Students will share their findings

Three university students who have been granted scholarships to conduct research in the Kaitaia area over summer will present their findings at Kaitaia Hospital (Te Waka Hauora) on Monday evening, and will welcome anyone who would like to be there.

"Some of the research may be especially relevant to workplaces, community organisations or marae," Sunniva Jones said.

Heena Khatri (Kaitaia), now in her fifth year of pursuing a conjoint degree in health science and business and commerce, majoring in finance and economics, at the University of Auckland, has been working with patients at Te Kohanga Whakaora.

"I've been looking at improving the sensitivity of primary health care to meet patients' needs and demands, which is an important challenge in health care today," she said.

"The patient feedback survey was designed to uncover patients' thoughts about the clinic and improvements they would like to see to enhance the quality of health services they receive.

"The survey examined accessibility, comfort of the waiting room, staff, that day's consultation and after the consultation."

Kapowairua Stephens (Pawarenga), a second-year medical student at the University of Otago, conducted her research late last year, investigating the need for and public awareness of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in the Far North. She contacted churches, gyms, marae, schools and businesses (locations recommended by the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation) to establish whether they owned an AED.

People in the community were also quizzed on their knowledge of AEDs, including how to operate one, and where they can be found in the Far North.

Kapowairua discovered a significant lack of the machines, particularly at marae, and a "less than optimal" awareness of their location and use.

Sunniva Jones (Nelson), a fourth-year medical student at the University of Otago, evaluated the Kaitaia district's Manawa Ora Korokoro Ora (MOKO) programme to determine whether it was reducing the incidence of serious skin infections and rheumatic fever in tamariki.

She also surveyed parents to see what they thought of the programme, to establish their level of knowledge in terms of preventing skin infections and rheumatic fever, and to assess their ability to access health care. Another survey was conducted with teachers to see what benefits they perceived from the programme, and how it fitted into their class time.

"The results suggest that the MOKO programme is improving the health of tamariki, and there is a need to continue to educate whanau about preventing skin infections," Sunniva said.

She added that she and her fellow researchers were grateful for the help and support they had received from the Kaitaia community.

"The time taken by those who have participated in surveys is much appreciated, as the research could not have been completed without their participation," she said.

"Participants, and everyone else who is interested, will be most welcome to come along on Monday evening and chat with us after the presentation, or to ask for full copies of our reports."