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Purpose: Although diabetes increases the risk of becoming visually impaired or blind, a large proportion of people with diabetes are not receiving the recommended eye care to detect and prevent retinopathy. Assessing a broad range of demographic, health behavior, and societal characteristics in relation to eye care utilization, the present study aims to increase knowledge about the potential impact of such factors on eye care utilization., Methods: In 2003, for the first time, the annual Victorian Population Health Survey (VPHS) incorporated various eye health-related questions. Approximately 12,600 primary approach letters were mailed to all eligible and randomly selected households. Using computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI), the interviewer selected the person aged 18 years or over with the most recent birthday within the contacted household., Results: The mean age of all 7500 participants was 47.7 years (range, 18-99 years). Six percent (n = 424) of all participants had diabetes, of whom 80% (n = 345) reported a visit to an eye care specialist within the last 2 years. People with diabetes were more likely to have had an eye test within the last 2 years if they had seen a healthcare provider or had one of various health checks, including checks not related to diabetes, within the same time., Conclusion: Results suggest that people who take an interest in their general health may also be more aware of the importance of eye examinations to avoid vision loss. Eye health promotion activities therefore need to broaden their reach to approach from outside the health sector, targeting people with diabetes who normally do not receive health checks. The importance of dilated eye examinations for people with diabetes needs to be further promoted for eye care providers.

Aim: To report on screening coverage and the distribution of HBsAg (a marker of chronic hepatitis B virus infection) among participants in the New Zealand Hepatitis B Screening Programme., Method: Coverage and crude and age-standardised prevalence rates of HBsAg by age group, sex, ethnic group, and region were calculated from data held by the two providers and the New Zealand 2001 Census., Results: 177,000 people were tested for hepatitis B virus infection (51% of the programme targets and 27% of Census 2001 eligible population), with highest coverage among women (28.9%) and Pacific people (34.9%). Overall, 5.7% (10,176) of participants were HBsAg-positive and there were significant regional, ethnic group, and gender differences. 5.6% of Maori, 7.3% of Pacific people, and 6.2% of Asians were HBsAg-positive, and men were more likely to test HBsAg-positive (6.1%) than women (5.4%)., Conclusions: Previous estimates of HBsAg prevalence among Maori and Pacific people from smaller surveys were confirmed and new information obtained about the distribution of hepatitis B virus infection among Pacific Islands and Asian populations in New Zealand. Opportunistic screening of adults in these populations should continue in order to identify others with (as yet undetected) infection. Regular follow-up of people with chronic hepatitis B virus infection should also continue. Ongoing outcome monitoring is now needed to judge whether this unique programme has been an effective component of New Zealand's hepatitis B control strategy and whether it is a worthwhile investment of resources.

Aim: To determine the extent to which Auckland general practitioners (GPs) follow Ministry of Health guidelines recommending the administration of pre-hospital antibiotic treatment to suspected cases of meningococcal disease., Methods: Retrospective audit of notified cases of meningococcal disease referred by Auckland GPs from 1 May 2001 to 30 April 2002., Results: Of 142 meningococcal disease cases that were referred to hospital by GPs, 111 (78%) were 'eligible' or met Ministry of Health guideline criteria for pre-hospital antibiotic treatment. Of these, only 33 (30%) were given parenteral antibiotics. Those with a rash were twice as likely as those without a rash to receive antibiotics (RR 2.1; 95% CI 1.7-2.7). There was no difference in antibiotic administration by age, sex, ethnicity, or where there was an estimated delay of greater than 30 minutes to assessment in hospital., Conclusions: The findings of this audit reinforce the need for GPs to have a higher index of suspicion and lower threshold for treatment for suspected cases of meningococcal disease and to give antibiotics more often than they do at present.