Ethnic differences in time to surgery for women with early stage breast cancer in Aotearoa/New Zealand: a population-based study.

Background: This study evaluates whether there are ethnic differences in time to surgery in women with early-stage (1-3a) breast cancer in four NZ urban regions between 2000 and 2020 pre- and post- Faster Cancer Treatment (FCT) implementation, which was introduced to address inequities in cancer outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective analysis used (Breast Cancer Foundation National Register), a prospectively maintained database of breast cancers from 2000 to 2020. Women with stage 3b, 3c, metastatic or bilateral cancers were excluded.

Ethnic inequities in use of breast conserving surgery and radiation therapy in Aotearoa/New Zealand: which factors contribute?

Purpose: Aotearoa/New Zealand (NZ) faces ethnic inequities with respect to breast cancer survival and treatment. This study establishes if there are ethnic differences in (i) type of surgery and (ii) receipt of radiotherapy (RT) following breast conserving surgery (BCS), among women with early-stage breast cancer in NZ.

Methods: This analysis used Te Rēhita Mata Ūtaetae (Breast Cancer Foundation National Register), a prospectively maintained database of breast cancers from 2000 to 2020.

Glowing gels and pipettes aplenty: how do commercial stock image banks portray genetic tests?

News stories and patient-facing material about genetic tests are often illustrated by images, but the content of such images and the messages they propagate are rarely scrutinised. Stock image banks were searched to identify a hundred images relating to genetic tests and analysed using a multimodal critical discourse approach, aiming to identify what the images featured, how they were composed, and what they communicated about genetic testing. We found that images tended to focus on technical aspects of sample processing (for example, pipetting) and drew on older technologies (for example slab gel electrophoresis) when representing data arising from genetic tests.

Motivators and barriers to general surgery as a career among junior doctors and medical students in New Zealand.

Aim: Increasing diversity among surgeons is a priority of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS).1 This study aimed to identify motivators and barriers to general surgery among junior doctors (JD) and medical students (MS) to help guide the recruitment of under-represented minorities into surgical training.

Methods: An online survey was sent to 2,170 participants-1,327 JD in New Zealand and 843 MS at The University of Auckland (UA).

COVID-19 lockdown impact on common general surgical acute presentations to a regional centre in New Zealand.

Aim: New Zealand's stated goal of eradicating COVID-19 included the enforcement of a national lockdown. During this time, a perceived decrease in hospital presentations nationwide was noted. This was also the experience of the Department of General Surgery, Bay of Plenty District Health Board (BOPDHB).

Role of Moderators on Engagement of Adolescents With Depression or Anxiety in a Social Media Intervention: Content Analysis of Web-Based Interactions.

Background: The Supporting Our Valued Adolescents (SOVA) intervention aims to use a moderated social media website to encourage peer discussion about negative health beliefs, which may prevent treatment uptake. Web moderators with a background in behavioral health are used to facilitate peer conversation to promote a sense of community, provide social support, and ensure safety.

Objective: Although moderation is a core component of this intervention, little is known on best practices for moderators to ensure safety while encouraging engagement.

Use of and Beliefs About Mobile Phone Apps for Diabetes Self-Management: Surveys of People in a Hospital Diabetes Clinic and Diabetes Health Professionals in New Zealand.

Background: People with diabetes mellitus (DM) are using mobile phone apps to support self-management. The numerous apps available to assist with diabetes management have a variety of functions. Some functions, like insulin dose calculators, have significant potential for harm.