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Objective: Long-term studies following disasters are rare. It is important to quantify long-term effects of disasters to determine impacts on populations over time. We therefore aim to report the long-term associations between exposure to the Canterbury earthquakes and common mental disorders, taking into account potential confounding factors. Methods: The Christchurch Health and Development Study is a 40-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of New Zealand children (635 males and 630 females). The Christchurch Health and Development Study includes 884 participants with data on earthquake exposure and mental health outcomes at ages 34 and 40 years. Rates of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) disorders were measured categorically and using an expanded definition that included sub-syndromal symptoms. The current impact of the earthquakes is reported using 12-month prevalence data 7 years after the earthquakes. The cumulative impact of the earthquakes over the 7 years since onset is also reported. Results: There was a linear trend towards increasing rates of disorder with increasing exposure to the earthquakes. After adjusting for covariates, the 12-month prevalence of anxiety disorder symptoms was significantly increased (p = 0.003). The earthquakes were also associated with cumulative increases in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (p < 0.001), anxiety disorder (p = 0.016), nicotine dependence (p = 0.012), and the total number of disorders (p = 0.039). Conclusion: The Canterbury earthquakes were associated with persistent increases in Anxiety Disorder symptoms 7 years after their onset. The earthquakes were also associated with cumulative increases in symptoms of common psychiatric disorders. The magnitude of these effects is small, may no longer be clinically significant and has decreased over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children's pain in dentistry has undesirable short‐ and long‐term consequences; therefore, less invasive treatments merit consideration. Aim: To investigate procedural pain scores for two treatments for carious primary molars in New Zealand primary care. Design: This study was a split‐mouth randomised control trial, with secondary outcome analysis. Children (4–8 years) with proximal carious lesions on matched primary molars had one tooth treated with the Hall technique (HT) and one treated with a conventional stainless steel crown (CT); treatment type and order of treatment were randomly allocated (allocation concealment). The Wong–Baker self‐report pain scale measured pretreatment dental pain, procedural pain at each treatment and post‐operative pain. Results: Data were analysed for 103 children: 49 children had the HT first and 54 children had the CT first. Procedural pain scores did not differ by treatment type, with 71.8% and 76.7% of children reporting low pain for the HT and the CT, respectively. Fewer children reported low procedural pain for the second treatment than the first (p =.047). Most children reported low procedural pain for both treatments (58.3%), although 41.7% experienced moderate–high procedural pain with at least one treatment. Conclusions: The HT caused pain for as many children as the CT. There is an opportunity for better dental pain management in this setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children born small for gestational age (SGA) have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated risk factors in later life; however, little is known about their dietary intakes. The objective of this study was to assess dietary intakes in SGA and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) at 3.5, 7, and 11 years. The Auckland Birthweight Collaborative Study is a longitudinal case-control study of children born at term ( n = 871). Children were assessed at 3.5 ( n = 550), 7 ( n = 591), and 11 ( n = 620) years of age. Diet was assessed using a 24-hr record-assisted recall. Reported dietary intakes were analyzed and compared with the Australian and New Zealand Nutrient Reference Values. Compared with AGA, median energy intakes were significantly lower in SGA at 3.5 years (4.2 MJ [IQR, 3.0 to 5.8] vs. 5.4 MJ [IQR, 3.9 to 6.5]; p < .0001) but not at 7 and 11 years. Inadequate dietary intakes of micronutrients were more prevalent among SGA at 3.5 years and 11 years of age. A large proportion of SGA and AGA children consumed more than the recommended amounts of saturated fats, sugars, and sodium. There was no association of dietary intake and socio-demographic factors. This study reveals that dietary intake in 3.5-year-old children born SGA is lower in energy and a variety of micronutrients compared with dietary intake in AGA. These intakes may however be appropriate given their BMI z-scores. High intakes of sodium, saturated fat, and sugars are a concern for all children in this cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:Individuals’ illness perceptions predict health behaviours and influence functional outcomes. This study examined associations between a novel assessment of illness perceptions, in the form of adult’s brain drawings after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and questionnaire measures of illness perceptions, quality of life and post-concussive symptoms. Design:Population-based, prospective longitudinal study examining 245 adults with predominantly mild TBI with high risk of complications. Main outcome measures:Participants were asked to draw pictures of what they thought their brain looked like before injury and at baseline and one month post-injury. Drawing characteristics (height, width and percentage damage at one month) were examined in relation to each outcome of interest at six months. Results:Greater damage at one month was associated with more negative illness perceptions (rs = .23), poorer mental health (rs = −.21), and more total post-concussive symptoms (rs = .27 tor = .35) at six months. The extent of damage depicted reduced over time (p < .001). No associations were found between the amount of damage drawn and injury severity, nor the height or width of drawings and injury severity or illness perceptions. Conclusion:Drawings post-TBI offer a simple, cost- and time-effective way to begin discussions and improve understanding of peoples’ illness perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Outcomes after mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) vary, with slow or incomplete recovery for a significant minority. This study examines whether groups of cases with shared psychological factors but with different injury outcomes could be identified using cluster analysis. Method: This is a prospective observational study following 147 adults presenting to a hospital-based emergency department or concussion services in Christchurch, New Zealand. This study examined associations between baseline demographic, clinical, psychological variables (distress, injury beliefs and symptom burden) and outcome 6 months later. A two-step approach to cluster analysis was applied (Ward's method to identify clusters, K-means to refine results). Results: Three meaningful clusters emerged (high-adapters, medium-adapters, low-adapters). Baseline cluster-group membership was significantly associated with outcomes over time. High-adapters appeared recovered by 6-weeks and medium-adapters revealed improvements by 6-months. The low-adapters continued to endorse many symptoms, negative recovery expectations and distress, being significantly at risk for poor outcome more than 6-months after injury (OR (good outcome) = 0.12; CI = 0.03-0.53; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Cluster analysis supported the notion that groups could be identified early post-injury based on psychological factors, with group membership associated with differing outcomes over time. Implications for clinical care providers regarding therapy targets and cases that may benefit from different intensities of intervention are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the use of Social Judgment Theory method for occupational therapy in Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. It highlights the importance of automobile driving as an instrumental activity of daily living for community mobility of many individuals. It cites the integration of occupational therapy to the drivers with acquired illness or disability that deteriorate health condition.

Aims Like many indigenous peoples, New Zealand Māori bear a heavy burden of alcohol-related harm relative to their non-indigenous compatriots, and disparities are greatest among young adults. We tested the effectiveness of web-based alcohol screening and brief intervention (e- SBI) for reducing hazardous drinking among Māori university students. Design Parallel, double-blind, multi-site, randomized controlled trial. Setting Seven of New Zealand's eight universities. Participants In April 2010, we sent e-mail invitations to all 6697 17-24-year-old Māori students to complete a brief web questionnaire including the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test ( AUDIT)- C, a screening tool for hazardous and harmful drinking. Those screening positive were computer randomized to: <10 minutes of web-based alcohol assessment and personalized feedback (intervention) or screening alone (control). Measurements We conducted a fully automated 5-month follow-up assessment with observers and participants blinded to study hypotheses, design and intervention delivery. Pre-determined primary outcomes were: (i) frequency of drinking, (ii) amount consumed per typical drinking occasion, (iii) overall volume of alcohol consumed and (iv) academic problems. Findings Of the participants, 1789 were hazardous or harmful drinkers ( AUDIT- C ≥ 4) and were randomized: 850 to control, 939 to intervention. Follow-up assessments were completed by 682 controls (80%) and 733 intervention group members (78%). Relative to controls, participants receiving intervention drank less often [ RR = 0.89; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.82-0.97], less per drinking occasion ( RR = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.84-1.00), less overall ( RR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.69-0.89) and had fewer academic problems ( RR = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.69-0.95). Conclusions Web-based screening and brief intervention reduced hazardous and harmful drinking among non-help-seeking Māori students in a large-scale pragmatic trial. The study has wider implications for behavioural intervention in the important but neglected area of indigenous health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Antepartum haemorrhage of unknown origin ( APHUO) is associated with preterm birth and perinatal mortality. Aim To determine whether smoking beyond the first trimester of pregnancy was an independent risk factor for APHUO. Methods Rates of APHUO were compared between non-smokers and smokers, and non-smokers and ceased smokers. Participants were healthy nulliparous women recruited to the Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints ( SCOPE) prospective cohort study in New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and United Kingdom. Logistic regression was used to compare adjusted odds ratio, 95% confidence intervals ( OR, 95% CI) of APHUO between continued smokers and non-smokers, adjusting for possible confounders. Results Of the 3513 participants, 77.9% ( n = 2737) were non-smokers, 10.6% ( n = 371) ceased in the first trimester and 11.5% ( n = 405) continued smoking beyond the first trimester. APHUO rates were higher in smokers than non-smokers (7.4%, n = 30 vs 4.5%, n = 122; P = 0.01), but there was no difference between ceased smokers and non-smokers (4.3%, n = 16 vs 4.5%, n = 122; P = 0.90). Smoking was no longer significantly associated with APHUO after adjustment for confounders (adjusted OR = 1.28, 95% CI 0.76-2.14), but vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy (adjusted OR = 2.98, 95% CI 2.12-4.18) and overweight/obesity (adjusted OR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.02-1.99) were independent risk factors. First trimester folic acid use was associated with a reduced risk (adjusted OR = 0.44, 95% CI 0.25-0.77). Conclusion Smoking is not an independent risk factor for APHUO after adjustment for confounders, but other risk and protective factors have been identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]