Private health patients costing public system $11.5m a year
Wednesday, 24 February 2021 2:57pm
Taxpayers are footing an annual bill of up to $11.5 million – the cost of 760 hip replacements - for patients who need public hospital care after private inpatient treatment, a new University of Otago study reveals.
NZ part of global project with world-leading scientists to map future COVID-19 scenarios
Wednesday, 17 February 2021 12:03pm
Two top New Zealand scientists are key members of a new international panel mapping future Covid-19 scenarios.
The Science of Medicines - A programme for tamariki
Tuesday, 9 February 2021 11:01am
The Science of Medicines programme for tamariki
Sue Crengle promoted to Professor
Thursday, 4 February 2021 2:26pm
Sue Crengle Promoted to Professor
Care urged before banning people entering NZ from the UK
Wednesday, 13 January 2021 3:32pm
The Government should be careful about banning people entering New Zealand from specific countries based on the presence of variants of the virus that causes COVID-19, given most countries are not testing for variants, University of Otago experts say.
Strengths and vulnerabilities of teen skateboarders revealed in Otago study
Monday, 14 December 2020 9:59am
More young people are opting for skateboards as a mode of transport, with fewer choosing to get their driver licence, and more needs to be done to protect them on the road, a University of Otago study has found.
Otago study debunks arguments behind continuing availability of tobacco at convenience stores
Monday, 7 December 2020 11:14am
Claims that tobacco drives foot traffic into convenience stores have been discredited in new research from the University of Otago.
Many Kiwis not taking cholesterol medication consistently
Thursday, 26 November 2020 4:19pm
More than half a million New Zealand adults are taking cholesterol-lowering medications, but a new University of Otago study reveals many are not taking them consistently.
Dairy and low-fat diet can reduce risk of bowel cancer - study
Tuesday, 24 November 2020 1:02pm
Eating dairy and a low-fat diet can reduce the risk of bowel cancer in New Zealand, a new University of Otago study reveals.
Bars facilitating smoking in young adults, study shows
Tuesday, 17 November 2020 11:21am
Designated outdoor smoking areas in bars are facilitating experimentation and tobacco use among young adults, a new study has found.
Otago researchers secure $17.5m in Marsden funding
Tuesday, 10 November 2020 10:41am
University of Otago researchers have secured $17.5 million in Marsden funding for 30 world-class research projects.
Lung cancer screening a step closer to reality following combined study
Tuesday, 29 September 2020 10:04am
Newly released study results present a strong case for lung cancer screening in New Zealand – particularly for Māori whose mortality rates are between three and four times higher than other ethnic groups.
Alcohol-related assaults in NZ decline after restrictions on late-night alcohol sales
Friday, 28 August 2020 9:50am
The number of people hospitalised because of assaults over the weekend reduced significantly following restrictions on late-night alcohol sales, new research from the University of Otago shows.
Professor John Broughton Retires
Monday, 24 August 2020 11:47am
Professor John Broughton (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu Ki Heretaunga), who has now retired from his position in the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine (PSM).
Digital contact tracing alone may not be miracle answer for COVID-19
Wednesday, 19 August 2020 2:33pm
In infectious disease outbreaks, digital contact tracing alone could reduce the number of cases, but not as much as manual contact tracing, new University of Otago-led research published in the Cochrane Library reveals.
Future research in safe hands at Otago Medical School
Thursday, 13 August 2020 11:00am
A group of Otago Medical School student researchers were awarded scholarships this week, showing there’s a bright future for medical research in New Zealand.
Otago University’s contact tracing system shows promising results in test scenario
Friday, 7 August 2020 10:56am
An initial test of the University of Otago’s contact tracing system for COVID-19 has produced promising results after most contacts identified in the emergency exercise scenario of a visiting international professor to the Dunedin campus were able to be tracked down.
Updates from the NTMHRU, post COVID-19
Monday, 3 August 2020 1:54pm
Welcome back to our tauira! We hope you are looking forward to semester two studies and catching up with your mates. If you need support, come and see us and/or apply for the tautoko hardship fund. Read more about the Māori response to COVID-19 and Urutā in this article too.
Kiwis stockpile paracetamol, the basis of most calls to National Poisons Centre
Wednesday, 15 July 2020 9:40am
While paracetamol was the most common substance of enquiry for calls to the National Poisons Centre in 2018, new research reveals most New Zealanders have large quantities of the painkiller stockpiled in their homes.
Otago researchers find link between rape and breathing problems
Friday, 10 July 2020 12:03pm
Rape and sexual trauma may have long-lasting consequences for physical health as well as mental health, University of Otago researchers have found.
Online COVID-19 masterclass attracts thousands from around the world
Wednesday, 8 July 2020 11:40am
International conferences held entirely online may well be the future, if the just-completed University of Otago Global Health Institute’s (OGHI) online COVID-19 Masterclass is anything to go by.
Less than half of schools have robust sun hat policies in place to protect children
Tuesday, 7 July 2020 10:54am
Despite schools being encouraged to implement sun protective hat wearing policy to reduce children’s future risk of skin cancer, less than half participating in a University of Otago study had robust policy in place.
COVID-19 questions to be answered in Otago University masterclass
Thursday, 11 June 2020 11:23am
If you’ve got questions about COVID-19, an upcoming fortnight-long masterclass, running from June 22 until July 3, should be on your radar.
Health of truck drivers and evening TV binge-watchers under Otago researchers’ spotlight
Friday, 29 May 2020 10:58am
The health and safety of truck drivers and the impacts of evening television binge-watching will come under the spotlight in new University of Otago research being funded by the Health Research Council.
Increase in HIV cases, but decline in numbers first diagnosed in New Zealand
Thursday, 28 May 2020 12:31pm
After two years of declining numbers of HIV cases in New Zealand, there was a slight increase in 2019, but many of these cases were first diagnosed overseas.
New insights into vaping uptake among Māori and Pacific peoples
Monday, 25 May 2020 11:08am
Māori and Pasifika who have not been able to quit smoking may need more support to move from smoking to vaping, researchers from the University of Otago and Māori public health collective Hāpai Te Hauora have found.
Otago research shines spotlight on health woes of Mururoa veterans and their children
Friday, 22 May 2020 11:30am
Cancers are prevalent among Mururoa veterans who witnessed the French atmospheric nuclear explosions in 1973 while many of their children have fertility problems, new University of Otago research reveals.
Smoking cannabis causes bronchitis and changes to lung function
Monday, 18 May 2020 10:05am
Cannabis is harmful to the lungs, but in a different way to tobacco, causing significant respiratory symptoms such as bronchitis with evidence to suggest it can result in destructive lung disease – sometimes referred to as ‘bong lung’ – in heavy cannabis users.
Sending children back to school: as safe as it’s ever been, doctors say
Tuesday, 28 April 2020 11:02am
With a lack of CoVID-19 circulating in our community, fewer other viruses and bacteria than usual, and good systems for detection and contact tracing in place, it is as safe as it has ever been for children to attend school.
Large numbers of NZ military personnel suffer post-traumatic stress, Otago research reveals
Friday, 24 April 2020 12:15pm
The first wide-ranging survey of New Zealand military personnel shows many suffer symptoms of post-traumatic stress (PTS) though greater length of service, psychological flexibility (resilience) and quality sleep may be protective factors.
Rapid Case Contact Management – COVID-19’s Achilles heel?
Thursday, 19 March 2020 11:15am
Most infectious diseases have an Achilles heel, the secret is to find it. The question is, if we don’t have a drug or a vaccine for COVID-19, is there something else we can do to beat it?
New Zealand’s COVID-19 public health response must be aggressive
Friday, 13 March 2020 4:17pm
China, Taiwan and other Asian countries have shown that a massive public health response to COVID-19 works. Now is the time for New Zealand to do the same.
