Māori experience barriers to accessing timely, quality healthcare. The March 2020 COVID-19 lockdown in New Zealand required provision of Telehealth consultation options in primary care.
Telehealth consultations have the potential to improve access to healthcare for Māori, and thereby reduce health inequities. Conversely, Telehealth may present additional barriers that contribute to inequities overall. This scoping project investigated Māori experiences of Telehealth consultationsduring the March 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.
The original article can be found here: https://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal-articles/reducing-healthcare-inequities-for-maori-using-telehealth-during-covid-19-open-access
Overview
Method
Semi-structured key informant interviews were completed with five Māori health professionals, six Māori Telehealth patients, and six Māori in-clinic patients, about their healthcare consultation experiences during COVID-19 lockdown. Participants were asked about what worked, what did not work, and for suggestions to improve future Telehealth provision to Māori whānau.
Results
Key findings are presented in three overarching themes: benefits (safety, cost, time, options); challenges (health literacy, access to Information Technology (IT), supply and demand, limited physical assessment); and suggested improvements (systems fit for purpose, supporting IT and health literacy, Telehealth as a routine option, rapport building, and cross system efficiency and information sharing).
Conclusion
Telehealth is a viable long-term option that can support Māori whānau access to healthcare.
Research Team
Erena Wikaire (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine), Matire Harwood (Ngāpuhi), Kayla Wikaire-Mackey (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Tainui, Ngāti Porou), Sue Crengle (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Waitaha) Rachel Brown (Ngāi Tahu), Anneka Anderson (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe), Rawiri McKree Jansen (Ngāti Raukawa), and Rawiri Keenan (Te Atiawa, Taranaki).
The project in pictures
An illustration depicting the research questions and findings is available for download.
A pdf of the illustration can be downloaded here.
An mp4 video of the illustration can be downloaded here.
