Of twelve participants, ten used the product daily; two identified as “social vapers”. The evidence strongly supports the idea that minority and intra-minority stress are a key driver of the adoption and persistent use of e-cigarettes, as shown in our research. E-cigarettes were employed in navigating new social and cultural contexts, functioning as a medium of exchange to gain entry into various social environments, including the mainstream and gay community circles. Cessation initiatives aimed at the queer community received minimal backing. The social acceptability of vaping within queer communities is linked to its role in facilitating social integration, managing stress, and helping people quit smoking.

A shift from cervical cytology to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing will be undertaken by the National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) as its primary screening modality in 2023. In August of 2022, a preliminary study, focusing on implementing HPV testing in three diverse New Zealand regions, commenced to prepare for its wider release into primary care. hepatic abscess In order to prepare for nationwide HPV testing, this study explores how primary care staff experience the 'Let's test for HPV' pathway and will use their experiences to formulate recommendations for improvement. The 'Let's Test For HPV' study, conducted across 17 practices in the Capital and Coast, Canterbury, and Whanganui region, involved interviews with thirty-nine primary care staff members. A total of nineteen interviews were conducted, each employing a semi-structured methodology. Transcribing the recorded interviews was a crucial step in the process. The transcripts were subjected to template analysis in order to identify thematic patterns. Our investigation yielded three significant themes, broken down into further subthemes. The new testing regime enjoyed the robust backing of the staff. Interviewees voiced their concerns regarding the new pathway. Both patients and doctors highlighted the importance of targeted educational resources. Despite positive accounts of the HPV testing pathway from primary care staff, additional support, national implementation, and educational programs for both practitioners and patients are crucial. Essential for this new cervical cancer screening approach is support that can improve access for unserved and previously underserved groups.

Aotearoa New Zealand's primary healthcare system enables patients to be enrolled in a general practice for care. Oveporexton concentration General practices that are no longer accepting new patients are said to have 'closed books'. The study investigated the District Health Board (DHB) districts with the highest rates of closed books, exploring which aspects of general practices and DHB districts might be related to this phenomenon. Distribution maps of closed general practices were displayed using the methodology of books. Linear and logistic regression methods were applied to explore the association between DHB or general practice features and the occurrence of closed books. By June 2022, 347 general practices (33% of the sample) had finalised their financial books. The most considerable number of closed general practices was concentrated in Canterbury DHB (n=45) and Southern DHB (n=32), in stark contrast to Wairarapa DHB (86%), Midcentral DHB (81%), and Taranaki DHB (81%) which demonstrated the highest percentage of closed general practices. Consultation fees, while crucial for healthcare provision, are exacerbated by the nationwide problem of closed books, notably affecting the middle-lower North Island. Travel distance, time spent traveling, and associated costs influence patient enrollment in primary healthcare. Consultation fees and closed books displayed a strong association. This implies a potential income breakpoint beyond which general practices might elect to close their books when they reach full capacity.

Following the 2017 implementation of notifiable reporting regulations for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including gonorrhoea and syphilis, Aotearoa New Zealand clinicians were obligated to complete anonymous case report forms, documenting behavioral, clinical, and management specifics. Laboratory and clinician notifications are both instrumental in tracking gonorrhea, a method distinct from syphilis, which is only reported by clinicians. Scrutinize contact tracing (partner notification) information gleaned from routinely collected gonorrhea and syphilis notification data. Methods employed analysis of aggregated 2019 data on clinician-reported cases of gonorrhoea and syphilis, to reassess contact tracing details and estimate the number of required partner contacts. Clinicians notified 722 cases of syphilis and 3138 cases of gonorrhoea in the year 2019. COPD pathology Nonetheless, 7200 laboratory-confirmed gonorrhea cases were documented, yet clinician notification encompassed fewer than half of these instances (436%, representing 3138 out of 7200 cases), demonstrating a substantial regional disparity in notification rates ranging from 100% to a high of 615% across the District Health Board jurisdictions. According to estimations, the contact tracing efforts in 2019 would have needed to cover an estimated 28,080 recent contacts linked to gonorrhea and 2,744 contacts of syphilis. A substantial 20% of syphilis and 16% of gonorrhoea cases remained untraceable due to anonymous contacts, with the remaining cases of 79% of syphilis and 81% of gonorrhoea having 'contact tracing initiated or planned'. In the absence of complete surveillance data for gonorrhea and syphilis, calculations about the number and nature of contacts facilitate the development of contact tracing approaches. Clinician-completed forms, when optimized, and a substantial improvement in response rates, will collectively contribute to a more thorough understanding of sexually transmitted infection prevalence, particularly its high and inequitable nature in Aotearoa New Zealand, enabling better interventions.

To foster precise communication between practitioners, policymakers, and the public, clear terminology is paramount. We examined how the term 'green prescription' has been employed in peer-reviewed publications. To explore the usage of the term 'green prescription(s)', we carried out a scoping review of peer-reviewed studies. Subsequently, we delved into how the term's application varied across different academic specializations, geographical locations, and timeframes. 268 articles, featuring the phrase 'green prescription(s)', were included in our research. In 1997, the term 'green prescription(s)' emerged, denoting a health professional's written prescription emphasizing lifestyle adjustments, particularly physical activity. Yet another facet of this term's evolution involves its recent (since 2014) application to signify exposure to nature. Despite a different understanding gaining prominence, the term 'green prescription' in medical and health sciences worldwide, continues primarily to mean a prescription for physical movement. In conclusion, the inconsistent application of the term 'green prescriptions' has contributed to the misuse of research findings related to written exercise/diet prescriptions, erroneously associating nature exposure with improved human health. We recommend that the use of the term 'green prescriptions' be aligned with its initial definition, which restricts its meaning to written prescriptions that promote physical activity and/or dietary improvements. For the purpose of experiencing the restorative effects of nature, we propose the more fitting term 'nature prescriptions'.

Individuals with mental health and substance use conditions (MHSUC) frequently experience adverse physical health outcomes due to the quality of their healthcare. Investigating the experiences of individuals with MHSUC who sought care for a physical condition in primary healthcare, this study examined the aspects of care quality. Adults using or having recently used MHSUC services were part of an online survey fielded in 2022. Respondents were garnered via a nationwide network consisting of mental health, addiction, and lived experience networks, and social media campaigns. Assessed aspects of service quality encompassed relational dynamics, marked by respect and attentiveness, combined with discrimination due to MHSUC and the phenomenon of diagnostic overshadowing, wherein the MHSUC diagnosis eclipsed the need for physical health care. Individuals who were clients of primary care services were incorporated into the study (n = 335). A large segment of respondents affirmed that they were consistently treated with respect (81%) and given the opportunity to express themselves (79%). A limited number of respondents reported instances of diagnostic overshadowing (20%) or discrimination resulting from MHSUC (10%). Individuals who have been given four or more diagnoses, or who have bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, experienced significantly poorer outcomes across all aspects of quality of care. Individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders faced heightened difficulties as a consequence of diagnostic overshadowing. Maori encountered difficulties in respect and suffered from the problem of diagnostic overshadowing. Overall, although many respondents reported favorable experiences with primary care services, a significant portion did not share this view. Diagnoses, patient demographics, and ethnicity all contributed to the level of care received. Primary care services in New Zealand must implement interventions to combat stigma and diagnostic overshadowing impacting individuals with MHSUC.

A condition marked by elevated blood sugar levels, prediabetes can escalate the likelihood of type 2 diabetes if left unaddressed. New Zealand is anticipated to see a 246% proportion of its adult population affected by prediabetes, with alarming figures indicating 29% of the Pacific population currently experiencing the condition. Given a prediabetes diagnosis, intervention from trusted primary care providers is essential. This study's primary goal was to document the level of knowledge and clinical procedure of primary healthcare clinicians in the Pacific concerning prediabetes screening, diagnosis, and management strategies.