Charles Richard (stoolcougar32)

A pedometer-based Green Prescription was rated as being helpful in aiding physical activity. DISCUSSION This study supports the importance of general practitioners' initial role in prescribing physical activity for older adults and of ongoing telephone support for longer-term adherence. Incorporating a pedometer can be effective in helping low-active older adults initiate and maintain regular physical activity.INTRODUCTION Many countries, including New Zealand, have an aging population and new technologies such as cell phones may be useful for older people. AIM To examine cell phone and technology use by octogenarians. METHODS Te Puawaitanga O Nga Tapuwae Kia Ora Tonu- Life and Living in Advanced Age A Cohort Study In New Zealand (LILACs NZ) cohort study data of Māori (aged 80-90 years, 11-year age band) and non-Māori (aged 85 years, 1-year age band) followed for 3 years was used to describe the prevalence among study participants of the use of the internet, cell phones and watching pay-per-view television. Association of these activities with living arrangement, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive respiratory disease and participants' cognition were examined. RESULTS Technology use was relatively low among study octogenarians. Fewer Māori used cell phones and the internet (16% and 6%) than non-Māori (30% and 19%). Māori participants supported only by a pension were less likely to use cell phones than Māori with more income. More men watched pay-per-view television (e.g. SKY) than women. Living alone and having chronic lung disease were associated with not watching pay-per-view television. Participants who used the internet had higher cognition scores than others. Non-Māori women were less likely to watch pay-per-view television and non-Māori on a pension only were less likely to watch pay-per-view television than people on a higher income. Participants who lived alone were less likely to watch pay-per-view. CONCLUSION Relatively low use of technology may limit potential for health technology innovation for people of advanced age. Socioeconomic and ethnic disparities will amplify this.INTRODUCTION Life expectancy in patients with schizophrenia is 15-20 years less than the general population. A dominant cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients is cardiovascular disease. Adverse consequences of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors can be reduced by regular monitoring of metabolic outcomes and intervention if required. NRL-1049 datasheet AIM To evaluate the metabolic screening in primary care for patients with schizoaffective disorders managed in primary care. To show the usefulness of combining simple practice audits in evaluating such areas of clinical practice. METHODS An audit was undertaken in eight general practices in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions of New Zealand. Specifically, the monitoring of patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder whose antipsychotic medication was prescribed by primary care doctors was audited. Patient monitoring was compared to the guideline recommendation of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) and the Best Practol may need to be developed. This audit has also shown that there is value in several practices completing the same audit and providing a larger cohort of patients for pooled data analysis.INTRODUCTION The care of the elderly presents serious challenges to general practice. In 1979, the first author took over the care of a general practice in Scotland where 21% of registered patients were elderly. This resulted in a high workload and prompted research into how this might be mitigated. AIM To measure serial tests of T-cell function in these individuals in order to identify those whose immune response was impaired and assess the effect of this in a long term follow up. METHODS This research comprised two phases. In the assessment phase (1979-82), patients were invited to have a 3-monthly visit from a research nu