Diabetes Awareness Week 
15-21 November 2011
The theme is Tau ke koe! ("Stay Sweet As")

Our three top tips for preventing TYPE 2 diabetes are:
*  Ma te kai tika e totika ai (more than you need is more than you need) - try to make healthier food choices.
*  Ka tu, ka kori, ka ora (stay on your feet and stay sweet) - try to do 30 minutes of exercise a day.
*  Tirohia! Ki te kore, ka pore (if in doubt check it out!) - if you’re in doubt about your health talk to a health professional
http://www.diabetes.org.nz/

Selected books - NZNO Library
These books can be borrowed by members free of charge, for a period of 4 weeks.

1. Beating stress at work: A Safeguard survival guide
By David Brown
Thomson Reuters. Published 2004
Stress has become a major health issue in New Zealand, both at work and in our personal lives.  This book cuts through the confusion and puts the power to beat stress back where it belongs - in your hands.  It's aimed at managers and staff, and once you have the 'know how' you can use it to help others beat stress too.

2. Getting a good night's sleep: A handbook for people who have trouble sleeping
By Fiona Johnston.
Revised edition Tandem Press. Published 2001.
The book explains what happens when we sleep as well as:
- Types of sleep disorders (medical, psychological and emotional)
- How to learn new sleep habits
- How drugs can affect your sleep; this includes prescription drugs, over-the-counter medication as well as caffeine, nicotine etc

3.  I've had it up to here: From stress to strength
This book shows the reader how to:
- Take charge of thinking to banish negative thought patterns
- Create stronger social networks
- Crack the work-life balance equation
- Notice when children are stressed, and work out what to do about it
- Put ideas into action as part of daily life

4. Read this: Business writing that works
By Robert Gentle
Pearson Education. Published 2002
Focuses on improving business writing skills by demonstrating how to: capture and maintain the reader's attention; produce a user-friendly layout; and draw the reader's eye to important passages. Contains a range of practical techniques that can be applied to the following types of business writing: letters; emails; reports; memos; websites; business plans; forms; sign boards; and graphs.

Articles

5. Polymyalgia rheumatica
Source: MasterFile Premier
Harvard Men's Health Watch, Nov 2011, Vol. 16 Issue 4: p1-4
Abstract: It sounds like a new threat to health, but it was first diagnosed in 1888 as “senile rheumatic gout.” It sounds rare, even exotic, but it’s actually quite common. It sounds serious, even ferocious, but it responds beautifully to proper treatment. It’s polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), a painful, sometimes disabling condition that can be associated with giant cell arteritis (GCA), a disease that is much less common but much more serious.

6. Atrial fibrillation: Common, serious, treatable
Source: MasterFile Premier
Harvard Men's Health Watch, Nov 2011, Vol. 16 Issue 4: p4-8
Abstract: AF is an old problem, but it’s becoming more common. At present, between 2.3 million and 5.1 million Americans are affected, and 150,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. The consequences are enormous, including almost 400,000 hospital admissions, 5 million office visits, and health care costs of over $6.5 billion a year. Even worse, AF increases the risk of stroke fivefold and almost doubles the risk of premature death. But there is good news, too: treatment can help.

7.  Aspirin and cancer: Will a tablet a day keep tumors at bay?
Source: MasterFile Premier
Harvard Men's Health Watch, Oct 2011, Vol. 16 Issue 3: p1-4
Abstract: The article offers information on the age-old pain-relieving, fever-reducing drug aspirin, highlighting its potential anti-cancer benefits which is the focus of recent research. It explains how aspirin, being one of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), targets the cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2) in the body, inhibiting their action particularly of COX-2's which research has indicated may be responsible for some malignancies. Discussed are the results of the British study. INSETS: Preventing cancer;Chemoprevention..

8. Reducing prostate cancer risk: Good news, bad news, or no new news?
Source: MasterFile Premier
Harvard Men's Health Watch, Oct 2011, Vol. 16 Issue 3: p5-7
Abstract: The article discusses developments on prostate cancer, a common disease among American men described by the author as puzzling, variable, and important. It presents the results of two studies related to the occurrence of the malignancy, one on the connection with coffee consumption, and another on the effect of finasteride. It urges caution in the appreciation of the surprising results of said studies, stressing that other factors need to be carefully considered..

9.Simvastatin in the morning?
Source: MasterFile Premier
By Simon, Harvey B. Harvard Men's Health Watch, Oct 2011, Vol. 16 Issue 3: p7
Abstract: The article presents an answer to a question on the advisability of taking the drug simvastatin in the evening as directed..

10. Viagra precautions.
Source: MasterFile Premier
By Simon, Harvey B. Harvard Men's Health Watch, Oct 2011, Vol. 16 Issue 3: p8
Abstract: The article presents an answer to a question on precautions for the potential interaction of Viagra and other erectile dysfunction medications with other drugs..

Journals - Table of Contents

11. From Nursing Times, Vol 107 No 44 8-14 November 2011.
The Nursing Week
11A. Students refused flu vaccination; Nursing's finest receive awards - The Chief Nursing Officers' Award for Lifetime Achievement; Long-term structured career paths in the pipeline; Outcry over sexual health firm's tactics; Challenge to whistleblowing laws; Ballot backs strike on pensions; Inquiry told skill matters more than staff level; Safety compromised by high turnover; Fear of being unqualified leads to rising demand for degrees; Reforms risk "dysfunctional" split in nursing
In my view
11B. Linda Davidson - "Clinical IT leaders will make information central to care"
Opinion
11C. Mark Radcliffe - "Healthcare assistants must work out if the RCN is trick or treating"
Nursing Practice
11D. "We must look at our practices and attitudes about shift work"
11E. Benefits of napping on night shifts
11F. Using IT to improve out-of-hours care
Cochrane summary
11G. Acute traumatic stress treatment
Smoking cessation
11H. Use of pharmacotherapy in smoking cessation
NICE guidance
11I. Peritoneal dialysis
COPD
11J. Smoking cessation buddies in COPD
Staff Management
11K. How to reduce your agency spend

Health equity/inequity News

12. Health equity requires urgent political action
25 October 2011
The New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA) is calling for the Government to endorse the political declaration of the World Health Organisation (WHO) which is pressing for a global commitment to reduce health inequities by focusing on the social determinants of health. The declaration, passed on 21 October 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, states that achieving health equity requires the engagement of all sectors of government.
“The Government must urgently address the negative impact of social factors in New Zealand, such as poor quality, damp housing, employment conditions, and economic status that lead to illnesses, low quality of life and mortality,” says NZMA Chair Dr Paul Ockelford.
http://www.nzma.org.nz/news/2011/10/25/health-equity-requires-urgent-political-action

13. Rio Brazil Declaration on Social Determinants of Health, World Health Organisation, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, 21 October 2011
www.who.int/sdhconference/declaration/Rio_political_declaration.pdf

14. NZMA Health Equity Position Statement, published March 2011 in the New Zealand Medical Journal
www.nzma.org.nz/sites/all/files/ps_healthequity.pdf

15. Seven next most important actions to reduce health inequities in Aotearoa New Zealand
NZMA, Heart Foundation, University of Otago, Wellington
www.nzma.org.nz/sites/all/files/sevennextsteps.pdf

News - Ministry of Health

16. Ministry of Health position statement on Get Checked programme
Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced that the Diabetes Get Checked programme will be wound up.  The decision follows a review of the programme which found it is not producing the desired improvement in outcomes for people with diabetes.  The review was co-authored by Dr Brandon Orr-Walker, National Clinical Director of Diabetes
More information: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/diabetes-news#ministrystatement
 
17. Fluoridation Decision will lead to Decay
MOH Media Release — 17 October 2011
The New Plymouth district can expect higher levels of dental decay following the decision to drop fluoride from local drinking water. The Ministry of Health says the decision will cost taxpayers and individuals more.
http://www.health.govt.nz/news-media/media-releases/fluoridation-decision-will-lead-decay

18. Office of the Director of Mental Health Annual Report 2010 released
10 October 2011
The sixth annual report by the Office of the Director of Mental Health has been released today by the Ministry of Health
http://www.health.govt.nz/news-media/media-releases/office-director-mental-health-annual-report-2010-released

Conferences

19. Med-e-Tel 2012
Presentations of successful business cases, research activities, pilot projects, practical experiences from health and social care providers, and panel discussions, offering both local and international perspectives on eHealth and Telemedicine opportunities and experiences.
Date: 18-20 April 2012
Venue: Luxexpo Exhibition and Congress Center in Luxembourg
More information: http://www.medetel.lu/index.php?rub=educational_program&page=call_for_abstracts

News - National

20. Appointment well-received
ODT - Tue, 15 Nov 2011
Carole Heatly The head of the senior doctors' union hopes new Southern District Health Board chief executive Carole Heatly will bring a "greater sense of reality" to the DHB. On Saturday, the board announced the 52-year-old Scotswoman would be its new chief executive. She is expected to take up the position in February.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/186581/appointment-well-received

News - International

21. Civil servants endorse national UK strike
Tue, 15 Nov 2011. News: World
Thousands of civil servants have voted in favour of a national strike at the end of the month over pension reform, two unions said today, bringing the prospect of a national stoppage involving millions of workers a step closer. The FDA union, representing 19,000 senior government workers, including diplomats,  prosecutors, economists and tax professionals, said that on a turnout of 54 percent, 81 percent had voted in favour of a walkout.
http://www.odt.co.nz/source/reuters/186612/civil-servants-endorse-national-uk-strike