Abstract
Title: The Langimalie Mental Health Study
Sione Vaka, BHSc, PGDipHSc, MN (Hons)
Abstract: This study was undertaken in 2001 by the Maori and Pacific Health
Department of the University of Auckland’s Medical School in partnership with
the Tongan Health Society and formed the basis of my Masters Dissertation. The
study will highlight the numerous obstacles associated with the planning, funding
and delivery of a high quality mental health study by Pacific people in the
New Zealand research context.
Objectives: The aims of the study were to determine the levels and predictors
of psychological distress, hazardous alcohol usage and pathological gambling
within Tongans using an ethnic specific primary care service in South Auckland,
New Zealand.
Method: Participants (n=507) were recruited from users of the Tongan Health
Societies Primary Care Clinic (Langimalie Clinic) and given a self-administered
Tongan language questionnaire containing the GHQ-12, WHO AUDIT, and South Oaks
Gambling Screen and migration related factors.
Results: Surprisingly only 15% had above threshold scores (recommendation of
4+ on GHQ-12), with young males and pathological gamblers with statiscally significant
levels of psychological distress. 20.6% of males and 4.6% of females used alcohol
in a hazardous fashion (identified as a score of >8 on the AUDIT) and overall
8% of the sample were identified as being pathological gamblers (identified
as a score 0f >5 on the South Oaks Gambling Screen.
Conclusion: Tongan migrants have far less psychological morbidity compared with
the majority of other populations in Australasia. Hazardous alcohol use and
pathological gambling is of serious concern and requires urgent attention not
only at a primary care level but in the wider Tongan community as well.
Title: Nurses as actors in Health Promotion
Marcia Kepa, RN (Fiji), BNSc (JCU, Aust) & Bulou Makutu RN (Fiji)
Abstract: Many premature deaths and disability of people affected by NCD diseases
such as diabetes, hypertension and stroke in Fiji causes great loss to their
dependents and drives families into a state of poverty that is difficult to
come out from. This situation also becomes a “leak” in the country’s national
investment on human development through health and education costs. Reduced
life expectancy age for the general population shown in several reports by the
WHO indicates that the problem is getting to become common in some small island
countries of the Pacific.
Objective: The paper aims to identify the trend of lifestyle diseases that is
common among the urban dwellers of the city of Suva and Sigatoka town in comparison
to two outer rural island of Kadavu and Taveuni.
Methods: The data collected is mainly from Community Health monthly-consolidated
reports (MCR) compiled by Community Health nurses in two selected areas of Suva
and Sigatoka. As a comparison to the health of rural dwellers we have also included
statistics from Kadavu and Taveuni which are two outer rural islands in Fiji.
Results: the end results of these analysis is to determine the extent of NCD
problems faced by urban dwellers in relation to poor diet and the changing lifestyles.
In the last 4 years indicators of poor health of the population has resulted
in premature deaths. The high mortality rate of young to middle age persons
through non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is a great concern to the Fiji nurses.
The implications of poverty created from loves lost to NCD is a serious threat.
The department of Health and every responsible individual can strive to address
this life threatening NCD issues to save the already vulnerable population of
this small island nation.
Conclusion: Nurses play a pivotal role in the collection of data and proper
analysis of statistics to determine the pathway for health promotion, prevention,
and treatment of suspected trend of NCDs. As front liners in health, nurses
are valuable actors in maintaining a balance in the health education of the
population to promote personal health and hygiene for an NCD free Pacific. Nurses
are to act on what we preach ? for NCD free Pacific starts with us.
Title: Northern Health Professionals Take The Lead To Combat NCD
Vasitai Batirerega, RN, Cert Midwifery (Fiji), B.Sc N.Science (JCU, Aust)
Abstract: Change in lifestyle and food intake has contributed enormously to
the increase in non-communicable diseases (NCD) in Fiji. The number one Health
outcomes in Fiji’s Ministry of Health’s strategic plan for 2005 ? 2008 is the
need to…”Reduced burden of non-communicable diseases.” To tackle this ‘invisible
killer’ health professionals especially nurses are at the forefront of health
promotion. To convince the general public of the seriousness and the dangers
that NCDs pose in their lives and on national health budgets, the Northern Health
Services staff will take a leading role in the challenge for an NCD free Fiji
and the Pacific.
Background: In the transition of health encompassing both epidemiological and
population shift, Fiji has experienced a trend over the years of NCD and its
complications resulting in a trend of morbidity and mortality similar to that
of the developed nations. The increased burden to the health services of non-communicable
diseases is recognized globally as WHO estimated in 2001 that 32 million deaths
is attributed to NCDs with greater than 50% die of cardiovascular diseases and
a third occurring in middle aged adults. The projection by WHO that…”by year
2020 ischaemic heart disease will be the leading cause of death in the world.”
Method: this quantitative survey is being conducted for the Northern Health
Service staff including nurses, doctors, paramedics and non-medical staff within
the Ministry of Health services. NCD screening of staff began in January 2006
at the Labasa Hospital, Divisional Office and Labasa Health Centre. Screening
includes B/P check, BSL, BMI. A comparative screening is to be done by the end
of six months or by August 2006 to gauge the improvement.
Objective:
? To assess and maintain a healthy professional workforce
? To reduce overweight and obesity amongst staff by 10% six months down the
line by August 2006
? To promote physical activity and daily exercise to 60-70% of hospital staff
? To improve early detection of NCD complications
? To reduce smoking among staff by 5% by the end of August 2006
? To reduce NCD related admissions.
Title: Post Graduate Acute Care Course: A Post Mortem
Helen Wells, Post Graduate Acute Care Course Coordinator, Faculty of Nursing
& Health Science, National University of Samoa
Abstract: Early in 2003 the Ministry of Health asked the University of Samoa
Faculty of Nursing to offer a Post Graduate Diploma in High Dependency and Acute
Care. In 2005 the course was started with eight nurses enrolled.
The purpose of the course was to introduce more nurses to the adrenalin charged
world of acute care as well as give them the knowledge to work in those areas
when staffing levels were short.
Course review: Was the course worthwhile? Yes! Did we meet our expectations?
Yes? Two months after the course finished, the students were asked to complete
a survey. And even though they weren’t being graded…they still said they like
the course! The results of the survey, the course itself and the thoughts of
the course coordinator are reviewed in this presentation.
Conclusions: The course was an enjoyable and worthwhile addition to the Faculty
of Nursing. The knowledge not only enabled the students to practice with confidence
but also they were able to share this knowledge with colleagues. The areas for
improvement such as improving time- tables, use of the computer lab, and minor
course adjustments could easily be accomplished. Thus hopefully this course
will become a favorite in the future.
Author’s biodata: Helen Wells, an aging hippie, was born in the United States.
She started studying nursing in 1966 but interrupted her studies to join the
Peace Corps and worked in Ethiopia for three years. In 1977 she immigrated to
New Zealand with her husband and two young sons. In 1988 she finally obtained
her RN and since then has worked mainly in the ICU at Taranaki Base Hospital
in New Zealand. In 1999 she traveled to the USA where she worked in a large
teaching university hospital in
down-town Philadelphia, which had been a long-term goal. In 2005 she was the
course coordinator for the Post Graduate Diploma Acute Care Course.
Title: Pacifica Nursing: Opportunity, Challenging or Dangerous?
Richard Moore, MN Programme Coordinator, Faculty of Health and Sports Science,
Eastern Institute of Technology, Taradale, Napier, New Zealand
Abstract: Nursing in the Pacific presents unique nursing issues rarely encountered anywhere else on earth. Large distances between islands, small communities, scattered facilities and expertise, sixteen nations, sixty thousand islands, difficulty in effective transportation in many areas, to name just a few. Add to this a general lack of training in many areas, particularly at postgraduate level, the nurse faces critical issues of competency, providing effective care to their patients and utilizing knowledge that is effective in the field. This paper presents both the nursing and organizational issues which affect nursing in the Pacific at the local, national and transnational level. Critical thought for the future of nursing is investigated in the pacific to inspire and challenge delegates.
Author’s biodata: Richard Moore is currently the Master of Nursing and Post
Graduate Diploma in Health Sciences Programme Coordinator at the Eastern Institute
of Technology (EIT), Napier, New Zealand. He is also the Course Coordinator
of the Post Graduate Health Services Management and Critical Care courses at
EIT.
Richard has worked alongside the Audit Commission (UK), NHS Procurement (UK)
Robson Rhodes (Management Consultants and Auditors, UK) investigating managing
critical systems within health and why they fail. Richard has previous worked
at King’s College, London and has a deep love of the Pacific and Pacific people.
He brings a wealth of expertise, both in industry, health and nursing.
Title: Developing Strategic Learning Partnerships: ACU and Vanuatu
Jacqui Guy, Lecturer, School of Nursing, Australian Catholic University (NSW),
Selena Haggai, Project Manager,VHW Program, Save the Children Australia, Vanuatu
Abstract: A major challenge for nursing education is to provide new, innovative
learning approaches, which will stimulate nursing students to develop an awareness
and cultural sensitivity to nursing and health of people from other cultures.
Ten years ago, a second year Australian Catholic University’s Bachelor of Nursing
elective unit “Health and Healing Practices of an Indigenous Culture” was developed
to provide students with the opportunity to undertake a two week field experience
in the Western Pacific to observe and engage in nursing in a developing country
and to gain an awareness of primary health care in the region.
Over the last few years, students have been prepared for the visits to Vanuatu
by an online orientation program. ACU lecturers from NSW facilitate student
learning in the Vila Central hospital, urban and rural health clinics and outreach
programs, whilst Ni-Vanuatu nurses function as experts. Students spend several
nights with families in a North Efate village to experience the culture. The
ACU lecturers have developed strong collegial relationships with Ni Vanuatu
nurses over the past five years the program has been running. Following the
field visits, students have reported overwhelmingly that this experience was
challenging and life-changing for them in both personally and professionally.
This paper explores the opportunities for ACU to develop a continuing strategic
partnership with Vanuatu and identifies some of the ways that Vanuatu can benefit
from this partnership.
Authors biodata: Jacqui Guy RN, RMN, MHPEd (UNSW) has been a nurse educator for 30 years, both in the hospital system and tertiary system. She has been a lecturer at the Australian Catholic University for 15 years, teaching and researching in nursing practice, maternal and child health and postgraduate nursing education. She spent 3 months on sabbatical in the Solomon Islands in 1997 and toured the rural health clinics of Guadalcanal and Malaita to observe the role of the nurse. She has organized and accompanied nursing students each year to the Solomon Islands or Vanuatu since 1997. She has developed a passion for learning about nursing and people of the Pacific, particularly in Melanesia and is keen to develop stronger partnerships in these countries.
Selina Haggai is a Ni-Vanuatu nurse who has had extensive experience in nursing and education in Vanuatu and has completed postgraduate programs in England and Australia. She is currently working on a community-based Health Management Project funded by AusAid.
Title of Paper: Partnerships & Collegiality in Diabetes
Jane Giles RN, Grad Cert (Diabetes Education), MN, Bed, CDE and
Nelesone Seipua RN, BNg
Abstract: Diabetes in the South Pacific is having a significant impact on the
health of the communities. In addition, developing and maintaining a workforce
to provide education and care to these communities is imperative.
Objective: To identify a model of education and support that would enable focused
education and a long-term plan for networking and support for local health professionals.
Method: Using an action research model the visiting team from Australia and
the local diabetes team engaged in a series of education and resource development
activities.
Results: Over three years, the two teams have developed their partnership and
strengthened collegiality in diabetes care. During this time1in-Australia visit
was undertaken by the diabetes nurses and medical practitioner from Tuvalu.
Also, 5 in-country visits were undertaken by an Australian diabetes educator
and endocrinologist. The focus of this paper is on the nursing aspect of the
diabetes project. Needs based education theory was used to underpin the curriculum,
and evidence based guidelines were used to inform diabetes management. Informal
discussion was used to identify an ongoing support program. Outcome include:
1. Reorientation of clinics to enable nurses to do community education
2. Development of teaching resources relevant to the Tuvalu community
3. Refining in-hospital procedures making best use of available resources
4. Development of ongoing networking and information sharing strategy.
Conclusion: International and local partnerships and collegiality amongst nurses
make a difference for the local services. Developing capacity to undertake community
education utilizing a locally developed resource enable local nurses to promote
better health, prevent illness, elevate suffering and maintained health.
Title of Paper: Lenses behind the microphone ? the power of radio in
Leadership Doing Health
Dr Ausaga Faasalele Tanuvasa, RN, PhD, NZAID Consultant
Abstract: 1992 is an important milestine for the Samoan Capital Radio in Wellington. Not only for the obvious reason that I completed my undergraduate degree, but also because it was the beginning of an important milestone for piloting “leadership doing health” program behind the microphone. The notion of presenting health education program on air is to: offer a practice model to complement face to face health promotion presentation to the Samoan community; and to lead the way forward to address the health determinants that impact on Pacific People’s health status.
Aotearoa is structured in such a way that leaves some ethnic groups considerably better off than others. Maori and Pacific Island people by and large, live in socio economically deprived areas, have poorer health status, are more exposed to risk factors for poor health and experience barriers to accessing health services.
While mainstream program has benefited the population as a whole, health disparity
between the rich and the poor, between Pacific People and Papalagi continues
to widen.
We are good at promoting health among Papalagi but we have real difficulty being
effective with Pacific People.
Why is this happening? Can we bridge the gap? Have you ever considered leadership in radio promotion to dialog with the community?
Lenses behind the microphone represent the power of perspective in “leadership doing health”. This presentation aims to explain how two nursing pioneers developed a conceptual framework in governorship, culture, language, identity, social and entertainment to address “leadership doing health” within their lenses.
Author’s biodata: Dr Ausaga Faasalele Tanuvasa is an NZAID Consultant and a National Clinical Advisor with ACC Treatment Injury and Patient Safety Unit. Ausaga was a Senior Lecturer and has held senior posts in clinical leadership and public health nursing practice. Ausaga has a PhD from Victoria University, recipient of seven academic scholarships, has published research articles, guest speaker and presenter at international and national conferences, and a pioneer to pilot the health program on Samoan Capital Radio in Wellington. Ausaga has strong links to Samoa and is a member of the Samoa Nurses Association in Samoa.
Title of Paper: The economic and health challenges for Primary healthcare providers working with Type 2 people with diabetes in a vulnerable community in South Auckland by Jill Trezise, RN (Nurse Leader) Total Healthcare Otara & East Tamaki Healthcare
Abstract: South Auckland has the largest Pacific population in the Southern
Hemisphere. There are 12,000 people with diabetes in the Counties Manukau Health
Region. Of these approximately 33% (4000) patients are enrolled with one PHO.
Socio- economic as well as cultural barriers makes access difficult for these
patients. This makes self-management education critical in the ability of the
patients to regain control. There is a shortage of pacific health providers
and this makes it more important to redevelop existing workforce and to design
resources for mainstream providers.
AIM: The aim was to reduce the HBA 1c of Type 2 diabetes patients, prevent hypoglycaemia,
and improve quality of education through evidence ? based protocols and processes
in nurse ? led clinics. In order to increase patient trust in their healthcare
provider educational resources were redesigned to be more culturally appropriate.
METHODS: Nurse-led clinics assisted 1138 patients with Type 2 diabetes in regaining
control of their chronic disease. Appropriate nurse training was redeveloped
to reflect more behavioral intervention and patient focused approaches consultations.
Protocols were designed around NZGG Type 2 diabetes guidelines. Information
systems were developed with the aim of measuring and valuing the time, effort
and results of nurses leading a patient centred chronic care model.
RESULTS: Among 1138 persons with type 2 diabetes, Hba1C(9.41% to 8.56%), lipids,
(Total cholesterol reduced from 5.3mmol/to 5.0 mmol/l and patients prescribed
statins increased from 58% to 73%) and blood pressure all reduced with an intensive
nurse led patient self-management model. Attendance rates increased from 88%
to 93%. Patients regained self-esteem and had a more trusting relationship with
their healthcare team. Doctors reported improved patient satisfaction with their
diabetes nurses and Doctors gave more value to the trained diabetes nurse.
Author’s biodata: Jill Trezise is the nurse leader of a team of 25 nurses working in 9 community clinics (PHO) in South Auckland. She has a passion for diabetes and professional development. Within the organizational chronic care program Jill delivers 5 intensive level Diabetes clinic per week and supervises other senior nurses doing the same. East Tamaki Healthcare has 4000 patients diagnosed with diabetes amongst it’s 72,000 enrolled patients. The 9 clinics are embedded in the most vulnerable community in Auckland. This presents a huge challenge to primary care nurses in “making a positive healthcare experience”.
Title of Paper: Excellence in nursing education, improves diabetes health
outcomes
Mareta Onosa’i, Charge Nurse, Accident & Medical Centre, South Auckland
Abstract: The most effective interventions in chronic disease or NCD interventions
have been those that could exploit the variety of skills contained in an existing
population. There are increasing amounts of people with diabetes being diagnosed
daily. The nursing workforce has to upskill and explores new ways to give more
effective, evidence ? based and culturally appropriate education. Nurses are
ideally situated within the continuum of primary care. Educating patients, peers,
groups, and other health professionals require robust evidence ? based protocols
and processes.
Aim:
? To improve nurse education for patients with diabetes and their families
? To reduce the complication of diabetes through improved glycaemic control
? To utilize 25 nurses to lead diabetes clinic effectively among 3,400 patients
Methods: Diabetes education was redeveloped to reflect quality care from the
patient’s perspective. Non-registered attendants were educated to allow nurses
to concentrate on oral education. Clinical nurse specialists supervised the
nurses in nurse led clinics until the nurse was competent. This was usually
completed after 4 sessions.
Results: Attendance rates increased from 88% to 93%. Nurse retention and recruitment
rates improved. Patients and doctors reported better satisfaction with their
healthcare visit. HBAIC reduced from 9.41% to 8.56% among 1138 patients.
Author’s biodata: Mareta is the charge ? nurse of a busy Accident & Medical center in Otara, South Auckland. After working in Samoa for 10 years she moved with her family to New Zealand 10 years ago, where she has been working ever since. Mareta leads the Pacific nurses in diabetes nurse education. She is a valuable resource for language and cultural barriers. Her understanding of diabetes is shared on a personal level as her husband currently takes insulin to control glycaemic levels.
Title of Paper: Wanted: Nursing Leadership!
Stuart Newman, RN, Dip Teach (Nursing), Bed (Nursing), MHA, MRCNA, MINE Director,
International and Professional Relations, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery,
The University of Sydney, Australia
Abstract: The concept that health care systems rely on a healthy workforce to meet the increasing challenges of providing appropriate health care to their communities is not questioned. However, a healthy workforce means more than physical health ? it requires a committed, motivated and highly satisfied group of people. Strong leadership is essential to maintaining any healthy workforce and nursing is no different. However, the rules of leadership in nursing have changed. Clinical and structural transformation as a result of reform activities in many healthcare systems have occurred so rapidly that providing adequate nursing leadership in this environment is becoming increasingly difficult. While the international literature on the nursing recruitment and retention crisis highlights the need for greater clinical and professional leadership, there is also emerging literature identifying the concerns nurse managers have regarding their ability to provide leadership in the context of current health policy.
This paper analyses the increasing challenges to providing professional and clinical leadership in nursing against a background of health reform activities, organizational restructuring and the impact of this policy direction on the day?to-day management and leadership activities of nurse managers. The paper reports findings of a recent study, and focuses on the extent to which the ability of nurse managers to provide professional and clinical leadership is adversely affected. The paper also reports the personal cost has diminished their work satisfaction, motivation and commitment and raised their uncertainty about the future and their ability to provide adequate nursing services.
Author’s biodata: Stuart is a registered nurse and has extensive experience in health service management in various positions ranging from Nursing Unit Manager to Executive Officer/Director of Nursing. Stuart is currently completing a PhD at The University of Sydney where he is researching the impact of health reform on nurse managers and their management of nursing services. He has presented on health reform and management practice at a number of international venues, including Bournemouth University, Trinity College (Dublin), Hochschule Bremen (Germany) and most recently in Greece.
Title of Paper: A Samoan-Japanese Nursing Education Exchange Program:
Learning Experiences of Japanese Students
Anna Ozawa, Miho Yuki, Yoshimi Fujioka, Yuki Kubo, Minori Shiozawa, Marie Tashiro,
Nagano College of Nursing, Japan
Abstract: Family Focus Nursing:
In Samoa, families are allowed to stay with patients and there are always family
members surrounding the patients. During our nursing practicum in Samoa, we
saw many family members sitting and praying for a patient recovery during operation.
And maternity ward, we saw one patient face turned to be very happy and peaceful
when she was surrounded by her family members at her bedside. From these observations,
we thought it is crucial for family members to closely stay with patients in
Samoa. And, it is very important in the nursing practice for caring Samoan patients.
In contrast, in Japan, patients daily care including assisting feeding and giving
bed bath is given mainly by registered nurses although Japanese people also
respect highly on family system. In Japanese hospital, families visiting hours
are strictly observed and family members are not allowed to stay with patient
overnight except some special cases. Therefore, it is difficult for family members
to always be with patients at hospital in Japan. After experiencing this cross-cultural
nursing practicum, we understand well about the dynamics of cultural influence
on peoples health and nursing practice in Samoa and Japan.
Establishing the people identity of Samoan country, whichis the mind of hospitality, can be seen in any kind of people daily lives. And, it may be the heart of Samoa Islands. It is observed also in nursing in Samoa Islands, which makes Samoa nursing beautiful.
In Japan, nursing education emphasizes the importance of both evidence based
and patient oriented. And, we feel that a way of thinking “for the patient”
is the same both in Samoa and Japan. However, when we say, “for the patient”
means to support a patient to utilize his/her maximum ability for one recovery
or promoting one health.
So, we doubt that if the inside of “want to do something for patient” is contained
the act that a patient really expects entirely or not.
Significance and task of overseas practicum:
As experiencing the nursing practicum in Samoa, we noticed the significance
of overseas nursing practicum for nursing students. Practising in local communities
crossculturally was the greatest advantage which students could learn practically
about cultural differences of nursing studied in the classroom. As a result,
we were able to understand the nursing which we learned from school was based
on the Japanese culture. In the same way, we learned that Samoan cultural strongly
influenced on nursing in Samoa. We could understand the dynamic relationship
of nursing and culture. From the discussion with NUS students, we also came
to know how our nursing education curriculum was influenced by the Japanese
cultural system when comparing to the one in Samoa.
Conclusion:
In conclusion after experiencing this cross-cultural nursing practicum, we NCN
students understand well about the dynamic cultural difference on people’s health
and nursing in Samoa and Japan. We learned that the best nursing is nursing
which is congruent with people cultural settings. It was also valuable for us
to evaluate and compare our experiences of Japanese nursing and nursing education
with those of Samoa.
Authors biodata:
Anna Ozawa, graduated from Nagano College of Nursing in March 2005, works at
Matsumoto Kyoritsu Hospital in Japan.
Miho Yuki graduated from NCN in March 2005, works at Toranomon Hospital in Japan.
Yoshimi Fujioka, graduated from NCN in March 2005, works at Matsumoto Kyoritsu
Hospital in Japan.
Yuk Kubo and Minori Shiozawa, current NCN senior year students, graduated from
NCN in March 2006.
Marie Tashiro, Assistant Professor at Nagano College of Nursing
Title: The health effects of climate change in the Pacific?
Fiona Armstrong, RN, Federal Professional Officer, Australian Nurses Federation
Abstract:
Global warming is more than just environmental consequences, according to registered
nurses and journalist Fiona Armstrong: the implications for human health are
profound. Increases in the incidence of disease and deaths from climate change
are already being experienced in many nations around the globe, with countries
in the Pacific region particularly vulnerable to these effects. The elevation
in global temperatures is associated with a rise in the incidence of infectious
diseases; climatic changes are causing an increase in dramatic weather effects
such as cyclones and flooding, at worst threatening displacement of large populations,
and at least, interrupting the social fabric of communities. All of these changes
will challenge the resources of already fragile economies, and threten food
and water supplies but in even graver circumstances, entire nations are threatened
with submergence as sea levels rise.
In this paper Ms Armstrong will outline some of the specific risks posed to
countries in the Pacific region, and the role nurses can play in mitigating
those risks and planning for the future.
Author’s biodata: Fiona Armstrong is a registered nurse and journalist with experience in reporting and commentating on a wide range of health policy issues. A former associate editor of the Australian Nursing Journal, Ms Armstrong now works in a policy role at the Australian Nursing Federation, representing and advocating for nurses in a broad range of professional and policy forums.
Title: A comparative study of healthy lifestyle habits of children of urban Samoa and Komagane city, Japan.
Background
Obesity is noticeably rising among children and can cause lifestyle related
diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Adult obesity is already a serious
health issue in both Samoa and Japan, and studies reported that about one third
of obese children grow into obese adults. To identify the responsible factors
and develop intervention programs, we must study children's physique and lifestyle,
which is best done as a comparative study.
Objective
This study aims to clarify the characteristics of Samoan and Japanese children's
BMI and examine them in relation to their lifestyle.
Methods
Questionnaire surveys were done for students in primary and secondary schools
in the urban schools in Samoa, and Komagane, Japan. The sample included 10 to
15 year-old children. To compare BMI of different ages, we used the adjusted
BMI (BMIadj) converting a child's BMI to its equivalent in adulthood (Cole et
al., 2000).
Results
Valid responses were 821/840 in Samoa, and 524/709 in Japan. The distribution
of BMIadj was different between Samoa and Japan. Major findings were: (1) the
ratio of children with BMIadj over 25 was 41% in Samoa, and 12% in Japan; (2)
the ratio of Japanese boys with BMIadj over 25 (17%) was greater than that of
girls (7%); (3) Samoan children's BMIadj showed no significant sex difference
and the ratio of those with BMIadj over 25 significantly increased with age.
Conclusion
The difference of distribution of BMIadj between Samoa and Japan and the
characteristics of BMI distribution within each country became clear by international
comparison. These findings should be discussed in relation to the lifestyle.
Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol consumption and
Physical Exercise (SNAP)
Survey of nurses of Samoa
Background
Persuasive speculation on nurses' overweight and lifestyles imply that
overweight increases tiredness and sleepiness which could affect work performance.
Poor healthy habits results in poor health and the quality. Nurses should be
proactive with role modeling of ideal healthy weights and ideal healthy habits
in eating, socializing and living an active and fit lifestyle.
Objective
To establish baseline information on nurses health statuses profile as
a group, and design appropriate health promoting activities to improve and to
maintain health among them;
Methods
A true sample of the nurses' population was used to acquire a precise profile
of nurses and to study their body weights using the BMIs to determine their
weight range.
Results
65% of nurses are obese, and 22% are overweight.22% of nurses smoke cigarettes,
where 50% of smokers are RNs. 91% put sugar in their tea/coffee, 10% drink about
6-11 275mls bottle of coke per week, 62% has fried food twice or less per week,
while all others have fried food more than twice a week. .06% drinks alcohol
regularly while the rest drinks on special occasions only.
Conclusion
Being overweight and smoking habits are the two leading problems which
require intervention.
Child Sexual abuse Study 2004-2005
Background
Child sexual abuse is being increasing reported by the media and that it
is a social health issue. It can cause major depressive illness among victims
and social services need to be in place to respond to this need. To do this
we must seek for baseline information to ascertain the need to provide a social
counseling service as a complementary service to the Ministry of Health's mental
health services.
Objective
This study aims to explore victims experiences and emotional problems as
results of sexual abuse.
Methods
Questionnaires were developed to be answered by victims who sought health
care at nurses work stations in the urban and rural health care centers.The
sample age group was 18 yrs and over. To explore the victims depressive states,
Becks Depression Survey was used as basis of questioning but the questions were
modified to suit the meanings of questions relevant to the situations of Samoa.
The data was collected over a period of one year by nurses.
Results
The total valid responses were 150. 77% of victims were females, 8% were
males and 15% did not identify their sex. the results showed 71% were from the
rural areas, and 26% were from the urban area. 55% of the victims' parents or
guardians were unemployed. 63% of victims came from family size of 4-9 pple.
All victims had experience sexual abuse by any of the following means: sexual
contact, non-contact acts, exhibitionism, exposure to pornography, voyeurism
& communicating in a sexual manner by phone or Internet.about 60% of victims
are continuously sad and keeps blaming themselves for the being abused, 70%
clams to live with failure feelings and 44% have suicidal thoughts to different
extents.
Conclusion
Sexual abuse exists and a social counseling service should be in place to respond
to this social health need.