What is already known: In various countries, health care providers aim to diversify the health workforce by introducing new clinical roles such as physician associates/assistants (PAs) to tackle ongoing workforce shortages. Numerous studies highlight PAs as cost-effective contributors who enhance access to safe and effective care. Despite these benefits, the integration of PAs into health care systems has encountered considerable scrutiny from both the public and medical professionals. What this study adds: The Ministry of Health has recently proposed the regulation of the PA profession, allowing foreign-trained PAs to take on clinical responsibilities in both primary and secondary care settings. This article examines the feasibility and implications of introducing PAs into New Zealand’s primary care sector, particularly within the context of general practice.

What is already known: Screening sexually active young people for asymptomatic chlamydia and gonorrhoea is important to detect infection, prevent transmission and reduce reproductive health risks. Free online postal self-sampling for sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing is an acceptable alternative to clinic-based testing in some countries, but accessibility and acceptability of online testing in Aotearoa New Zealand is unknown. What this study adds: Opinions about online STI testing among Māori and Pacific young people were mixed, but more concerns than potential advantages were identified. Equity in access to online STI testing by Māori and Pacific young people could be improved by reducing cost, improving awareness about STI testing, and addressing barriers identified in the online testing pathway.

What’s already known: Sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) minority populations face known and preventable health inequities. However, SOGI data are not collected in routine data collection such as administrative health data, and there are limited studies exploring whether these populations are comfortable with having their data stored in these datasets. What does this study add: The research offers estimates of comfort with having sexual identity data recorded in official datasets among the GBM population of NZ, contributing to a larger body of research that primarily focusses on disclosure in health care settings.

What is already known: Community-based attachments (CBAs) are mandatory in NZ for junior doctors in their first 2 years of study. Some research indicates that CBAs are a positive experience for the practice and the junior doctors. What this study adds: An estimated average cost for hosting PGY2s in general practice was $NZ4907 (range $890–$9183) per placement before consideration of space costs, over and above current funding provided by Health New Zealand |Te Whatu Ora (TWO) Health Workforce Directorate. The small business model of general practice is in tension with providing a positive experience for the PGY2s in a new learning environment, and better communication and cooperation between practices and TWO employing hospitals are needed.

What is known about the topic: Mental health challenges pose a significant public health risk. There is a need to build workforce capacity to address the mental health needs of children and youth in order to promote positive outcomes in later life. What this study adds: All sectors must take responsibility for promoting mental health in children and youth. This participatory action research study presents communities of practice as providing a sustainable mechanism by which international evidence can be received, transformed and translated into practice.

What is already known: Some patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can experience persistent symptoms for many years if not treated early. Early access to specialist services such as concussion services can significantly improve patient recovery. What this study adds: This study provides initial evidence that a supported health care pathway following mTBI is feasible to implement in primary care and can facilitate early access to concussion services for those who need it.

What is already known: The COVID-19 pandemic and its sequelae served to reduce access to health care providers, exacerbated unmet preventive and diagnostic health needs and made online health information even more important for consumers to make decisions about self- and family-care. What this study adds: This survey asked an ethnically diverse group of patients attending cardiology outpatients what format of information was most valued and strategies they use to trust the information they find. Simple fact sheets were the most preferred online format followed by videos and discussion groups with the best ‘life-hack’ being to get their health professional’s advice on the most trusted website for their condition.

What is already known: There is a shift towards general practitioners (GPs) prescribing gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) in primary care settings using an informed consent model of care. There is a lack of long-term data on health and wellbeing outcomes for people taking GAHT in Aotearoa New Zealand. What this study adds: The insights from this study offer a blueprint for current and future survey design, to ensure data collection is responsive to the needs of transgender and non-binary (TNB) communities and health care providers. These findings will inform future research to equip health care professionals involved in prescribing GAHT with local, evidence-based data to support their delivery of quality health care to TNB people.

What is already known: The use of psychotropic medications in Australia has increased over the last two decades, with general practitioners being the primary prescribers. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated mental health issues in adults and the older population, leading to increased concerns about mental health and wellbeing. What this study adds: This study estimates prescribing rates of psychotropic medication by patient demographics and found higher rates of prescribing among females, older people, and those with low to moderate SES. There was a consistent increase in prescribing rates between 2018 and 2022, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is already known: Primary healthcare teams are well positioned to promote and protect patients’ oral health, and it is likely that more people at risk of oral disease or needing oral health care will present at primary healthcare practices. Primary healthcare teams need to have sufficient knowledge and confidence to address patients’ oral health complaints. What this study adds: Doctors and nurses appear open to incorporating oral health in their day-to-day practice. Integrating oral health in primary health care in Aotearoa New Zealand will require changes at the individual, professional and systems levels.

What is already known: Limited international research with Pacific Island communities has examined ear disease and hearing health knowledge and beliefs to inform health service delivery. What this study adds: This study is the first mixed-methods investigation using a Pacific methodological approach to examine Pacific peoples’ ear and hearing health worldviews, including knowledge, beliefs, and experiences of the hearing healthcare system in Aotearoa New Zealand. It will assist healthcare professionals in providing more responsive ear and hearing care services for Pacific peoples.

What is already known: While there is extensive global documentation on the sociodemographic attributes of yoga instructors and users, along with their motivations for engaging in yoga, the specifics of yoga instructors and users in New Zealand remain relatively unexplored. What this study adds: This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the distinctive traits and backgrounds of yoga instructors and users in New Zealand. Additionally, the study examines the rationale behind yoga use, the factors that shape participant involvement, participantr methods of seeking information, and how participants communicate with healthcare providers. The insights garnered from this research aim to provide valuable information to the healthcare sector in New Zealand.

Disparities between rural and urban COVID-19 vaccination coverage both in NZ and globally have been demonstrated. New Zealand rural health provider perspectives of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout provide insight into factors contributing to the urban–rural COVID-19 vaccination disparity. Findings emphasise the relevance of context in delivering health initiatives rurally, which should be geographically tailored, culturally anchored and locally driven.

What is already known: Aotearoa New Zealand prioritises the pursuit of health care equity as a central objective. The existence of patient co-payments in primary care poses obstacles to achieving this goal. To address these challenges, the government has implemented various schemes aimed at alleviating them. What this study adds: The sociodemographic characteristics of people in the areas where general practices are located are related to the amount charged for an appointment with a general practitioner. The strongest relationships are seen across ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation levels with lower fees being associated with higher proportions of Māori and Pacific peoples in that area and among people who are more socioeconomically deprived. The Very-Low-Cost-Access scheme appears to reduce these associations indicating that general practices operating under the scheme appear to reach groups with greater need.

What is already known: Community-based primary care physiotherapy is provided in Aotearoa New Zealand through a private practice, fee-for-service model. The impact of this model on patient care, physiotherapists, and professional behaviour is unknown. What this study adds: This exploratory study suggests that competition can dominate communication and collaboration in private practice physiotherapy. Competitive business models and an aversion to scrutiny may reduce collegial interaction and professional behaviour.