The New Zealand medical journal
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To assess the level of understanding of pulse oximetry in a hospital setting and identify training needs. ⋯ Medical and nursing staff at Christchurch Hospital have a good understanding of pulse oximetry. A higher proportion of participants were aware of checking vital signs when the oximeter reading was unreliable, than in the original UK study cohort. A need was identified for further education in this core technique. Staff training may increase the clinical value of pulse oximetry.
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This study investigated the role of alcohol in injury cases among patients attending an emergency department in Auckland during December 2000. ⋯ This is the first study of alcohol involvement in injury presenting to an emergency department in New Zealand. Findings indicate that a relatively high proportion of injury cases requiring emergency department treatment were alcohol-related and that the risk of an injury occurring was significantly increased by consumption of alcohol.
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To study the prevalence and patterns of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) use in cancer patients managed by a New Zealand regional cancer treatment centre. ⋯ CAM is commonly used by New Zealand cancer patients, who often use multiple therapies, not only during conventional treatment, but also without consultation with their oncologist. This lack of open communication about CAM between patients and medical staff may prevent identification not only of potential harmful effects, but also of positive and negative drug interactions between CAM and conventional therapies.