Programmatic research in medical education: a national collaboration.

Aim: We aimed to identify areas that are a high priority for medical education research in New Zealand and that would benefit from a coordinated collaborative approach as an initial step in developing a coordinated research strategy.

Methods: A modified Delphi technique was used to reach consensus, among medical education researchers in New Zealand, on the optimal areas of activity.

Results: The programme of research fits under an overarching theme of "Growing a professional workforce".

Variations in small-volume doses of a liquid antibiotic using two paediatric administration devices.

Objective: Children can be a difficult population in which to administer medicines and many parents or caregivers may be inexperienced in the administration of paediatric medicines. The aim of this study was to determine the variations in volumes of doses of reconstituted antibiotic suspension using two calibrated administrative devices.

Setting: Measurements were conducted in a Dispensing Laboratory in New Zealand, using locally available commercial, standardized measuring devices.

Rotavirus hospitalisation in New Zealand children under 3 years of age.

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of severe rotavirus gastroenteritis and to estimate the hospitalisation rates of this illness in New Zealand children under 3 years of age.

Methods: Children under 3 years of age with acute diarrhoea admitted to 1 of 8 study hospitals between 1 May 1998 and 30 April 2000 were surveyed. Their socio-demographic, treatment and length-of-stay data were recorded and stool samples tested by a rotavirus-specific enzyme-linked immunoassay.