Health Promot J Austr
October 2024
Issue Addressed: One third of cancers are potentially preventable by modifying key risk factors that arise during adolescence. To help inform prevention efforts, we investigated adolescents' understanding of cancer risk factors, symptoms and signs and barriers to help-seeking.
Methods: Nine focus groups were conducted with purposefully sampled, binary-gendered friendship groups of 12 to 17-year-olds.
Background: Work poses increased risk of injury not only for workers but also for the public, yet the broader impact of work-related injury is not quantified. This study, utilising population data from New Zealand, estimates the societal burden of work-related fatal injury (WRFI) by including bystanders and commuters.
Methods: This observational study selected deaths due to unintentional injury, in persons aged 0-84 years using International Classification of Disease external cause codes, matched to coronial records, and reviewed for work-relatedness.
Excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation during adolescence can have a lasting effect on long-term skin cancer risk. Skin cancer prevention interventions for adolescents have been less commonly investigated than those for children and adults. The study objectives were to develop and evaluate the feasibility of a secondary school-based appearance focused intervention, including the development and testing of protocols and instruments, as a resource module that could be efficiently integrated into the secondary school science curriculum.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIssue Addressed: Teachers play a vital role in developing children's sun protection routines however upskilling preservice teachers (PSTs) while at university has not yet been trialled as a targeted skin cancer prevention strategy. Hence, this study investigated PSTs perceptions and experiences of sun safety following a brief pilot intervention and placement in primary schools in Western Australia.
Methods: This study used a triangulation mixed methods design.
Aust N Z J Public Health
June 2022
Objective: To explore the views of stakeholders in Australia concerning skin cancer primary prevention and identify successful strategies used that may be translatable to other jurisdictions.
Methods: In-depth stakeholder interviews with experts engaged in skin cancer prevention advocacy and action in Australia.
Results: A number of important facilitators were identified including: the use of good scientific evidence (including economic), strong leadership, legislation and strategic documents, engaging the media particularly with the use of personal stories and garnering public support.
Health Promot J Austr
April 2023
Issue Addressed: The objective was to identify whether National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) have policy documentation on healthy behaviours (smokefree, sun-protection, healthy food/beverages and alcohol) and, for organisations with such documentation, whether this was in-line with current scientific evidence of past best practice in cancer prevention.
Methods: This cross-sectional policy analysis study was performed September to December 2018 in Aotearoa/New Zealand. A content analysis was undertaken using NSO policy documents matched against a framework of key indicators for best practice within health behaviours of interest.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
March 2022
Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand have the highest incidence of melanoma and KC in the world. We undertook a cost-of-illness analysis using Markov decision-analytic models separately for melanoma and keratinocyte skin cancer (KC) for each country. Using clinical pathways, the probabilities and unit costs of each health service and medicine for skin cancer management were applied.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To determine the impact of major legislative changes to New Zealand's Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation with the adoption of the Robens model as a means to control occupational risks on the burden and risk of work-related fatal injury (WRFI).
Methods: Population-based comparison of WRFI to workers aged 15-84 years occurring during three periods: before (pre:1985-1992), after legislative reform (post-1:1993-2002) and after subsequent amendment (post-2:2003-2014). Annual age-industry standardised rates were calculated with 95% CI.
Issues Addressed: Skin cancer is highly prevalent but preventable, yet little research has been done on the challenges in generating political priority for skin cancer prevention. This qualitative study aimed to identify the political challenges to, facilitators of, and strategies to strengthen skin cancer prevention. The focus was on the case of Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ): a country with high skin cancer rates, but limited investment in primary prevention.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Photochem Photobiol B
September 2021
Athletes who compete in outdoor sports can receive potentially harmful levels of solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Rowing is a popular outdoor sport that takes place during the peak UVR season. Using electronic dosimeters attached to the shoulder strap of the rower's uniform, this study aimed to quantify the real-time solar UVR exposure experienced by high school rowers during competition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: The aim of this systematic review is to summarise the evidence of the effectiveness of interventions targeted to adolescents (13 to 18 years inclusive) and delivered in a secondary school setting with the purpose of improving sun protection behaviour, reducing ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure, and/or improving physiological outcomes related to UVR exposure (such as erythema or naevi development).
Methods: Peer-reviewed journal articles were identified from seven database searches (Cochrane, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, Medline, PsycInfo, and Web of Science) to January 2020, forward citation searches of relevant articles, and monitoring of WHO INTERSUN UVR list server for recent publications. Relevant articles were collected and critically analysed using the Effective Public Health Practice framework.
Children (Basel)
December 2020
In high income countries, children under 15 years of age are exposed to workplace hazards when they visit or live on worksites or participate in formal or informal work. This study describes the causes and circumstances of unintentional child work-related fatal injuries (child WRFI) in New Zealand. Potential cases were identified from the Mortality Collection using International Classification of Disease external cause codes: these were matched to Coronial records and reviewed for work-relatedness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Analyses of secular trends in work-related fatal injury in New Zealand have previously only considered the total working population, potentially hiding trends for important subgroups of workers. This paper examines trends in work-related fatalities in worker subgroups between 2005 and 2014 to indicate where workplace safety action should be prioritised.
Methods: A dataset of fatally injured workers was created; all persons aged 15-84 years, fatally injured in the period 2005-2014, were identified from mortality records, linked to coronial records which were then reviewed for work relatedness.
Background: The head and neck are exposed to the highest solar ultraviolet radiation levels and experience a disproportionate skin cancer burden. Sun protective hats can provide an effective barrier. Since early life exposure contributes to skin cancer risk, the World Health Organisation recommends prevention programmes in schools.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Current priorities and strategies to prevent work-related fatal injury (WRFI) in New Zealand (NZ) are based on incomplete data capture. This paper provides an overview of key results from a comprehensive 10-year NZ study of worker fatalities using coronial records.
Methods: A data set of workers, aged 15-84 years at the time of death who died in the period 2005-2014, was created using coronial records.
Background: Improving New Zealand's poor workplace safety record has become a high priority following high profile workplace fatal incidents in 2010 and 2014. Existing routine official data are unable to reliably inform occupational safety policy and action in New Zealand. This case review study will examine work-related fatal injury (WRFI) to: i) determine their burden, rates and distribution; ii) identify high-risk groups, causes and circumstances; iii) analyse secular trends, and iv) examine the impact of historic occupational safety legislative reform.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: To assess sun protection policies and practices in New Zealand primary schools.
Methods: Principals at 1,243 schools (62% of eligible primary schools) completed a survey about school: 1) provision of personal and environmental sun protection, 2) sun protection practices.
Results: Virtually all schools (94%) had a sun protection policy/procedure about which their community was informed (96%).
Background: Despite an increasing number of older people commencing dialysis the impact of dialysis on their quality of life and survival, remains unclear. The Dialysis Outcomes in those aged over 65 years or older study is an accelerated prospective cohort longitudinal design study, designed to obtain sufficient health related quality of life data, linked to clinical data, to inform clinicians' and patients' decision-making with respect to end stage kidney disease (ESKD), outcomes, and options for management in New Zealand (NZ).
Methods: The study has an accelerated prospective cohort longitudinal design, comprised of cross-sectional and longitudinal components.
Issues Addressed: Cutaneous melanomas and keratinocyte carcinomas (nonmelanoma skin cancer) are highly prevalent in New Zealand (NZ), making skin cancer a priority area for cancer control. Spring is an important time for encouraging sun-safety, due to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) levels becoming hazardous. The news media have a potential to play an important role in reminding people and emphasising the importance of sun-safety.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Musculoskeletal injuries and musculoskeletal pain are prevalent among nurses compared to many other occupational groups.
Objective: To identify interventions that may be effective at reducing the prevalence and impact of musculoskeletal injuries and pain in registered nurses.
Design: Systematic review.
Background: Beliefs about cancer risk and experience of early detection and treatment can impact on willingness to engage with these initiatives. This study describes changes in perceptions of cancer mortality, early detection and treatment among adult New Zealanders (NZ) between two cross-sectional studies conducted in 2001 and 2014/5. Methods: Data was collected via telephone interviews conducted by trained interviewers in 2001 (231 females and 207 males, 64% response rate) and 2014/5 (588 females and 476 males, 64% response rate).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Cancer risk reduction messages are a part of cancer control efforts around the world. The complex reality is that risk factors differ for different types of cancer, making clear communication of desired behavioural changes more difficult. This study aims to describe awareness of risk factors for breast, bowel, cervical, prostate and lung cancer and cutaneous melanoma among New Zealanders in 2014/15 and identify changes in awareness since 2001.
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