Manawataki Fatu Fatu

Despite proven treatments that can halve rates of heart disease, Māori and Pacific people are less likely to receive treatment and more likely to die from heart disease than other New Zealanders. Barriers to accessing healthcare are important contributors to these disparities.

This research aimed to systematically identify and understand the key barriers faced by Māori and Pacific people in accessing treatments for heart disease across the healthcare-continuum. Given the availability of effective interventions, identifying access barriers, investigating their causes, and developing solutions, could rapidly improve heart health outcomes in Māori and Pacific people.

Systematic reviews were undertaken to document barriers to equitable care at three points along the healthcare-continuum:

• assessment and management of the risk of heart disease in general practice;
• accessing hospital care for heart attacks;
• post-hospital management of heart failure.

and also in rural areas.

In-depth kōrero (conversations) with patients, whānau and kaimahi (health providers) were conducted across Aotearoa to better understand the barriers to accessing care, to ensure that the research would be mana-enhancing by elevating the voices of patients and whānau in healthcare planning.