Background and Aim Ostomy is a radical treatment that is sometimes required due to severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colorectal cancer (CRC), and so on. Around 8000 people in New Zealand live with stoma bags. We studied factors associated with poor quality of life (QoL) in ostomy patients to improve patient care. Methods Eligible adult patients identified through the Southern District Health Board database were invited to participate. The survey consisted of the general stoma QoL, IBD, CRC QoL, and dietary and lifestyle questionnaires. Results Response rate was 54.5% (n = 241/448). Study participants were a mean (SD) 70.9 (14.2) years old, 60.6% were male, and 89.5% were New Zealand European; 52.5% of the study participants had a colostomy, and 56.4 and 22.4% received their stoma due to CRC and IBD, respectively. Median (first–third interquartile range) duration since ostomy for overall study sample was 6.9 (3.3–15.1) years. Mean (SD) Stoma‐QoL score for all the patients was 60.3 (10.8) points (scale 20–80). Stoma‐underlying disease (P = 0.28) and type of stoma (P = 0.60) were not associated with Stoma‐QoL scores. Older adults had higher Stoma‐QoL, IBD questionnaire and QLQ‐C30 quality‐of‐life scores; 73.1% received dietary recommendations for the stoma, And 56.4% changed their diet, 51.4% found it easy to adhere to dietary recommendations, and 9.2% found it quite/very difficult. Conclusion This study found high‐quality life scores in postostomy patients and no significant association between the underlying disease, time since ostomy, level of comorbidities, and how the appliance worked, which highlight the multifactorial nature of the quality of life concept and difficulties measuring it.

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) require continuous clinical management; poor medication adherence may result in worse disease outcomes and increased healthcare costs. This study investigated medication adherence and associated risk factors in IBD patients. Methods: Otago (New Zealand) IBD patients were mailed questionnaires on demographics, medication-taking behavior, and a validated Probabilistic Medication Adherence Scale (ProMAS). Results: The response rate was 29.7% (n = 174/590). The study sample was mean (SD) 50.5 (16.9) years old, 57.9% female, 49.4% had Crohn’s disease, and 43.9% ulcerative colitis, with median of 9.5 years (interquartile range: 5.0–22.0) of IBD duration. About 31.1% scored below medium adherence according to ProMAS. About 11.9%, 24.7%, and 23.1% reported failing to renew, purposely not taking, and stopping taking medications, respectively; 27.2% of those who reported having no issues taking medication scored below medium on the ProMAS. Older age was associated with higher ProMAS adherence score (Pearson’s r = .25; P = .0014). There were no differences in medication adherence between the types of IBDs (P = .87), disease activity status (P = .70), or gender (P = .27). There was no correlation between the number of medications and level of adherence (Pearson’s r = .09; P = .27). About 18.7%, 10.1%, and 5.0% of patients reported forgetting to take medications when traveling, when out of routine, and when busy, respectively. The most used strategies to remember medications included utilizing specific routines (40.1%) and keeping medications in specific locations (21.1%). Conclusions: A third of IBD patients had below medium medication adherence. There were discrepancies between self-reported and tool-assessed medication adherence scores with over one-third of patients underestimating/overestimating their adherence.

Diagnostic delays (time from the first symptoms to diagnosis) are common in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and may lead to worse disease progression and treatment outcomes. This study aimed to determine the duration of diagnostic delays (DD) and to explore associated factors in a cohort of children with IBD in New Zealand. In this study, patients with IBD diagnosed as children and their parents/caregivers completed questionnaires on the patients’ medical history, diagnostic experience, and demographic characteristics. The parent/caregiver questionnaire also included the Barriers to Care Questionnaire (BCQ). Patients’ healthcare data was reviewed to summarise the history of clinical visits and determine symptoms. Total DD, healthcare DD, patient DD and parent DD were derived from the primary dataset. Factors associated with the different types of DD were explored with a series of simple linear and logistical ordinal regressions. A total of 36 patients (Crohn’s disease 25, ulcerative colitis 10; male 17) were included. They were diagnosed at a median age of 12 years (interquartile range (IQR) 10–15 years). Total healthcare delay (from first healthcare visit to formal diagnosis) was median (IQR) 15.4 (6.5–34.2) months. The median (IQR) specialist-associated delay was 4.5 (0–34) days. Higher household income was associated with shorter healthcare delay (p < 0.018), while lower overall BCQ scores (indicating more barriers experienced) were associated with longer total healthcare DD. Higher scores in each subscale of BCQ (Skills; Pragmatics; Expectations; Marginalization; Knowledge and Beliefs) were also significantly associated with shorter total healthcare delay (p < 0.04). This study found substantial diagnostic delays in paediatric patients with IBD and identified significant associations between longer total healthcare diagnostic delays and overall household income and higher self-reported barriers to accessing healthcare.

Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management entails long‐term medication therapy. Worse disease outcomes and reduced quality of life might arise from poor medication adherence (MA). This study is the first to investigate patients with IBD's adherence across Aotearoa New Zealand and its relationship with disease outcomes.Methods: Dispensing claims data (Pharmaceutical Collection) were used to calculate (3‐ and 5‐year) adherence, using daily polypharmacy possession ratio. Using hospitalization data (National Minimum Dataset), the relationship between adherence and the numbers of hospitalizations and corticosteroid dispensings was investigated.Results: In total, 4654 patients (53% female; 55% Crohn's disease [CD], 45% ulcerative colitis [UC]; median age‐at‐first‐dispensing, 43 years) and 3148 patients (54% female; 55% CD, 44% UC; median age‐at‐first‐dispensing, 44 years) were in the 3‐ and 5‐year cohorts, respectively. The 3‐ and 5‐year cohorts had mean 4.6 and 4.2 IBD‐related hospitalizations and 6.9 and 9.2 corticosteroid dispensings, respectively. Average adherence estimates were 77.4% (95% confidence interval: 76.9–78.0%) and 74.9% (95% confidence interval: 74.1–75.6%; 3 and 5 years), while 54% and 51% of patients, respectively, had good adherence (MA ≥ 80%). There was no correlation between adherence and the numbers of hospitalizations (Pearson's R = −.0007; P = .65 and R = −.04; P = .02 [3 and 5 years]) and corticosteroid dispensings (R = .08; P = <.0001 and R = .08; P = <.0001, respectively).Conclusion: MA of Aotearoa New Zealand patients with IBD is moderately high but just over half of patients meet the adherent threshold. There was no correlation between adherence and hospitalizations or corticosteroid dispensings; hence, research into longitudinal adherence patterns and associated factors is needed.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and B virus (HBV) infections are highly prevalent, with a high percentage of undiagnosed cases. Knowledge of HCV and its modes of transmission are essential for disease prevention and management. We studied a high-risk New Zealand gang population on viral hepatitis prevalence, their level of knowledge and the liver health risk factors in a community setting. Participants completed demographic, risk factor and knowledge questionnaires in three health meetings in New Zealand. Participants' blood samples were tested for HBV, HCV, biochemical indicators of liver disease. Liver fibrosis levels were assessed using a Fibroscan ^® device. We studied 52 adult Mongrel Mob members, affiliates and whānau (extended family) throughout New Zealand. We identified no HCV and two HBV cases, confirmed high-risk factor levels and poor associated knowledge, with a significant association between lack of knowledge and presence of specific risk factors. We successfully conducted a community-focused, high-risk, hard-to-reach gang population study, and found a link between lack of knowledge and risk factors for HCV infection. This study provided first-of-its-kind data on viral hepatitis in a gang population and demonstrated the need for educational screening programmes to aid early HCV detection, prevention and treatment.