S. salivarius K12 had modest nonsignificant effects on culture-positive sore throats when given at school, during the school day. Based on our pragmatic trial, the routine use of this probiotic in the prevention of pharyngitis associated with GAS detection is not supported.

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Background People with chronic kidney disease have a shortened life expectancy and carry a high symptom burden. Research suggests that attending to renal patients' spiritual needs may contribute to an improvement in their quality of life and this combined with the burden of renal disease underscores the need to better understand all domains of patients' well-being, including spirituality. The aim of this qualitative study was to investigate the provision of spiritual care in New Zealand renal units from the perspective of specialists. Methods The study was qualitative using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. Participants were recruited across New Zealand's ten renal centres. Participants were asked about their understandings of spirituality, patients' spiritual needs, current service provision of spiritual care, pre-and in-service spiritual care training, and suggestions for improvements. Results Five specialist doctors and nine specialist nurses were recruited for interviews in 2012. Understandings of spirituality were broad, with most participants having an inclusive understanding. Patients' spiritual needs were generally acknowledged and respected, although not specifically named. Formal spiritual assessments were not done. Consideration of death was discussed as an often-unexamined need. The dominant position was that the specialists did not provide explicit spiritual care of patients but there was some ad hoc provision offered through pre-dialysis educators, family meetings, and Maori liaison staff members. Participants had received no pre-service education or training and very little in-service training in spiritual care. The nurses thought further training "would be useful" but the doctors were less interested. There were many suggestions for improvements. Conclusion Most participants indicated they would attempt to provide some form of spiritual care, but they generally demonstrated a lack of confidence and awareness of how to address a patient's spiritual and end of life needs.

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is an autoimmune condition caused by untreated Group A Streptococcal (GAS) infection of the upper respiratory tract (and possibly skin). Multiple or severe attacks of ARF can cause cardiac damage known as rheumatic heart disease (RHD). The most effective recommended treatment of ARF requires monthly intramuscular injections of Benzathine Penicillin G (BPG) known as secondary prophylaxis. The goal of secondary prophylaxis is to prevent GAS infections that may lead to the recurrence of ARF. Rates of adherence to secondary prophylaxis schedules are usually low due to the frequency and duration of injection, pain and access to proper and timely healthcare services. A less painful and longer acting BPG formulation would ideally help prevent ARF recurrence and improve compliance rates to this schedule. The purpose of this work is to explore the BPG reformulation preferences of children and teens currently receiving monthly BPG intramuscular injections, in addition to their families and healthcare providers. A software application has been developed that will explore the experiences of the groups who will then choose their ideal BPG formulation from a range of plausible formulations and associated dosing regimens. The software application has been optimized for use to ensure age and cultural appropriateness and also efficient data collection. Pretesting of the software has been undertaken which has received positive responses with the piloting stage initiated. This is the first time a software application has been successfully developed to collect qualitative and quantitative data on individual preferences for BPG formulations and dosing regimens.

This paper reflects on the influences and outcomes of He Kāinga Oranga/Housing and Health Research Programme over 25 years, and their impact on housing and health policy in Aotearoa and internationally. Working in partnership particularly with Māori and Pasifika communities, we have conducted randomised control trials which have shown the health and broad co-benefits of retrofitted insulation, heating and remediation of home hazards, which have underpinned government policy in the Warm Up NZ-Heat Smart programme and the Healthy Homes Standards for rental housing. These trials have been included as evidence in the WHO Housing and Health Guidelines and led to our designation as a WHO Collaborating Centre on Housing and Wellbeing. We are increasingly explicitly weaving Māori frameworks, values and processes with traditional Western science.