Review of national and international clinical practice guidelines for the management of Borderline Personality Disorder ( PDF 0B )
A systematic review of the literature
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex condition characterised by a pervasive pattern of instability in affective regulation, impulse control, interpersonal relationships, and self-image. During the last several years numerous RCTs of treatments for borderline illness have been completed, and there is now a sufficient body of research to support the development of evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of BPD. The objective of this report is to provide a systematic review of existing clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of BPD, and to provide an overview of their recommendations.
Comparison of diagnostic accuracy between immunochemical and guaiac based faecal occult blood tests for colorectal cancer detection ( PDF 765kB )
A systematic review of the literature
Colorectal cancers (CRC) refer to the malignancy of the inside lining of the colon and rectum and has a high prevalence in New Zealand, in particular for population over 50 years of age. The disease is treatable if detected in the early stages and screening for CRC provide simple and effective measures of prevention and early diagnosis and treatment for this condition. Faecal occult blood tests, which use different techniques to diagnose presence of traces of haemoglobin in stool samples, are used as screening tools for this disease. Two common types of faecal occult blood tests are guaiac and immunochemical faecal occult blood tests. This is a literature review of the head to head comparisons between different types of guaiac and immunochemical faecal occult blood tests for the diagnosis of colorectal cancers and tumors that are known as significant adenoma. A total of seven studies out of a comprehensive list of 97 studies were critically appraised to identify whether standard guaiac, sensitive guaiac, or immunochemical faecal occult blood tests are the best screening tools from the perspective of organizing national colorectal cancer screening programmes. The key results and their implications are discussed in this document.
The effectiveness of interventions to increase the delivery of effective smoking cessation treatments in primary care settings - the ABCs ( PDF 3MB )
A systematic review of the literature
This systematic review provides a summary of the evidence pertaining to the effectiveness of interventions aimed at increasing the likelihood of Health Care Professionals initiating elements of the ABC approach for smoking cessation in a primary care setting. That is, any intervention that aims to increase the documentation of smoking status (Ask), provision of brief advice to stop smoking (Brief advice), and/or the offer or provision of smoking cessation treatments or services (Cessation support), compared to usual care. The purpose of the ABC approach is to make the health sector’s approach to smoking cessation more systematic, and ultimately, to get more smokers to see the importance of stopping as soon as possible, and to use the proven effective treatments available.
Refer also to a related Summary Report - How to increase the delivery of effective smoking cessation treatments in primary care settings: guidance for doctors, nurses, other health professionals and healthcare organisations ( PDF 2MB )
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) ( PDF 4MB )
Systematic reviews of prevention, diagnosis and management
This report contains a systematic review of primary, secondary and tertiary interventions that aim to reduce the burden of FASD, and a systematic review of screening tools. A top-level review of FASD diagnosis and management strategies was also performed. In addition, there is a brief overview of the literature on the economics of FASD.
Summary - Key Findings ( PDF 88kB )
The effectiveness of interventions for reducing ambulatory sensitive hospitalisations ( PDF 2MB )
A systematic review
This systematic review summarises evidence on the effectiveness of different therapeutic interventions, specific patterns of clinical practice, and models of health services delivery, for the reduction of ambulatory sensitive hospitalisations. Ambulatory sensitive hospitalisations are defined as hospital admissions due to those medical conditions that could be avoided by provision of outpatient-based primary care.
Executive summary ( PDF 109kB )
Summary report ( PDF 401kB )
This plain language summary report is a companion document to: Basu, A., & Brinson, D. (2008). The effectiveness of interventions for reducing ambulatory sensitive hospitalisations: A systematic review. HSAC Report, 1(6). This short summary highlights the main findings of the systematic review, outlines key learning, and provides brief examples of interventions and programmes of work that are associated with reduction in ambulatory sensitive hospital admissions. The summary report concludes with a rapid review and recommendations.
The effectiveness of digital hearing aids and assistive listening devices for adults with hearing loss ( PDF 2MB )
A systematic review of the literature
This systematic review provides a summary of the recent evidence pertaining to the effectiveness of various types and styles of digital hearing aids and assistive listening devices in the management of adults with various degrees of hearing loss. The review considers comparing the use of digital hearing aids to the no use/ or to the use of other styles of digital hearing aids. The report did not include the use of analogue hearing aids (not as an intervention nor as a comparator).
The effectiveness of compulsory, residential treatment of chronic alcohol or drug addiction in non-offenders ( PDF 1MB )
A systematic review of the literature
This systematic review provides a summary of the evidence pertaining to the effectiveness of compulsory detention for residential treatment in people with chronic alcoholism and/or drug addiction. Compulsory detention was considered where it occurred as a civil committal, rather than through the criminal justice system, to be relevant to its use within New Zealand’s Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Act 1966.