Issue 321 - 1 May 2025

Welcome to the fortnightly Health Improvement and Innovation Digest. The Digest has links to key evidence of interest, with access to new content arranged by topic.

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Article Access

For articles that aren't open access, contact your Health NZ district library, or organisational or local library for assistance in accessing the full text. If your organisation has a subscription, you may be able to use the icon under full text links in PubMed to access the full article.

Māori Innovation

COVID-19 equity response case study: the MEKE initiative in Maraenui, Aotearoa New Zealand
The MEKE (Move, Engage, Konnect, Evolve) Initiative is a pro-equity intervention developed by Māori for Māori that promotes positive community wellbeing through unity. This case study, published in AlterNative, gathered the perceptions of the MEKE Initiative from community members through interviews, focus groups, and feedback forms.

“My poppa, he was one of my biggest role models: How young Maori men negotiate racism and identity in the city”
In this article, published in the Journal of Global Indigeneity, the author explores how some young Māori men makes sense of Māori masculinities. In particular, they explore the complications and contradictions young Māori men negotiate within a sociocultural context shaped by colonisation, racialisation and marginality (alongside sexism, ableism and other forms of structural marginalisation).

Health Equity (New Zealand)

Experiences of New Zealand Māori Mothers' Engagement with Health and Social Services Post-COVID-19 2020 Lockdown
Despite universal provision of maternity care, Māori (Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa/New Zealand) experience significant maternal and infant health disparities compared to their dominant Pākehā (non-Māori) counterparts. This paper, published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, examined the lived realities of postnatal Māori māmā (mothers) engaging with health and social services.

Quality Improvement (New Zealand)

Closing the equity gap as we approach zero seclusion: Successes of the quality improvement project some doubted could be done
Use of seclusion (in particular inequitable use) continues in mental health services in many countries, despite evidence against it and substantial endeavour to reduce or eliminate it. Aotearoa New Zealand's national quality improvement agency Te Tāhū Hauora Health Quality & Safety Commission has since 2018 led a project to eliminate use of seclusion in mental health inpatient units. This article, published in Australasian Psychiatry, explores the 'Zero Seclusion: Safety and dignity for all' project.

Cancer Services (International)

Evaluating digital nudge interventions for the promotion of cancer screening behavior: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Public adherence to cancer screening remains low and is influenced by both rational and non-rational factors, including decision biases that underestimate screening benefits. Digital nudge interventions have shown promise in promoting screening behaviours among at-risk populations, but systematic evidence is still lacking. This study, published in BMC Medicine, aims to synthesise the effects of digital nudge interventions on promoting cancer screening behaviours in high-risk individuals.

Primary Health Care (International)

Investigation of primary health care service delivery models used in allied health practice in rural and remote areas of Australia: a systematic review
In Australia, access to primary health care (PHC) services is limited in comparison to major cities. Allied health professionals play a pivotal role in providing necessary PHC in rural and remote areas. However, there is limited evidence about the most effective allied health specific PHC models of care that can be utilised in these settings. The aim of this review, published in BMC Health Services Research, was to describe the PHC models used by allied health professionals in rural and remote areas of Australia and report on their impact and effectiveness in improving care.

Impact of allied health student placements for older clients’ health and wellbeing in primary healthcare settings: a systematic integrative review
Allied health student placements in healthcare settings are complex, constantly evolving, and tailored to real-life environments. The value of student placements in acute and primary healthcare settings is reflected in enhanced student learning, improved service delivery, and positive patient outcomes. This review, published in BMC Health Services Research, aims to synthesise the effects of allied health student placements in primary healthcare settings, particularly focusing on older clients’ health outcomes and satisfaction with care.

Primary Mental Health (New Zealand)

Kia pounamu o rongo: An exploration of key contextual factors that influence child and youth mental health and substance use in Aotearoa New Zealand
To support a greater focus on promotion, prevention and early intervention across the life course, particularly in the child and adolescent years, the Government’s investment in the first ever child and youth mental health and addiction prevalence study in Aotearoa needs to include the measurement of a range of contextual factors. The inclusion of contextual factors will help to better understand population-level trends, drivers, and inequities in child and youth mental health and substance use. This robust narrative review, published by Te Pou, brings together international and local research to describe and better understand ten contextual influences for consideration for inclusion.

Primary Mental Health (International)

Are cognitive behavioural therapy, cognitive therapy, and behavioural activation for depression effective in primary care? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a recommended first-line treatment for depression. Evidence mainly derives from studies in secondary care, though most treatment occurs in primary care. This review, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, examined efficacy of CBT, cognitive therapy (CT), or behavioural activation (BA) for depression within primary care.

Increased Immunisation (International)

Factors that influence caregivers’ and adolescents’ views and practices regarding human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for adolescents: a qualitative evidence synthesis
The objective of this Cochrane Review was to identify, appraise, and synthesise qualitative studies that explore caregivers’ or adolescents’ views, experiences, practices, intentions, decision‐making, acceptance, hesitancy, or nonacceptance of HPV vaccination.

Smoking Cessation (New Zealand)

Financial incentives for smoking cessation among (expectant) parents: a systematic review of facilitators and barriers to implementation
Financial incentives, provided following validated smoking cessation, hold substantial potential to cost-effectively promote cessation. This systematic review, published in Tobacco Control, explored the evidence addressing the barriers and facilitators to successful implementation of incentive-based smoking cessation interventions among (expectant) parents.

Smoking Cessation (International)

Interventions for smokeless tobacco use cessation
The objective of this Cochrane Review was to assess the effects of behavioural and pharmacological interventions for smokeless tobacco use cessation.

Key Ministry of Health Publications

Tupu Ola Moui: Pacific Health Chart Book 2025 series
These reports are part of the Tupu Ola Moui Pacific Health Chart Book series, which provides comprehensive and up-to-date data on the health of Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Health Sector Initiative

Breast cancer surgery now a local option for Wairarapa patients
Surgery can now be performed locally at Wairarapa Hospital for the majority of breast cancer patients in the district, thanks to the use of new cancer-marker technology. The new technology (called Savi Scout), allows radiologists at Hutt Hospital to locate and mark the site of small, early or difficult-to-feel cancers on the breast well in advance of surgery.

The information available on or through this newsletter does not represent Ministry of Health policy. It is intended to provide general information to the health sector and the public, and is not intended to address specific circumstances of any particular individual or entity.