A new study examining the challenges faced by people with chronic illness highlights areas for improvement.
Full article: https://www.odt.co.nz/the-star/study-provides-data-life-me
- Study Overview:
- Examined challenges faced by people with ME/CFS using anonymised government records from Stats NZ’s Integrated Data Infrastructure.
- Compared the experiences of 1902 working-age New Zealanders with ME/CFS who received a benefit against those who did not receive one.
- Healthcare Utilisation:
- 18.8% of ME/CFS patients visited an emergency department in the past year, compared to 12.8% of the general population.
- 32.8% of ME/CFS patients were dispensed 10 or more medications, compared to 14.2% of the general population.
- Diagnostic Inequity:
- Māori and Pasifika were under-represented in the ME/CFS group receiving benefits, suggesting diagnostic inequity.
- Employment and Financial Impact:
- Only 18.3% of people with ME/CFS were employed, contrasting sharply with 83.8% of the general population.
- Many ME/CFS patients had no labor-market income in the past five years, significantly higher than other comparison benefit groups.
- Research Impact and Advocacy:
- Research findings support efforts for better access to support services and understanding of ME/CFS challenges.
- The data used in the study provides robust evidence for policy discussions with government ministries.
- Funding and Peer Review:
- The study was funded by a grant from the Associated New Zealand Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Society.
- Currently under peer review at BMC Public Health, aiming to further validate findings and impact policy.
This research highlights significant disparities in healthcare access, employment, and diagnostic equity for individuals with ME/CFS in New Zealand.