Health – Views & Research – The Conversation

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Puberty blockers: why politicians overriding doctors sets a dangerous precedent

Jaimie Veale, University of Waikato

Pharmac wants to trim its controversial medicines waiting list – no list at all might be better

Paula Lorgelly, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau; Braden Te Ao, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau, and Richard Edlin, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

A selection of blister packs of medicines

Vaping has slowed progress in cutting teen smoking in NZ – new study

Andrew Waa, University of Otago; Becky Freeman, University of Sydney; Judith McCool, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau; Lucy Hardie, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau, and Sam Egger, University of Sydney

A young person vaping, with a cloud of vapour covering their face

A new index challenges common beliefs about drug use and harm in NZ

Chris Wilkins, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University; Jose S. Romeo, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University; Marta Rychert, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University, and Robin van der Sanden, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University

As people live longer and healthier, nurse training needs to respond to avoid ageist attitudes

Samantha Heath, University of Waikato

An older person doing stretching exercises

A graphic with red stripes and an eye peeking through in the middle

New research challenges the idea of a ‘vicious cycle’ between psychological distress and conspiracy beliefs

Nick Fox, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University; Matt Williams, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University, and Stephen Hill, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University

An assortment of vegetables including cabbage, broccoli, cabbage, turnip, kale, romanesco, radish, arugula, kohlrabi and swedes on wood rustic board

More veg, less meat: the latest global update on a diet that’s good for people and the planet

Sheila Skeaff, University of Otago

Why investment in clean indoor air is vital preparation for the pandemics and climate emergencies to come

Amanda Kvalsvig, University of Otago and Anna-Maria Arabia

Parts of NZ could be heading into a wetter summer – a blessing in disguise for allergy sufferers

Rewi Newnham, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

Woman sitting outdoors among grasses and blowing her nose

Most donor-conceived children are told about their origins, but many parents wish they had more support

Karyn Anderson, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau and Cynthia Farquhar, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

Two mums and their son, embracing, seen from the back

Graphic warnings on tobacco products are losing their impact – here are 5 ways to improve them

Janet Hoek, University of Otago; Andrew Waa, University of Otago; Lani Teddy, University of Otago, and Philip Gendall, University of Otago

A pack of cigarettes with an image of a man expressing regret he started smoking

NZ’s shift to more private health care will likely raise costs and reduce quality: what the evidence tells us

Kaaren Mathias, University of Canterbury

Around 900,000 Kiwis experience food insecurity: it’s a quiet crisis that needs urgent attention

Dennis Wesselbaum, University of Otago

New research finds many infant food products make claims that don’t match the main ingredients

Sally Mackay, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau and Jane Martin, The University of Melbourne

NZ may be on the cusp of another measles outbreak – what happened in 2019 should be a warning

Anna Howe, University of Canterbury; Emma Best, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau, and Rachel Webb, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

Detection is not prevention: will drug testing drivers really make NZ roads safer?

Joseph Boden, University of Otago