The country’s first nurse practitioner has won a prestigious “Young Investigator Award” to address an international neonatal symposium in London.
This follows on from Waikato neonatal NP Dr Deborah Harris and her research team’s groundbreaking “Sugar Babies” research into using sugar gel to prevent brain damage in newborns, which is being published in The Lancet last month.
Harris is one of two outstanding ‘young investigator’ award winners who have been invited to make a 20-minute presentation to the Neonatal Update 2013 Symposium hosted by London’s Imperial College later this month.
“I am honoured that our research has been recognised on this platform, which reflects on the great team of which I am lucky to be part,” said Harris.
“Importantly, the opportunity to present our findings at this meeting means the key messages from the Sugar Babies study will reach those who can and will influence clinical practice all over the world.”
“It is a wonderful achievement and so deserving of this honour,” said Waikato District Health Board director of nursing, Sue Hayward.
Harris – working under research leader Professor Jane Harding from the University of Auckland’s Liggin Institute – recruited families at Waikato Hospital for the study for her PhD research.
The Sugar Babies research investigated treatment for babies suffering from low blood sugar, (neonatal hypoglycaemia) that is a common problem affecting up to 15 per cent of otherwise health babies and is a preventable cause of brain damage.
The research findings showed that the simple use of dextrose gel rubbed into the inside of the baby’s mouth, meant that the babies were more likely to remain with their mothers rather than being admitted to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for treatment. It also meant that they were more likely to be successfully breast fed after discharge.
