Publications by authors named "Robert Beaglehole"

This paper critically analyses a statement by Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) on e-cigarettes in May 2022 that will be used to guide national policy. We reviewed the evidence and the conclusions drawn in the NHMRC Statement. In our view, the Statement is not a balanced reflection of the benefits and risks of vaping because it exaggerates the risks of vaping and fails to compare them to the far greater risks of smoking; it uncritically accepts evidence of harms from e-cigarettes while adopting a highly sceptical attitude towards evidence of their benefits; it incorrectly claims that the association between adolescent vaping and subsequent smoking is causal; and it understates the evidence of the benefits of e-cigarettes in assisting smokers to quit.

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Background: Media reports of a vaping epidemic among youth have raised concerns about the creation of a new generation of nicotine-dependent individuals who could graduate to cigarette smoking. We investigated the use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes in the youth of New Zealand from 2014 to 2019, with focus on daily use of these products as an indicator of potential dependence.

Methods: We analysed data from the Action for Smokefree 2025 Year-10 survey, an annual cross-sectional survey of tobacco use undertaken by almost half of all school students aged 14-15 years (21 504-31 021 students).

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Reduction of the non-communicable disease (NCD) burden is a global development imperative. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 includes target 3·4 to reduce premature NCD mortality by a third by 2030. Progress on SDG target 3·4 will have a central role in determining the success of at least nine SDGs.

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Article Synopsis
  • Aiming to help kids and teens eat healthier, experts want to limit how much unhealthy food is advertised to them.
  • The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in New Zealand has made a new suggestion for advertising rules for children, but it's mostly similar to what they already have.
  • Researchers think that the new rules won't really help protect kids from unhealthy food ads, and they believe the government should step in with stronger laws instead.
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Aim: To propose non-communicable diseases (NCD) prevention and control targets for New Zealand, where NCDs are the leading causes of death and health inequalities in men and women.

Method: We adapted NCD global targets for New Zealand in the light of local progress, priorities and feasibility.

Results: National NCD targets relevant to New Zealand, yet congruent with global targets, together with inclusive, collaborative and feasible actions to achieve them are outlined.

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Article Synopsis
  • Countries want to reduce deaths from four major diseases by 25% by 2025 compared to 2010 levels.
  • They are focusing on six main risk factors, like smoking and obesity, which they believe can help meet this goal.
  • Recent findings show that while some regions may see a rise in premature deaths, reaching these health targets can significantly improve outcomes, especially in Europe and the western Pacific.
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Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) place enormous burdens on individuals and health systems. While there has been significant global progress to guide the development of national NCD monitoring programs, many countries still struggle to adequately establish critical information systems to prioritise NCD control approaches.

Discussion: In this paper, we use the recent experience of the Pacific as a case study to highlight four key lessons about prioritising strategies for health information system development for monitoring NCDs: first, NCD interventions must be chosen strategically, taking into account local disease burden and capacities; second, NCD monitoring efforts must align with those interventions so as to be capable of evaluating progress; third, in order to ensure efficiency and sustainability, NCD monitoring strategies must be integrated into existing health information systems; finally, countries should monitor the implementation of key policies to control food and tobacco industries.

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