title: Physical inactivity in prevails in later life

authors: Grant, Bevan C.

abstract: The majority of people over 70 years may self-report themselves to be in good health but just being older means they are more likely to experience a range of health related ups and downs than in their younger years. One explanation for this is that the older population carries a progressively heavier burden of chronic disease and disability than their younger cohorts. With a changing demographic and in particular an ageing population, it is not surprising that politicians and health professionals are keen to intervene – mostly because of a presumed high cost of not-so-good health.

text: Physical inactivity in prevails in later life The majority of people over 70 years may self-report themselves to be in good health but just being older means they are more likely to experience a range of health related ups and downs than in their younger years. One explanation for this is that the older population carries a progressively heavier burden of chronic disease and disability than their younger cohorts. With a changing demographic and in particular an ageing population, it is not surprising that politicians and health professionals are keen to intervene – mostly because of a presumed high cost of not-so-good health.

year: 2011

title: Distribution of mine waste along the Waihou River flood plains

authors: Ahmed, Tofeeq

abstract: Solid waste production, in the form of mine tailings, is the result of mining of natural mineral resources. The Ohinemuri River tributary of the Waihou River was designated as an official sludge channel during the period of mining operations in the catchment as an official sludge channel during the mining period for mining operations in the catchment in 1895. The 1910 Commission recommended it be revoked and only “slimes” be discharged under a range of restrictions. Essentially processing technology had changed by 1910 and it was no longer necessary to discharge most of the waste. However, the designation remained in place as an official sludge channel during the mining period for mining operations in the catchment. Mine waste included metals such as: copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), Lead (Pb) and Arsenic (As). Regular flooding of the Ohinemuri and Waihou Rivers resulted in the rivers overtopping their banks and dispersing mine waste into the floodplain areas. The result was dispersion of metal contaminants in the Waihou River catchment area. The effects of this regular flooding had an adverse effect on stocks. The flooding destroyed the crops, the slimes and sludge from flood damaged grass paddocks. The cyanide sludge destroyed the fish stock in the lower Ohinemuri River and upper Waihou River. This continued until stop-banks were installed to reduce the occurrence of overbank flooding, mostly long after any mining disposal had ceased. It was assumed that the heavy metals were migrating downstream. However, recent studies show no strong evidence of downstream migration of contaminated sediments in the Waihou River to the Firth of Thames. This research will investigate the heavy metal concentration along the Waihou River floodplain by mapping metal concentrations from mine waste.
Field sampling has found that the mine waste has not travelled far beyond Paeroa and is concentrated on the flood plains. Some sample sites have levels of contaminants that exceed the thresholds for chronic toxicity. These results are consistent with research limited to the immediate vicinity of the river channel.
Key words: Waihou River, Ohinemuri River, mine tailings, heavy metals, contaminated sediments.

text: Distribution of mine waste along the Waihou River flood plains Solid waste production, in the form of mine tailings, is the result of mining of natural mineral resources. The Ohinemuri River tributary of the Waihou River was designated as an official sludge channel during the period of mining operations in the catchment as an official sludge channel during the mining period for mining operations in the catchment in 1895. The 1910 Commission recommended it be revoked and only “slimes” be discharged under a range of restrictions. Essentially processing technology had changed by 1910 and it was no longer necessary to discharge most of the waste. However, the designation remained in place as an official sludge channel during the mining period for mining operations in the catchment. Mine waste included metals such as: copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), Lead (Pb) and Arsenic (As). Regular flooding of the Ohinemuri and Waihou Rivers resulted in the rivers overtopping their banks and dispersing mine waste into the floodplain areas. The result was dispersion of metal contaminants in the Waihou River catchment area. The effects of this regular flooding had an adverse effect on stocks. The flooding destroyed the crops, the slimes and sludge from flood damaged grass paddocks. The cyanide sludge destroyed the fish stock in the lower Ohinemuri River and upper Waihou River. This continued until stop-banks were installed to reduce the occurrence of overbank flooding, mostly long after any mining disposal had ceased. It was assumed that the heavy metals were migrating downstream. However, recent studies show no strong evidence of downstream migration of contaminated sediments in the Waihou River to the Firth of Thames. This research will investigate the heavy metal concentration along the Waihou River floodplain by mapping metal concentrations from mine waste.
Field sampling has found that the mine waste has not travelled far beyond Paeroa and is concentrated on the flood plains. Some sample sites have levels of contaminants that exceed the thresholds for chronic toxicity. These results are consistent with research limited to the immediate vicinity of the river channel.
Key words: Waihou River, Ohinemuri River, mine tailings, heavy metals, contaminated sediments.

year: 2019

title: Barriers and facilitators to colorectal cancer diagnosis in New Zealand: a qualitative study

authors: Blackmore, Tania Louise

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Background: New Zealand (NZ) has high rates of colorectal cancer but low rates of early diagnosis. Due to a lack of understanding of the pre-diagnostic experience from the patient’s perspective, it is necessary to investigate potential patient and health system factors that contribute to longer diagnostic intervals. Previous qualitative studies have discussed delays using The Model of Pathways to Treatment, but this has not been explored in the NZ context. This study aimed to understand the patient experience and perception of their general practitioner (GP) through the diagnostic process in the Waikato region of NZ. In particular, we sought to investigate potential barriers and facilitators that contribute to longer diagnostic intervals. 
Methods: Ethical approval for this study was granted by the New Zealand Health and Disability Ethics Committee. Twenty-eight participants, diagnosed with colorectal cancer, were interviewed about their experience. Semi-structured interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using The Model of Pathways to Treatment framework (intervals: appraisal, help-seeking, diagnostic). 
Results: Participant appraisal of symptoms was a barrier to prompt diagnosis, particularly if symptoms were normalised, intermittent, or isolated in occurrence. Successful self-management techniques also resulted in delayed help-seeking. However if symptoms worsened, disruption to work and daily routines were important facilitators to seeking a GP consultation. Participants positively appraised GPs if they showed good technical competence and were proactive in investigating symptoms. Negative GP appraisals were associated with a lack of physical examinations and misdiagnosis, and left participants feeling dehumanised during the diagnostic process. However high levels of GP interpersonal competence could override poor technical competence, resulting in an overall positive experience, even if the cancer was diagnosed at an advanced stage. Māori participants often appraised symptoms inclusive of their sociocultural environment and considered the impact of their symptoms in relation to family. 
Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight the importance of tailored colorectal cancer symptom communication in health campaigns, and indicate the significance of the interpersonal competence aspect of GP-patient interactions. These findings suggest that interpersonal competence be overtly displayed in all GP interactions to ensure a higher likelihood of a positive experience for the patient.

text: Barriers and facilitators to colorectal cancer diagnosis in New Zealand: a qualitative study Background: New Zealand (NZ) has high rates of colorectal cancer but low rates of early diagnosis. Due to a lack of understanding of the pre-diagnostic experience from the patient’s perspective, it is necessary to investigate potential patient and health system factors that contribute to longer diagnostic intervals. Previous qualitative studies have discussed delays using The Model of Pathways to Treatment, but this has not been explored in the NZ context. This study aimed to understand the patient experience and perception of their general practitioner (GP) through the diagnostic process in the Waikato region of NZ. In particular, we sought to investigate potential barriers and facilitators that contribute to longer diagnostic intervals. 
Methods: Ethical approval for this study was granted by the New Zealand Health and Disability Ethics Committee. Twenty-eight participants, diagnosed with colorectal cancer, were interviewed about their experience. Semi-structured interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using The Model of Pathways to Treatment framework (intervals: appraisal, help-seeking, diagnostic). 
Results: Participant appraisal of symptoms was a barrier to prompt diagnosis, particularly if symptoms were normalised, intermittent, or isolated in occurrence. Successful self-management techniques also resulted in delayed help-seeking. However if symptoms worsened, disruption to work and daily routines were important facilitators to seeking a GP consultation. Participants positively appraised GPs if they showed good technical competence and were proactive in investigating symptoms. Negative GP appraisals were associated with a lack of physical examinations and misdiagnosis, and left participants feeling dehumanised during the diagnostic process. However high levels of GP interpersonal competence could override poor technical competence, resulting in an overall positive experience, even if the cancer was diagnosed at an advanced stage. Māori participants often appraised symptoms inclusive of their sociocultural environment and considered the impact of their symptoms in relation to family. 
Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight the importance of tailored colorectal cancer symptom communication in health campaigns, and indicate the significance of the interpersonal competence aspect of GP-patient interactions. These findings suggest that interpersonal competence be overtly displayed in all GP interactions to ensure a higher likelihood of a positive experience for the patient.

year: 2020-10-01