Health Professional News

Registrations now open for NZRC 2020

The New Zealand Respiratory Conference (NZRC) will take place this 5-6 November, at Te Papa, Wellington.

This year’s theme is ‘Building the Foundation for Better Breathing’ as we work towards releasing the 2020 Adolescent and Adult Asthma Guidelines, the revised Child Asthma Guidelines, and New Zealand’s first ever COPD Guidelines. This year’s event has also been endorsed by The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) for 10 CME credits.

This year’s programme will focus on topical presentations, including asthma management in the digital realm, vaping and Smokefree 2025, air pollution, COVID-19, and healthy housing. These presentations will translate the latest research and findings into relevant and actionable material, to promote clinical best practice and wrap around care for patients and their whānau.

The NZRC is the largest gathering or hui for professionals with an interest in respiratory health in New Zealand. Delegates from a variety of professions join us each year, including GPs, nurses, pharmacists, specialists, educators and researchers. To register for this year’s conference, go to NZRC2020.com. For more information on sponsorship opportunities email joanna@arfnz.org.nz.

Dr Stuart Jones presenting at the 2018 NZRC

Asthma & COPD Guidelines Update

The much anticipated NZ Adolescent and Adult Asthma Guidelines will be published in the New Zealand Medical Journal shortly, followed by the New Zealand’s first Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Guidelines, scheduled to be published in a few months time.

The NZ Adolescent and Adult Asthma Guidelines have been re-developed by a multidisciplinary group of respiratory health experts, under the leadership of Professor Richard Beasley of the University of Otago, and are designed to aid health professionals in delivering asthma care to their patients, providing simple, practical, and evidence-based guidance. These guidelines will provide a framework for the diagnosis and treatment of asthma for those 12 years and over; and into adulthood.

The brand new NZ COPD Guidelines have been led by Professor Bob Hancox from the University of Otago, and provide evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis, assessment, and management of COPD - a condition often under-diagnosed in New Zealand.

The NZ Adolescent and Adult Asthma Guidelines (previously Adult Asthma Guidelines) were last updated in 2016, while the NZ COPD Guidelines will be a New Zealand first. The new guidelines will join the revised NZ Child Asthma Guidelines, and will align the latest research with specific information for the New Zealand context. These documents will also be used to form asthma action plans and resources for patients, as well as training courses and tools for health professionals.