Developing a national primary care research network: a qualitative study of stakeholder views.

Introduction Primary care research is critical to address Aotearoa New Zealand's (NZ) health sector challenges. These include health inequities, workforce issues and the need for evaluation of health system changes. Internationally, primary care data are routinely collected and used to understand these issues by primary care research and surveillance networks (PCRN).

Navigating the health system during COVID-19: primary care perspectives on delayed patient care.

Aim: The primary care response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has required significant changes to the delivery of healthcare by general practices. This study explores the experiences of New Zealand general practice teams in their perception of delayed patient care during the early stages of the pandemic.

Method: We qualitatively analysed a subtheme of delayed patient care of the General Practice Pandemic Experience New Zealand study, where general practice team members nationwide were invited to participate in five surveys between May and August 2020.

'Here to stay': changes to prescribing medication in general practice during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand.

INTRODUCTION The delivery of health care by primary care general practices rapidly changed in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in early 2020. AIM This study explores the experience of a large group of New Zealand general practice health-care professionals with changes to prescribing medication during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We qualitatively analysed a subtheme on prescribing medication from the General Practice Pandemic Experience New Zealand (GPPENZ) study, where general practice team members nationwide were invited to participate in five surveys over 16 weeks from 8 May 2020.

Empty waiting rooms: the New Zealand general practice experience with telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aim: The primary care response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in early 2020 required significant changes to the delivery of healthcare by general practices. This study explores the experiences of New Zealand general practice teams in their use of telehealth during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand.

Method: We qualitatively analysed a subtheme on telehealth of the General Practice Pandemic Experience New Zealand (GPPENZ) study, where general practice team members across the country were invited to participate in five surveys between 8 May 2020 to 27 August 2020.

Effect of monthly vitamin D supplementation on antibiotic prescribing in older adults: a post hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Observational studies have reported that low vitamin D status is associated with increased risk of antibiotic use. However, trials on the effect of vitamin D supplementation on antibiotics are limited and inconclusive.

Objectives: The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of monthly vitamin D supplementation on the proportion of adults with ≥1 prescriptions of antibiotics.

Nortriptyline for pain in knee osteoarthritis: a double-blind randomised controlled trial in New Zealand general practice.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a common cause of chronic pain. Analgesics that are currently available have limited efficacy and may be poorly tolerated. Tricyclic antidepressants are used as analgesics for other chronic conditions, but they have not been evaluated as analgesics in OA.

Effect of Monthly Vitamin D Supplementation on Preventing Exacerbations of Asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Older Adults: Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Randomized controlled trials have suggested that vitamin D supplementation can prevent asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. For COPD, the benefit appears to be limited to individuals with baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels <25 nmol/L. We performed a post hoc analysis of data from a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the effect that monthly, high-dose vitamin D supplementation (versus placebo) had on older adults with asthma and/or COPD.

Risk factors for reporting adverse events and for study withdrawal in a population-based trial of vitamin D supplementation.

With increasing numbers of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating potential health events of vitamin D supplementation, a better understanding is required of the risk factors for adverse events and for study withdrawals. This analysis aimed to identify baseline risk factors of reporting an adverse event in a multi-year randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial of vitamin D supplementation. The secondary aim was to investigate if adverse events were associated with study withdrawals.

Effect of Monthly High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation on Acute Respiratory Infections in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Although adults with low vitamin D status are at increased risk of acute respiratory infection (ARI), randomized controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation have provided inconsistent results.

Methods: We performed a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of 5110 adults aged 50-84 years. In 2011-2012, participants were randomized to an initial oral dose of 200 000 IU vitamin D3 followed by 100 000 IU monthly (n = 2558) or placebo (n = 2552) until late 2013 (median follow-up, 1.

Monthly high-dose vitamin D supplementation does not increase kidney stone risk or serum calcium: results from a randomized controlled trial.

Background: A growing number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are investigating the potential health benefits of high-dose vitamin D supplementation. However, there are limited RCT data on the safety of calcium-related adverse effects.

Objective: We investigated the incidence of kidney stone and hypercalcemia events in a large, population-based RCT of vitamin D supplementation.

Association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and self-reported chronic pain in older adults: A cross-sectional analysis from the ViDA study.

Chronic pain is a major contributor to the global burden of disability. Prior studies on the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and chronic pain have yielded mixed results. The Vitamin D Assessment study, a large randomized controlled trial from New Zealand, offered the opportunity to examine this association in data collected at baseline in all participants, and among those with arthritis or depression.

Cross-sectional associations of vitamin D status with asthma prevalence, exacerbations, and control in New Zealand adults.

Background: Previous studies, mostly with children, have reported inconsistent findings on the associations of vitamin D status with asthma prevalence, exacerbations, and control. Because of limited research with adults, we examined these associations in a large community-based sample of New Zealand adults.

Methods: 5110 participants, aged 50-84 years, were recruited from the community into a clinical trial of vitamin D supplementation.

Monthly high-dose vitamin D3 supplementation and self-reported adverse events in a 4-year randomized controlled trial.

Background: The use of high-dose vitamin D supplementation has increased in recent years. However, relatively little is known about the safety of long-term high doses.

Aims: To investigate the safety of a monthly high-dose of vitamin D supplementation taken for up to 4 years.

Monthly High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation and Cancer Risk: A Post Hoc Analysis of the Vitamin D Assessment Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Previous randomized clinical trials have reported inconsistent results on the effect of vitamin D supplementation on cancer incidence.

Objective: To examine whether high-dose vitamin D supplementation received monthly, without calcium, is associated with a reduction in cancer incidence and cancer mortality in the general population.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This is a post hoc analysis of data from the Vitamin D Assessment (ViDA) study, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that recruited participants from family practices and community groups in Auckland, New Zealand, from April 5, 2011, through November 6, 2012, with follow-up completed December 31, 2015.

Monthly vitamin D supplementation, pain, and pattern of analgesic prescription: secondary analysis from the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Vitamin D Assessment study.

Observational studies suggest that vitamin D deficiency is associated with higher risk of pain. However, evidence on the effect of vitamin D supplementation on pain is limited and contradictory. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of monthly high-dose vitamin D supplementation on a pain impact questionnaire (PIQ-6) score and prescription of analgesics in the general population.

Effect of Monthly, High-Dose, Long-Term Vitamin D on Lung Function: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Although observational studies suggest positive vitamin D-lung function associations, randomized trials are inconsistent. We examined effects of vitamin D supplementation on lung function. We recruited 442 adults (50-84 years, 58% male) into a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

Effect of monthly high-dose vitamin D supplementation on falls and non-vertebral fractures: secondary and post-hoc outcomes from the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled ViDA trial.

Background: Adults with low concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) in blood have an increased risk of falls and fractures, but randomised trials of vitamin D supplementation have had inconsistent results. We aimed to assess the effect of high-dose vitamin D supplementation on fractures and falls.

Methods: The Vitamin D Assessment (ViDA) Study was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of healthy volunteers aged 50-84 years conducted at one centre in Auckland, New Zealand.

Effect of Monthly High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation on Cardiovascular Disease in the Vitamin D Assessment Study : A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Cohort studies have reported increased incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among individuals with low vitamin D status. To date, randomized clinical trials of vitamin D supplementation have not found an effect, possibly because of using too low a dose of vitamin D.

Objective: To examine whether monthly high-dose vitamin D supplementation prevents CVD in the general population.