721 Results

  • Home modification to reduce falls – appears cost-effective in NZ

    … We have just published a modelling study on a home safety and modification programme to prevent falls in older people. … per work led by the Health Quality & Safety Commission [ 1 ] (see also this HQSC online guidance to health workers on … we have modelled). Targeting HSAM only to people age 65+ or 75+ with previous injurious falls was estimated to be even …
    Briefing

  • Ready or not? Pandemic preparedness index and implications for NZ

    … not show the expected correlation between GHS Index scores and Covid-19 outcomes. Just published research now … in the future. The ri sks include pandemic influenza or a new infectious disease, as well as deliberate biological … experienced the greatest levels of Covid-19 burden. 1 For example, one study suggested that the higher the GHS …
    Briefing

  • Front-of-pack nutrition labels improve understanding but don’t improve healthy food choices; Starlight Trial just published

    … Health Star Rating and Traffic Light nutrition labels have a minor impact on New … labels: Traffic Light labels, Health Star Rating labels, or Nutrition Information Panels. Participants used their … to ‘see’ the allocated nutrition labels. Figure 1: The three labels study participants were randomised to: …
    Briefing

  • Can pandemic threats justify border closure for island nations like NZ?

    … of pandemic influenza, novel emerging infectious agents and possible synthetic bioweapons. In a study we just … socio-economic, environmental and ecological factors (1). There are also added threats from deliberate human modification of existing or potential pathogens (2). A common view is that country …
    Briefing

  • Despite improved WHO regulations, the world remains ill-prepared for the next pandemic

    … detection of “pandemic emergencies”, greater preparedness, and additional competencies such as risk communication and managing misinformation and disinformation. What is … like Covid-19 – the worst in a century – is increasing . 1 The World Health Organization ( WHO ) took an important …
    Briefing

  • The COVID-19 pandemic in Aotearoa/NZ: A brief photo-essay with 10 photos

    … is accompanied by a brief comment on the pandemic impact or response. In some instances these images reflect success … as the relatively early introduction of border controls and the stringent nature of the “lockdown”. But we also … the recent run of eight border control failures. Figure 1: Decisive science-informed government action. The …
    Briefing

  • Government struggling with evidence: HTPs, addiction levels, and Smokefree 2025

    … a measure supported by Health Minister Dr Shane Reti, and predicted to bring rapid declines in smoking. Earlier … would have substantially reduced tobacco’s addictiveness and availability. Associate Health Minister Casey Costello … which drew on arguments from a mystery document 1 and “ independent advice ” that did not in fact support the …
    Briefing

  • Limiting the size of single serve sugary drinks: New NZ study on health and cost impacts

    … internationally, due to their role in tooth decay, obesity and diabetes [1-3], their lack of beneficial nutrients, and potential … will respond. If it is only possible to buy 250mL cans or 1L bottles of soft drink at a retail outlet, what …
    Briefing

  • Good firearms law needs multiple defensive layers: The Swiss cheese model

    … an overall assessment of the effectiveness of individual and multiple combined measures designed to limit the public … Accidents happen when the holes in all the layers line up. 1 The Swiss cheese model is used for air traffic safety, 2 … safety policies: individual policies may show only small or uncertain effects, but the most restrictive set of firearm …
    Briefing

  • Reducing waiting times for cataract surgery is good value-for-money for falls prevention

    … surgery in NZ. In this blog we summarise the key findings and make comparisons with other falls prevention … on reducing falls in hospitals through the Health Quality and Safety Commission’s ‘Reducing harm from falls’ programme. … with a total wait time from first appointment with a GP or optometrist, to actually having the surgery performed, of …
    Briefing

Subscribe

Briefing CTA

Public Health Expert Briefing

Get the latest insights from the public health research community delivered straight to your inbox for free. Subscribe to stay up to date with the latest research, analysis and commentary from the Public Health Expert Briefing.

PHCC logo PHCC

The PHCC is funded by a philanthropic endowment from the Gama Foundation and hosted by the Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington.

Contact

Email phcc@phcc.org.nz
43 Hanson Street, Mt Cook, 
Wellington | Te Whanganui-a-Tara
PO Box 7343, Wellington South 6242
New Zealand | Aotearoa

 

Public Health Expert Briefing (ISSN 2816-1203)