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Biomedical subjects

N Dickson

Publications and source records attributed to N Dickson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Patterns of disease and HIV testing at sexually transmitted disease clinics.

AIM: To measure the occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and of HIV testing in a population of STD clinic attenders and the associations of these with age, gender, ethnicity, intravenous drug use, sexual practices and other STDs. METHODS: The study population comprised 8478 new attenders who had blood taken at STD clinics in Auckland and Christchurch between August 1991 and August 1992. Demographic and behavioural information was recorded, along with STD diagnoses and whether or not an HIV test was carried out. These data were analysed by univariate and multivariate methods to determine patterns of disease and voluntary HIV testing. RESULTS: The proportions of the study group with each of the six major STD diagnoses were syphilis 0.8%, gonorrhoea 3.1%, chlamydial infection 11.7%, nonspecific urethritis/cervicitis 12.0%, genital warts 17.4% and genital herpes 6.1%. Gonorrhoea and chlamydial infection were significantly correlated. Both Maori and Pacific Islands ethnicity were significantly associated with the occurrence of bacterial STDs and inversely associated with viral STDs. Twenty-two percent of subjects had voluntary HIV testing at this single visit. Maori were tested at 60% of the European rate and Pacific Islands people at 25-30%. CONCLUSIONS: The profiles of different STDs vary in terms of the sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics of those most often affected. There are major differences in patterns of disease and service use between ethnic groups that require further investigation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

A theory of caring for midwifery.

It is time that Australian midwives developed and published their own theories and models for midwifery. This paper proposes a practical model for midwifery based on caring concepts. The needs of midwifery clients have been analysed and supported by various authors and four concepts of caring have been selected and applied to these needs to bring about a positive birth experience. Philosophical assumptions have been made to form the grounding for the theory, the core of which is a caring midwifery interaction.

Australia↗
PubMed1997

Personality differences predict health-risk behaviors in young adulthood: evidence from a longitudinal study.

In a longitudinal study of a birth cohort, the authors identified youth involved in each of 4 different health-risk behaviors at age 21: alcohol dependence, violent crime, unsafe sex, and dangerous driving habits. At age 18, the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ) was used to assess 10 distinct personality traits. At age 3, observational measures were used to classify children into distinct temperament groups. Results showed that a similar constellation of adolescent personality traits, with developmental origins in childhood, is linked to different health-risk behaviors at 21. Associations between the same personality traits and different health-risk behaviors were not an artifact of the same people engaging in different health-risk behaviors; rather, these associations implicated the same personality type in different but related behaviors. In planning campaigns, health professionals may need to design programs that appeal to the unique psychological makeup of persons most at risk for health-risk behaviors.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1996

The lifetime occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases among a cohort aged 21.

AIMS: To determine the lifetime occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among a cohort aged 21. METHODS: Participants were interviewed at aged 21 as part of a multidisciplinary health and development study. Questions on STDs and sexual behaviour were presented by computer. RESULTS: Of the cohort members known to be alive, 92% responded. Among the sexually experienced 8.6% of the men and 17.3% of the women reported ever having had an STD. Genital warts and chlamydial infection were the commonest STDs among the men, and chlamydial infection, genital warts, and genital herpes among the women. General practice was the commonest place for treatment, and only a minority of people were treated at sexual health clinics. The risk of having an STD increased steeply with the lifetime number of sexual partners. CONCLUSIONS: STDs are common problems among young New Zealanders, especially women. The rate was as high as the US. Prevention should be directed at increasing the use of condoms, but education aimed at reducing the number of sexual partners and delaying the onset of sexual involvement should be considered seriously. A more coordinated approach to treatment is required to take into account the diversity of settings where STDs are treated. Surveillance of STDs needs to be extended, as currently the only data are from sexual health clinics.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

A theory of caring for midwifery.

It is time that Australian midwives developed and published their own theories and models for midwifery. This paper proposes a practical model for midwifery based on caring concepts. The needs of midwifery clients have been analysed and supported by various authors and four concepts of caring have been selected and applied to these needs to bring about a positive birth experience. Philosophical assumptions have been made to form the grounding for the theory, the core of which is a caring midwifery interaction.

Communication↗
PubMed1995

Heterosexual behaviour and HIV risk in New Zealand: data from a national survey.

The pattern of any future major heterosexual epidemic of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) will depend partly on sexual behaviour and condom use among heterosexuals. This survey was designed to provide information on patterns of sexual behaviour in New Zealand. A national sample aged 18 to 54 was selected using a random method and telephone interviews were administered to 2361 people, using a questionnaire based on the protocol developed by the Global Program on AIDS of the World Health Organization. The reported mean lifetime number of partners increased with age up to 25 to 29 years for women and 30 to 34 years for men, and declined at older ages. Fifteen or more lifetime partners were reported by 17 per cent of men and 4 per cent of women. Multiple partnerships in the previous 12 months were commonest in those aged 20 to 24. In this age group, 32 per cent of men and 20 per cent of women reported two or more partners. Recent condom use for contraception was reported by 23 per cent of men and 19 per cent of women. Use was highest amongst those aged 18 to 24, and decreased sharply with age. The true proportion of the population with many sexual partners may be higher than reported. These data will be useful in modelling approaches to estimate the likelihood of future heterosexual spread of AIDS. The data on lifetime numbers of partners suggest that sexual decisions depend not just on age and sex but also on the era, and thus on changing social values about sexual behaviour.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Hospital associated costs of treating patients with AIDS.

AIM: To determine the hospital associated costs of caring for patients with AIDS. METHOD: We reviewed the notes of all 40 patients with AIDS admitted to the Auckland Hospital infectious disease unit during 1988. We used the resource utilisation system (RUS) to determine costs. RESULTS: Costs were maximal in the month of diagnosis of AIDS (ca $3500/month), falling thereafter to ca $1000/month until they rose again in the last months of life. Total costs were dominated initially by inpatient costs but subsequently by the costs of medicines. CONCLUSION: The hospital costs associated with the care of AIDS patients are not spaced evenly throughout the illness. Extended life will not increase costs proportionately.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

Duplicate reporting of AIDS cases between two neighbouring countries.

AIMS: To measure the extent and characteristics of cases of duplicate notification of diagnoses of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) between Australia and New Zealand. METHODS: Cases of AIDS notified to the national AIDS registries in both Australia and New Zealand were identified, using date of birth and a name code. Cases determined to have been notified to both registries were analysed with respect to exposure category, country of birth and country of death. RESULTS: Twenty-six cases of AIDS were determined to be common to both registries, representing 1.1% of cases notified to the Australian registry and 11.1% of cases notified to the New Zealand registry. Exposure to HIV was attributed to male homosexual contact for all cases, and a history of injecting drug use was reported more frequently to the Australian registry for the cases in common. For the majority of cases notified to both registries, country of birth was recorded as New Zealand. Deaths following AIDS were reported as occurring in both countries with equal frequency.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

Adolescents, sexual behaviour and implications for an epidemic of HIV/AIDS among the young.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the patterns of sexual behaviour, condom use and sexually transmitted diseases among young New Zealanders, and the characteristics of those with many sexual partners. SUBJECTS: A cohort of young people enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study, and followed up since age three. METHODS: Subjects were interviewed at age 18 years as part of a multidisciplinary health and development study. Questions about sexual behaviour were presented by computer. RESULTS: Overall 862/1027 (83.9%) surviving in the cohort was interviewed. Only 1.4% declined to answer the section on sexual behaviour. Sexual intercourse in the previous 12 months was reported by 57.6% of the young men and 67.9% of the young women. Amongst those who were sexually active more of the young men reported multiple partners than the young women (59.8% v 46.5% p < 0.001). There was a trend for increasing number of partners with indices of lower school achievement but no significant association with socio-economic status. Condom use decreased with increasing number of partners for the young women, and for the young men there was no association. Sexually transmitted diseases were reported more commonly with increasing number of sexual partners for both men and women. The rates of sexual activity were substantially higher than reported in a comparable survey 20 years ago. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of sexual behaviour and condom use, and the occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases in this sample give cause for concern about the spread of sexually transmitted diseases including the possibility of an epidemic of HIV among heterosexual young people in New Zealand. The findings should help in targeting health promotional activities within this age group.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

Analyzing home care information system needs.

Where does an agency even begin to automate? What hardware is needed? What software will work? How large a system is needed? The answers to these questions are determined by the questions here--questions that should be asked before the details of software and hardware even come up.

Community Health Nursing↗
PubMed1992

Iron deficiency in infants of Cambodian refugees.

A community study was designed to establish the prevalence of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia in the infants of Cambodian refugees in Dunedin. Nineteen infants between the ages of three and 19 months were identified belonging to this population and 18 had a full blood count and/or serum ferritin estimation performed. Iron deficiency (serum ferritin less than 10 micrograms/L) was found in 65% (11/17) of those tested, and anaemia (haemoglobin less than 110 g/L) with iron deficiency in 37% (6/16). While primary prevention of this problem should continue by promoting a weaning diet with adequate available iron, and perhaps by ensuring adequate maternal iron stores, screening all Cambodian infants for iron deficiency and anaemia is presently indicated.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗
PubMed1992

Midazolam versus fentanyl as premedication for painful procedures in children with cancer.

Premedication for painful procedures in children with cancer is not routinely used. Many medications used are only intermittently effective or require special equipment or anesthesia support. In a randomized, double-blind, crossover study, the safety and efficacy of midazolam, a short-acting benzodiazepine, were compared with the safety and efficacy of fentanyl, a short-acting narcotic analgesic. In 25 children studied, 100% of children and their parents preferred study drugs to any previous premedication. Seventy-two percent preferred midazolam to fentanyl. Preprocedural anxiety, adverse behavioral symptoms, and visual analog scales all improved and side effects were minimal. It is concluded that premedication for painful procedures should be used routinely in children with cancer. With proper monitoring, fentanyl and midazolam can be used safely in the outpatient clinic setting. Midazolam was found to be the drug of preference for the majority of patients.

Adolescent↗