Healthier Lives Implementation Network

Tā mātou e tūhura ana

What we are investigating

Take | Issue

Many innovative health programmes and products are created to support community wellbeing and enhance health equity in Māori and Pacific communities. However, there is no infrastructure in place to help translate them from the research arena into community practice, so the value of successful programmes and products is not always sustained beyond the research phase.

Whāinga | Aim

This project aimed to develop a network among Māori and Pacific community-based health providers, researchers, and others within the health system to help implement innovative health programmes and products by:

- - providing an infrastructure for sharing information about novel programmes

- - supporting active implementation pilots, and

- - identifying lessons learnt about implementation.

Huarahi i whāia | Approach

The project was undertaken in three stages:

Stage 1 – scoping parameters

The project team gathered information and engaged with leaders across the health system – via interviews, questionnaires and online hui – to establish the interest in, feasibility of, and parameters for such a network. There was strong support for establishing a network, and valuable suggestions about how it could operate.

Stage 2 – constructing the Network

An advisory group was established, and community-based health providers were invited to join the Network. Its focus, structure and needs were defined through ongoing, collaborative co-design, emphasising mutual respect and bi-directional learning.

Stage 3 – active implementation

Four community providers were selected and supported by the Network to adapt and implement a programme matching their community’s needs. Concurrent research was undertaken to understand the implementation needs of Network members and the facilitators and barriers to effective implementation processes and outcomes.

Funding acknowledgement

Stage 1 of this project was co-funded by:

The Ministry of Health and Healthier Lives National Science Challenge.

Outcomes and Impact

NGA PUTANGA ME TE PĀNGA

Outcome | Putanga

The Network was successful in establishing a partnership approach with Māori and Pacific health care providers, researchers and other stakeholders.

It ran pilot programmes with two Māori and two Pasifika community-based health providers to trial the adaptation and implementation of existing evidence-based programmes for the prevention of non-communicable diseases.

The study found that the main facilitators of effective implementation with community-based health providers are a partnership approach and opportunities for communities to adapt research products to fit their needs. The major barriers identified were lack of community and cultural engagement from outside entities and time pressures on community organisations.

Next Steps | Te ara kei mua

An evaluation of the Network recommended increasing communication amongst providers so they can learn from each other.

There are over 100 research-practice networks in the US. This is the only one of its kind in Aotearoa New Zealand. Ongoing funding for the Network is needed to preserve its value.

Research Products | Nga hua o te rangahau

The Network, the relationships initiated through it, and its findings about effective implementation can improve the translation of research into practice in communities with the highest health needs.