Publications by authors named "Ameratunga Shanthi"

Objective: To investigate the moderating effects of socio-demographic social determinants of health (SDH) in the relationship between types of childhood hospitalisation (ie, none, injury, non-injury, injury+non-injury) and academic performance.

Design, Setting And Patients: Children residing in Wales 2009-2016 (N=369 310). Secure Anonymised Information Linkage databank linked Tagged Electronic Cohort Cymru (five data sources) from the Wales Electronic Cohort for Children.

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Aims: Māori and Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand experience significant inequities in heart failure rates, treatment and outcomes compared to NZ Europeans. We aimed to understand the experiences of Māori and Pacific people living with heart failure as they navigated care across primary and secondary settings.

Methods: This research involved a secondary analysis of data collected in a wider qualitative study investigating evidence-practice gaps of cardiovascular care experienced by Māori and Pacific people.

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Purpose: Substantial progress in adolescent health research has been made over recent decades, but important knowledge gaps remain.

Methods: Informed by targeted reviews of the literature, expert consultation, and authors' collective experiences, we propose future directions in adolescent health research.

Results: We identified five key principles on how future research must be approached alongside what technical investments are required to act on them.

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Clinical indicators are increasingly used to improve the quality of care, particularly with the emergence of 'big data', but physicians' views regarding their utility in practice is unclear. We reviewed the published literature investigating physicians' perspectives, focusing on the following objectives in relation to quality improvement: (1) the role of clinical indicators, (2) what is needed to strengthen them, (3) their key attributes, and (4) the best tool(s) for assessing their quality. A systematic literature search (up to November 2022) was carried out using: Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Web of Science.

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Introduction: The out-of-hospital emergency medical service (EMS) care responses and the transport pathways to hospital play a vital role in patient survival following injury and are the first component of a well-functioning, optimised system of trauma care. Despite longstanding challenges in delivering equitable healthcare services in the health system of Aotearoa-New Zealand (NZ), little is known about inequities in EMS-delivered care and transport pathways to hospital-level care.

Methods: This population-level cohort study on out-of-hospital care, based on national EMS data, included trauma patients <85 years in age who were injured in a road traffic crash (RTC).

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Purpose: To explore the impacts of double minority status (ethnic and sexual/gender minority) and protective factors associated with the emotional wellbeing and mental health of Asian Rainbow (sexual/gender minority) youth in New Zealand.

Methods: The data were extracted from the Youth19 Rangatahi survey, which surveyed 7,374 students from 45 mainstream secondary schools. The comparison groups were Asian non-Rainbow youth and Pākehā (New Zealand European) Rainbow youth.

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Purpose: This Aotearoa New Zealand-based study addresses a gap in literature focusing on individual experiences of racism among adolescents and young adults and its links to health.

Methods: This cross-sectional study uses data from multiple instances of the New Zealand Health Survey (2002/03, 2006/07, 2011/12, 2016/17) and General Social Survey (2008-2016) restricted to participants aged 15-24 years. Prevalence of reported experiences of racism are estimated.

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Despite technological advances and a disproportionate increase in health expenditure at the end-of-life, most New Zealanders die in hospital or in aged residential care. This counters the aspirations espoused by Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) for all New Zealanders "to live well, age well and die well in their homes and communities." Furthermore, despite reported inequities in end-of-life care experienced by ethnic minority communities (EMCs) overseas, and increasing proportions of people identifying with Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American and African ethnicities in Aotearoa New Zealand, local data, research and policies addressing healthcare needs of EMCs at end-of-life are scant.

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Objective: This study aimed to understand the reasons behind evidence-practice gaps and inequities in cardiovascular care for Māori and Pacific people, as evidenced by the experiences and perspectives of patients and their families.

Methods: The research was guided by Māori and Pacific worldviews, incorporating Kaupapa Māori Theory and Pacific conceptual frameworks and research methodologies. Template analysis was used to analyse interview data from 61 Māori and Pacific people who had experienced a cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment, acute coronary syndrome, and/or heart failure.

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Objective: Early reporting of atypical symptoms following a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) may be an early indicator of poor prognosis. This study aimed to determine the percentage of people reporting atypical symptoms 1-month post-mTBI and explore links to recovery 12 months later in a community-dwelling mTBI sample.

Methods: Adult participants (>16 years) who had experienced a mTBI were identified from a longitudinal incidence study (BIONIC).

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Background: While injuries can impact on children's educational achievements (with threats to their development and employment prospects), these risks are poorly quantified. This population-based longitudinal study investigated the impact of an injury-related hospital admission on Welsh children's academic performance.

Methods: The Secure Anonymised Information Linkage databank, 55 587 children residing in Wales from 2006 to 2016 who had an injury hospital admission (58.

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Aim: Approaches to understanding child injury tend to focus on short-term proximal influences. Previous analyses have found higher rates of injury among Māori and Pacific children in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). This study aimed to investigate how combinations of situations and multiple events act across the life-course to either protect preschool children from, or place them at risk of, repeated injuries requiring medical attention.

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Aim: This systematic review aimed to determine to what extent and why the care pathways for acute cardiac events in the community might differ for minoritised ethnic populations compared to non-minoritised populations. It also sought to identify the barriers and enablers that could influence variations in access to care for minoritised populations.

Methods: A multi-database search was conducted for articles published between 1 January 2000 and 1 January 2023.

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Objective: To determine if there are longer-term effects on symptoms, health status, mood, and behavior 10 years after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Community-based, civilian sample.

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Background: Substantial inequities in cardiovascular disease occur between and within countries, driving much of the current burden of global health inequities. Despite well-established treatment protocols and clinical interventions, the extent to which the prehospital care pathway for people who have experienced an out-of-hospital cardiac event (OHCE) varies by ethnicity and race is inconsistently documented. Timely access to care in this context is important for good outcomes.

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Background: Understanding the diversity and multiplicity of identities experienced by youth in Aotearoa (Te reo Māori name of the country) New Zealand (NZ) is vital to promoting their wellbeing. Ethnic minority youth (EMY) in NZ (defined as those identifying with Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American and African ethnic origins) have been historically under-studied and under-counted, despite reporting high levels of discrimination, a major determinant of mental health and wellbeing and potentially a proxy for other inequities. In this paper, we describe the protocol for a multi-year study that examines, using an intersectional approach, how multiple marginalised identities impact mental and emotional wellbeing of EMY.

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Objective: To assess diabetes eye service use in New Zealand among people aged ≥15 years by estimating service attendance, biennial screening rate, and disparities in the use of screening and treatment services.

Methods: We obtained Ministry of Health data from the National Non-Admitted Patient Collection on diabetes eye service events between 1 July 2006 and 31 December 2019 and sociodemographic and mortality data from the Virtual Diabetes Register and linked these using a unique patient identifier (encrypted National Health Index). We 1) summarized attendance at retinal screening and ophthalmology services, 2) calculated biennial and triennial screening rate, 3) summarized treatment with laser and anti-VEGF and used log-binomial regression to examine associations of all of these with age group, ethnicity, and area-level deprivation.

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Aim: To develop and apply a theoretical framework to assess the rigour of a district health organisation's response to the commercial determinants of health (CDoH).

Methods: The multi-method study incorporated literature reviews of CDoH strategies and ways in which organisations can respond; policy document review; and 12 qualitative, semi-structured, key informant interviews.

Results: A theoretical framework was developed summarising CDoH and potential responses.

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Heart failure (HF) is associated with high morbidity and mortality and contributes to substantial burden of disease, significant inequities and high healthcare cost globally as well as in Aotearoa. Management of chronic HF is driven by HF phenotype, defined by left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), as only those with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) have been shown to experience reduced mortality and morbidity with long-term pharmacotherapy. To ensure appropriate and equitable implementation of HF management we need to be able to identify clinically relevant cohorts of patients with HF, in particular, those with HFrEF.

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On-going inequities in rates of fatal and non-fatal injury between tamariki Māori (Indigenous children) and non-Māori children in Aotearoa (New Zealand) are unacceptable and highlight breaches by the Crown in their obligations to Māori, outlined in Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi). Safekids Aotearoa, a national organisation tasked with reducing unintentional injuries to children (0-14 years), is shifting the focus of its programmes and resources to better align with Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to honour Māori knowledge, ideas and principles to eliminate inequity and support the pursuit of Pae Ora: Māori health aspirations for flourishing whānau (families) and tamariki. We provide an overview of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its relevance to child injury prevention and the Te Tiriti-led response by Safekids Aotearoa, particularly around approaches to developing values and strengths-based safety messages.

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Aim: To examine the relationship between social support, safety, healthcare experience and forgone healthcare for Asian secondary school students in New Zealand by unmasking variations in aggregate Asian data.

Methods: The study population included 1,911 Asians (1,272 East Asians and 604 South Asians) from the Youth19 survey. The reference group included 3,053 Pākehā.

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Article Synopsis
  • There are significant disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and management between Māori and Pacific peoples compared to non-Māori, non-Pacific peoples in New Zealand.
  • This review aims to assess and clarify existing gaps in CVD risk assessment and management for these populations in primary care settings using a systematic approach.
  • The study will analyze various data sources and involve multiple reviewers to ensure a comprehensive examination of the research, focusing on integrating Indigenous perspectives in the evaluation process.
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Background: Injury is a leading contributor to the global disease burden in children and places children at risk for adverse and lasting impacts on their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and development. This study aimed to identify key predictors of HRQoL following injury in childhood and adolescence.

Methods: Data from 2259 injury survivors (<18 years when injured) were pooled from four longitudinal cohort studies (Australia, Canada, UK, USA) from the paediatric Validating Injury Burden Estimates Study (VIBES-Junior).

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