The New Zealand medical journal
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A retrospective analysis of the pattern of admission of children to the general intensive care unit of Christchurch Hospital during the period 1980-7 inclusive, is reported. Three hundred and ninety-nine children were admitted during this period and they formed 10.7% of all admissions to the unit. ⋯ Overall mortality was 14.5%, 13% for medical conditions and 16% for those with surgical problems. These results are in keeping with those reported from overseas.
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One hundred and forty-five episodes of acute bacterial meningitis in children seen over a 13 year period are reviewed. The mortality rate was 1.4%. Over the study period H influenzae type b remained as the dominant causative organism, with 11% of the isolates being beta-lactamase positive. The difficulties in diagnosis in children, the sequelae of sensorineural deafness and continued morbidity in this disorder are stressed.
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All psychiatrists in practice in New Zealand were approached for details of the last 20 patients seen prior to 1 May 1987. Sixty percent complied and gave details of consultations with 1292 patients of whom one quarter were inpatients at the time of the consultation. Only one-third of patients were employed, and less than expected were married. ⋯ New Zealand has 4.3 psychiatrists per 100,000 population, half the ratio recommended by the World Health Organization. Given this shortage of psychiatrists it is not unreasonable that services are directed to patients incapacitated by severe illness. It is, however, regrettable that patients with milder illnesses, and still in the workforce, are not being treated by specialist psychiatrists.
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A questionnaire was sent to 226 general practitioners in the Wellington region to determine the relationship between the general practitioner and complementary medicine. A 77% response rate was achieved. Twenty-four % of doctors had received training and 54% wanted further training in a complementary therapy; 27% currently practised at least one therapy. ⋯ Acupuncture, hypnosis and chiropractic were the most popular therapies. The general practitioner's role was perceived as ranging from comprehensive provider of both conventional and complementary medicine to selective practitioner of some options. It is concluded that complementary medicine is of considerable interest to general practitioners; there is demand for more training and information to be made available for doctors and for better referral networks to be developed between the practitioners.
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Major advances in molecular and cell biology lead a modern biological revolution. The question we must ask concerns whether New Zealand will capture the advantages of new knowledge and technology in basic medical research, and in clinical and social medicine. The problems of applying new science to medicine require a new look at forward planning and research goals.