer Involvement ◽

Leadership And Management

Objective: To reflect on consumer involvement in the leadership and management of mental health services through consideration of relevant policy directives, pertinent literature and current practice, and to consider the role of psychiatrists in promoting consumer involvement. Conclusions: Both Australia and New Zealand have significant policy directives in relation to consumer involvement in mental health services. The actual realization of consumer involvement within the mental health sector is extremely variable and the extent of genuine participation highly questionable, particularly in regard to leadership and management roles. It is important that the rationale for consumer involvement is continually highlighted and understood by all mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, so as to discourage the practice of including consumers solely for the sake of adhering to political policies. The attitudes of health professionals have been identified as having the most significant impact on consumer involvement. It is questionable whether the critical contribution of consumer involvement in mental health services should remain dependant on the attitudes of non-consumers within the sector. In New Zealand, a paradigm shift is occurring with consumer involvement moving from a construct of ‘participation’ to one of ‘leadership’. Psychiatristscan, and should, play a significant role in advocating for the development of mental health services in directions which support and promote consumer involvement at all levels.

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Health professionals and the monitoring of Taser use

Psychiatric Bulletin ◽

10.1192/pb.bp.106.014175 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 31 (10) ◽

pp. 391-393 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Anthony John O'Brien ◽

Brian G. McKenna ◽

Alexander I. F. Simpson

Keyword(s):

Public Policy ◽

New Zealand ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Health Sector ◽

Personal Communication ◽

Policy Debate ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Potential Health ◽

The Uk ◽

Public Policy Decisions

Although electromuscular incapacitation devices (Tasers or ‘stun guns') have been in use for over a decade, concern about potential health effects has not been resolved. Moreover, public policy decisions have expanded the availability of Tasers and require wide consultation with the health sector as well as other stakeholders. In the past 5 years sales of Tasers have grown considerably, with numbers of US law enforcement agencies using the devices growing from 1700 in 2001 to 8700 in 2005 (US Department of Justice, personal communication). Jenkinson et al (2006) recently argued, as have the UK Police Federation, that Tasers should be issued to all front line British police, a move that would see a considerable proliferation of Tasers in the UK. A current trial in four districts may pave the way for Tasers to be used nationwide in New Zealand (New Zealand Police, 2006). These developments make it imperative that health professionals monitor the physical and mental health implications of Tasers, and ensure health considerations are part of the public policy debate on their deployment. In this paper we review the existing literature on the use of Tasers, and note that the psychological effects of Taser use have not been investigated.

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Community reintegration following spinal cord injury: Insights for health professionals in community rehabilitation services in New Zealand.

New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy ◽

10.15619/nzjp/43.3.02 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 43 (3) ◽

pp. 75-85 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kathryn Dwyer ◽

Hilda Mulligan

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

New Zealand ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Rehabilitation Services ◽

Community Reintegration ◽

Community Rehabilitation ◽

Cord Injury

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Interprofessional collaboration among health professionals in cleft lip and palate treatment and care in the public health sector of South Africa

Human Resources for Health ◽

10.1186/s12960-021-00566-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Phumzile Hlongwa ◽

Laetitia C. Rispel

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Cleft Lip ◽

Cleft Lip And Palate ◽

Interprofessional Collaboration ◽

Collaborative Leadership ◽

Health Sector ◽

Group Function ◽

Public Health Sector ◽

Effective Group

Abstract Background Collaboration among different categories of health professionals is essential for quality patient care, especially for individuals with cleft lip and palate (CLP). This study examined interprofessional collaboration (IPC) among health professionals in all CLP specialised centres in South Africa’s public health sector. Methods During 2017, a survey was conducted among health professionals at all the specialised CLP centres in South Africa’s public health sector. Following informed consent, each member of the CLP team completed a self-administered questionnaire on IPC, using the Interprofessional Competency Framework Self-Assessment Tool. The IPC questionnaire consists of seven domains with 51 items: care expertise (8 items); shared power (4 items); collaborative leadership (10 items); shared decision-making (2 items); optimising professional role and scope (10 items); effective group function (9 items); and competent communication (8 items). STATA®13 was used to analyse the data. Descriptive analysis of participants and overall mean scores were computed for each domain and analysed using ANOVA. All statistical tests were conducted at 5% significance level. Results We obtained an 87% response rate, and 52 participants completed the questionnaire. The majority of participants were female 52% (n = 27); with a mean age of 41.9 years (range 22–72). Plastic surgeons accounted for 38.5% of all study participants, followed by speech therapists (23.1%), and professional nurses (9.6%). The lowest mean score of 2.55 was obtained for effective group function (SD + -0.50), and the highest mean score of 2.92 for care expertise (SD + -0.37). Explanatory factor analysis showed that gender did not influence IPC, but category of health professional predicted scores on the five categories of shared power (p = 0.01), collaborative leadership (p = 0.04), optimising professional role and scope (p = 0.03), effective group function (p = 0.01) and effective communication (p = 0.04). Conclusion The seven IPC categories could be used as a guide to develop specific strategies to enhance IPC among CLP teams. Institutional support and leadership combined with patient-centred, continuing professional development in multi-disciplinary meetings will also enrich IPC.

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Overview: The international group for indigenous health measurement and COVID-19

Statistical Journal of the IAOS ◽

10.3233/sji-210793 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Michele Connolly ◽

Kalinda Griffiths ◽

John Waldon ◽

Malcolm King ◽

Alexandra King ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Total Population ◽

Indigenous Health ◽

Health Data ◽

Indigenous Populations ◽

Health Measurement ◽

Country Group ◽

International Group ◽

The Us ◽

The Impact

The International Group for Indigenous Health Measurement (IGIHM) is a 4-country group established to promote improvements in the collection, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of Indigenous health data, including the impact of COVID-19. This overview provides data on cases and deaths for the total population as well as the Indigenous populations of each country. Brief summaries of the impact are provided for Canada and New Zealand. The Overview is followed by. separate articles with more detailed discussion of the COVID-19 experience in Australia and the US.

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